I made a "dummy" round with a new never fired case. I seated the bullet very long. I chambered the round which pushed the bullet further in the case. I considered this COAL to be the distance to the lands. I then seated the bullet .02 inch deeper. Now is the bullet really seated .02 off the lands, or when I initially chambered the round the bullet was shoved way into the lands and my seating the bullet .02 more the bullet may still be touching the lands? Hope this question makes sense.

I use this method. However, I drill a small hole through the brass at the juncture of the neck and shoulder, then make a cut from the hole to the open end of the neck using a
Dremel wheel. Then I neck size it. This results in enough tension to hold the bullet, but not enough to force it deeply into the lands.

After seating you bullet using methods at are comfortable for you I recommend ether crimping the bullet or using a punch and "pinning" the bullet in place. Remember to do something to the case so you know its a dummy round. (example, drill hole on side of case.) Then you can always use that case for seating reference for that bullet. make sure it too is labeled. every bullet is different. if you use a lot of different bullets, you will get quite the pile.

After finding that, you can also make that cartridge a snap-cap by taking a peace of rubber or "eraser" from the dollar store and cutting to the size of the primer pocket and gluing it in place.

You can blacken the bullet with candle soot. Or use a Sharpie or Magic Marker. Re-insert the cartridge carefully into the chamber. If you're into the rifling, you'll see marks on the blackened bullet.

Also, do your initial procedure a few times and then average the results.

On pointed bullets, I use a Stoney Point OAL gauge to record my measurements. I measure to the bullet's ogive, not to the point which can get deformed very easily.

onefunzr2 X 2 That's the method I use and an expanding mandrel for just enough Neck tension

after Case trimming turning and sizing . Works well enough for me .