I have found that for this max charge of powder, the min. OAL is 2.510. Now at this length, measured from the rear face of the cartridge to the tip of the bullet, the bullet has all the canellure exposed. To get the canellure into the case mouth, i need an OAL of 2.495 or so.

Im not using max loads, so is this length alright. Im crimping with a Lee factory crimp die, so where the cannelure is has no effect on the crimp. How vital is the Min. OAL measurment at loads below max load (.5gr<max).

Also, is there a better way to measure OAL, with the caliper, either i am measuring inconsistantly, or my bullet seating die is not seating the same every time.

#1;What cartridge? It helps at times to know what we are loading and for what firearm.

#2;Why do you need to seat to the canalure?
The only reason to seat to the canalure, unless that is where the proper OAL is for that chamber, is to crimp. If the rifle prefers, or the SAAMI max or magazine allows, one can load longer then the books data shows.

#3;Does the cartridge need to be crimped? If the cartridge needs crimping always work the load up with the bullet seated and crimped at the canelure. Crimping the bullet on a smooth wall can warp the bullet or unbalance it and cause problems with accuracy. I don`t crimp unless loading for a self loader, heavy recoiling (375 mag, ect), or tube magazined rifle. Neck tension will hold the bullet fine in most cases.

#4,I doubt the small change in depth will cause a problem. The slightly longer "jump" the bullet makes to the leade should ofset any reduction in case volume. It is though a good idea to work the load up with all the same components as you plan on useing and at the same OAL as you want. Any change can affect both accuray and pressure with the loading. I would recommend dropping a gr or so and reworking up.

The Stoney Point comparator tool is THE way to measure OAL. The tool works of the ogive not the tip and gives very accurate readings IMHO. Sinclare also makes a comparator tool many swear by but I haven`t tried one.

Thanks for the advise. Its a .35rem. I have the lee factory crimp die, so crimping on the smooth is not a problem. And it needs to be crimped since it is going into a marlin 336 lever action.

How much does one of these stoney point things cost, and what is ogive??

thanks again.