Uneven OAL in 223 reloads

[Viperdoc]

I admit to being a novice reloader (at least for CF rifle). However, with RCBS BR dies and Sierra 69MK bullets, my OALS are varying a lot- Looking for 2.260, without changing anything, the OAL can go form 2.252 to 2.267. I checked around twenty bullets out of the box, and they were all 0.899 OAL, so I do not think it is variability in the bullets. Is there something in the setup that can give this much inconsistency? I have the seating die set just above the ram at the top of the stroke, and there really isn't much else to adjust as far as I can see. Using new Lapua brass, and these have all been very consistent as well. What else can I do to control the OAL better?

 

[cmillard]

first off you might want to post in the right section--you might get more answers. even if you measure the bearing surface of the bullets, you will still expirence some variation. this is because of the seater steam is contacting the bullet closer to the point rather than the ogive. you can open up the seater stem yourself or send it to a machinist or a smith and they can fix you up. or you can just load to 2.255 as i do with 77 sierras and that will keep me at or below magazine depth

 

[ForneyRider]

Make sure the die is very clean.