Help a new handloader out!! I recently bought one of the Stoney Point OAL guage to determine proper bullet seating for my handloads. The directions tell you that you will be able to feel the contact of the bullet against the origin of the rifling. For whatever reason, I just can't feel this. Once I feel pressure, the bullet is so far out of the case that backing it off and additional 0.020" - 0.030" would be still useless because the cartride is far too long to fit in the action. So I am assuming that I'm not truly feeling this contact when I should or the bullet wouldn't be so far out of the case. Any ideas?

COAL listed in loading manuals is the industry standard, projectile touching or nearly touching lands is bench rest standard. COAL usually allows cycling via magazine through action = common sense. Common sense way to optimise starting pressure is the Lee Factory Crimp Die.

A number of things could be happening, those factory modified stoney point cartridge cases must be run through a small base sizer or something, because they are always loose in my chambers, which I believe would reduce the "feel".

If you're using a VLD "type" bullet, I've found that I've pushed them into the lands a good way before realizing that I had...

Usually though, after using a fireformed case that I've modified, I'll run the bullet in to the point where I have to knock it out with a cleaning rod, then just knock a couple of thousandths off, color and load another bullet with a black magic marker and find it again(with a loaded or dummy cartridge instead of the gauge).

Or...you've just got a long chamber, or are using a short bullet for that cartridge.

Rattlesnaker-

A little more info please...

What cartridge are you using, and which bullet?

Factory rifles are notorious for long throats, and in some cases you just will not be able to reach the lands while the bullet is still in the case.

Also, if you are loading something like a 40 grain bullet in a 223, it will also be too short in some instances, even with a properly throated rifle.

With that said, the Stoney Point gauge is just sometimes hard to get a feel for, and can be frustrating...

short bullets and a long throated chamber.
not a good combo for seating to the lands
I use a doll rod inserted from the muzzle to contact the bullet so i can feel when it touches the lands.

hivelosity has it. You might be able to reach the lands with a differnt bullet with a shorter ogive but the leade is likely too long in your rifle to seat to lands with the one you want to use.
Not a uncommon problem.

I'm using a 140 gr accubond in 7mm STW.

By the way, thanks for all the info. I've also tried color the bullet technique as Nosler states in their manuel but again, I'd back off over .1" just to get it to fit in the action.

Little trick using that. Get yourself a wooden dow or just use your cleaning rod. using both hands, put pressure on the stoney and and on the dow. It will increase your senitivity incredibly. Also the STW has a long thoat. Don't expect to hit the rifleing until ~3.75" COL to 3.85" (for some bullets). I can only load my STW's to 3.625" same as my ulramags.

I've had a hard time getting the feel when I tried the method they suggested where you put a dowel in the muzzle and bumping it back and forth. Inconsistent at best. Now I leave the bullet pretty far in the modified case, get everything ready and apply a constant inward motion, very lightly about 2 lbs. worth, to move the bullet forward till it stops. Lock the rod and pull it out and take the measurement. Much more consistent for me.

If you have the headspace gauges you can measure your modified case and a fire formed case and see if there is significant difference. Sometimes there is which means you have a large chamber and need to allow for it.

You'll be lucky if you have a rifle that will allow you to seat close to the lands and still fit in the magazine. Otherwise, try the Barnes Triple Shocks and it will not be as imprortant how far out you are.


Without guns we are subjects, with guns we are citizens

The wood dowel works well. And after you push that bullet into the lands, use the dowel to "unstick" it.

In some of my rifles, the leade/throat is too long to load to the lands because the round will not fit into the magazine. That is except for my Ruger #1's. No restriction apply. No magazine.

The next best use for the Stoney Point is to be able to repeat the seating depth consistantly.

quote:

Originally posted by bigcountry:
Don't expect to hit the rifleing until ~3.75" COL to 3.85" (for some bullets). I can only load my STW's to 3.625" same as my ulramags.

That's exactly what I was coming up with but I didn't think it could be right because it seemed so extreme especially when everything I read talked about setting it back .01" - .05" from the lands. Your STW is set back .225"!! I loaded to about 3.65". I'll have to get the dowel and give that a shot. Sounds like quite a few people have luck with that. Thanks for all the help, guys.