What is your favorite way to determine OAL ?

[TheSilverFox]

For the past 7 years of my reloading career i've been using candle smoke on my bullets to determine where the lands are on my rifles.

Now that i'm getting into the high accuracy game, should i be using another method ?

 

[USAPatriot]

Not really, no. Are there other ways? Sure. You can use a stoney point tool...I usually do...but that's better used as a benchmark before you load up and that's fine. Your method tells you what you did, not what you should do, and there's a big difference. There's more real-world variables in your one handcrafted loaded round than popping a slug into the 'tool and seeing where it stops on the lands. -Rod-

 

[amamnn]

I use the RCBS precision mic. The metal is harder than a bullet and so does not stick in the lands and cause erroneous readings.

 

[Twud]

Stoney Point is the way to go. Once you've established OAL to the lands, it's easy to adjust your seating die to establish the desired amount of jump. Establishing OAL for a different projectile is just as easy.

 

[steveyrock]

I simply just seat a bullet long in an empty case with low neck tension and chamber it letting bolt closure seat the bullet. I then remove and measure the OAL with a stoney point gage on the ogive.I shoot this setting and make adjustments as needed.

 

[tightneck]

I simply just seat a bullet long in an empty case with low neck tension and chamber it letting bolt closure seat the bullet. I then remove and measure the OAL with a stoney point gage on the ogive.I shoot this setting and make adjustments as needed.

This is by far the easiest method. You don't need to measure anything if you have a micrometer seater. After you chamber a long seated bullet, adjust the die down to this seating depth. Now you have only one way to adjust depth, that is deeper in the case. Once you record the mic setting on the die, you can make adjustments to tune the load without needing ANY other tools.