[1st Time Reloader] Seated a bullet .005" too deep...

[Elucidus]

It's a starting load, .308 win, XMR2495, 168gr bullet, 2.8cc charge.

Cartridge OAL is 2.795, spec calls for 2.800". Is it shootable? I'm not hoping for the best accuracy out of this particular one, after all, it's my first set.

I have another cartridge @2.6xx and I'm not even dreaming of shooting that one. Time to buy a bullet puller.

When min OAL is 2.800, what spec should I shoot for? (obviously 2.800-2.801, but what's a safe range?)

P.S. - I am prepared for the RTFM posts, I'm powering through the manual for an answer at the same time...

[Jonathan Doe]

I never cared for my OAL in rifle rounds. If it fits the magazine, it is good to go. I load for accuracy, and I seat the bullets out about .010" from the rifling. Is it too long? Probably not.

.005" is nothing to worry about. I always measure the seating depth on ogive, not the bullet tip.

[30Cal]

0.005" is nothing.

You will see variation from one to the next due to variation in bullets. Measuring each one will accomplish zero. On fodder bullets you might see as much as 15-20 thousandths from shortest to longest. The location and condition of the bullet tip doesn't really have a lot to do with how the bullet flies. The ogive does, but it's not usually a very strong factor.

168's generally aren't very picky about seating depth.

[brian.243]

True .005 is not much shoot it as a fouling shot. OR if ou have one of the hammer type of bullet pullers a few taps on your bench should move the bullet out enough to reset it to the desired OAL.

[Linus]

Did you measure of the tip or ogive? Either way .005 is nothing to worry about.

[Elucidus]

I measured the complete OAL (to the tip).

How does one measure the ogive? I would assume that the ogive begins at the decreasing radius and ends at the tip.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=1165395943

These are Hornady 168gr match HPBTs. Very flat top with the slightest hollow.

[Linus]

THe ogive is at the curvature of the bullet as shown below:

Measuring from the tip is not accurate enough since the length varys a lot compared to the ogive location.

[Linus]

I measured the complete OAL (to the tip).

How does one measure the ogive? I would assume that the ogive begins at the decreasing radius and ends at the tip.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=1165395943

These are Hornady 168gr match HPBTs. Very flat top with the slightest hollow.

You measure at the ogive by using a bullet comparator mounted on a caliper.

http://www.sinclairintl.com/product/10477/Bullet-Comparators

[bruceflinch]

For my bolt guns, I use the Ogive method.
For the semi-autos I use the OAL.

[Elucidus]

Here's part of the complete batch.



They'll be "unloaded" this weekend, if the weather's nice.

Am I looking for a consistent measurement on ogive if I use one of the caliper tools? How should the ogive measurement compare to OAL?

[ar15barrels]

What a great illustration.
Where did you find that?