The question I have is: How do you seat these bullets so that you know how far they are from the lands ? I use a Sinclair Comparator for the regular stuff but when I go above 30 Cal. I don't have anything to measure the ogive with. Will the Stoney Point one work ? Thanks

Rob,

I measure max OAL for a given bullet by sizing a case, then repeat seating the bullet and pulling it until it is just a slight interference fit in the neck.

I then seat it long and chamber it. When it comes out of the chamber I figure it's at the lands. You have to repeat this for every different bullet you shoot.

I mainly use this to prove to myself that magazine length cartridges are well off the lands, (usually .15 inches!) so I'm not much worried about .005 errors.

Don

Stick a bullet in the chamber, the one you are going to use..( just the bullet not a loaded round or case)...hold the bullet there with a short dow rod or something..insert a cleaning rod or 28" wooden down down the barrel and mark it with a pen at the muzzle..knock the bullet out and re-insert the cleaning rod or dow to the bolt face with the action closed and mark it at the muzzle...That will give you the exact overall lenth with that "particular bullet" if you measure between thoes two marks with a caliper....Do that with all the different brands of bullet you intend to use and record them...Then to set your required OAL, subtract 15 or 30 thousands off that and you should be in the running.....

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com