COAL question?

[SIKwitIT]

Is there anyway to measure the COAL with out using the hornady gauge and modified case? Its an AR platform in 6.5 creedmoor. Ill be using the hornady 147gr eld-m bullets, i have some asc magazines on the way that will accept up to 2.865 length. So i have some seating room to play with.
-thanks

[stilly]

No calipers?

[Witch Hunter]

You can seat a bullet long and see if it chambers. Use a sharpie and color the bullet. Keep turning down your seater die until it chambers. Then measure it. This will be at the lands as soon as it does not leave lands marks on your bullet. It may take several tries to find your chamber and throat length, but it will work. Don't use live ammo, just dummy rounds without a primer. You can pull bullets and start over once you find your maximum length.

[SIKwitIT]

I cut 2 slits the neck, seated a bullet out far then slowly pushed the round/bcg into battery. I did this 3 times and on the 3rd time there were no marks on the bullet. It came out to 2.895

[stilly]

There ya have it then.

Give it up for Calipers!