I've been going through all the steps of determining OAL/COL for my reloads. That got me to thinking about factory ammo. We all talk about fitting OAL/COL to your particular chamber, gun, etc. How critical is that really when you consider factory ammo is produced/sold as basically one-size-fits-all-guns? Federal doesn't size their cartridge to my specific chamber, etc.

I get the importance of OAL/COL to the load and the pressures generated. But I wonder if we reloaders take it further by matching to our chambers.

Just wondering out loud....

Rick

The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI) is an association of the nation's leading manufacturers of firearms, ammunition and components. SAAMI was founded in 1926 at the request of the federal government and tasked with:
Creating and publishing industry standards for safety, interchangeability, reliability and quality
Coordinating technical data Promoting safe and responsible firearms use

As a reloader you have an opportunity to develop and make far superior ammo by having brass that fits you chamber and the ability to adjust the OAL and control the position of the bullet to the chamber resulting in more accurate ammo. also with brass at a premium you will be able to reload the brass more time because you are not stretching each firing to fit the chamber

Every rifle is its own world and that's why we can tailor loads for each (within safety bounds). Certain generalities apply broadly, but you can find a "load" including specific COL/OAL that is more accurate FOR YOU. Jamming bullets into the lands is a benchrester's trick and you have to keep pressures down there. Hunting loads need to be magazine length and no more because functioning well trumps absolute accuracy (in most cases). Determine what is important for you. Factory ammo has to be able to work well enough in all rifles chambered for the particular round (and loses accuracy potential for all but a few lucky combinations of owner and particular rifle).

With Monometal bullets (copper) you have OAL issues that normally must be addressed. More precisely put, the ogive of the bullet distance to the lands can be a very critical dimension. With most cup and core bullets in most rifles this dimension is much less critical, although it still affects accuracy. With monos, this dimension frequently is quite critical. A few rifles shoot decently without adjusting distance off the lands, but even rifles that shoot acceptably without adjustment can benefit.

As more monos come available and into more common use this will be a much more commonly done adjustment to loads.

Since the ogive of all bullets brands/type very, you must measure the OAL of every brand/type of bullet. OAL is sometimes limited by the magazine length. Do not also forget that you need the bullet at least a calibre inside the case neck i.e. if you load a .308win you need at least .308" inside the neck and if it is a .222Rem you need at least .224" of the bullet inside the neck.

I will get slammed for this, but I think people put too much concern into OAL for their reloads.

Yeah, I know benchrest shooters find it critical, but we are not all benchrest shooters.

I have seen it carried to extremes. A friend found his .243 Winchester shot best when the bullets were into the lands. Great, but when we went prairie dog hunting he found he could not eject an unfired round without sticking the bullet in the lands and filling the chamber with powder.

As the original poster mentioned, factory ammo is not loaded for your particular rifle. Just on a lark I bought some Federal 25-06 ammo loaded with 100 grain Barnes TSX bullets. Those bullets are seated "deep". They shot little tiny groups in my rifle. My dad has a 257 Weatherby that shoots factory loaded TSX bullets into a half inch.

And, as mentioned, you may just have to go with ammo that will fit the magazine. I own two Remington rifles chambered for the 300 WSM. I have found that if I load to just fit the magazine they will both shoot under an inch easily.

Now, I understand OAL may be critical for some
applications, but for the every day hunter it is not that critical.

Heck, in my 300 Weatherby one of the first loads I tried with the 168 Barnes TSX shot 0.323" at 100 yards. With the Weatherby freebore I am "way" off the lands, but it still shoots great.

I load shells for my kids and grandkids and often just load to the OAL recommended by the bullet manufacturer in their manuals.

I just use the recomended length in the Sierra manual for their 270 and 30-06 loads with great success. And with my 375 H&H I load everything to 3.60 inches, heck it shoots inch groups, good enough for anything I might point a 375 at.