OAL question

[xbimmers]

I've read some threads on OAL but still have qustions. I load pistol and rifle. My question is with rifle specifically 30-06.

In regards to the listed maximum OAL in the manual, I understand not to exceed the listed measurement. However, I can't find anywhere on what is the deepest I can seat a bullet into the case. I understand pressures increase the deeper I seat. Also, the bullets I have include a crimp area. When I seat the bullets and crimp in that area the OAL is less than the maximum OAL. At work right now so I don't have the measurement of how much the difference actually is.

Is it correct to assume seating and crimping at the crimping area of the bullet produces a safe OAL?

Also, if and when I load bullets with no crimping area, is it okay not to crimp?

[rsrocket1]

Yes it is safe so long as you are not loading to the maximum listed load. Chances are that with 30-06, you won't be exceeding that by a dangerous amount even if you do, but why risk it?

As for crimping, in just about all cases, the neck tension ought to be enough to hold the bullet in during handling and shooting. The recoil of a 30-06 rifle is long and wide, not like a 357 magnum in a 2 pound revolver. I doubt that you are loading for a lever gun, so you don't have to worry about setback in a tube magazine. That being said, you should have enough neck tension so that you absolutely should not be able to push the bullet in or pull it out with your fingers. If you can, the neck isn't sized properly and either the die is not doing its job or the neck has been work hardened too much.

Max OAL is the dimension that is used to ensure proper feeding in industry standard magazines. Bolt action shooters often seat longer and some cast boolit shooters seat much much longer.

Aside from pressure concerns, you do not want to seat the bullet so deep that any part of the bullet is sticking below the neck of the case. You can estimate that by simply holding a bullet next to an empty case.

Hope that helps.

[xbimmers]

Thank you. I will load to the low side of the powder recommendations to ensure there is no pressue issues until I get more experienced in rifle case loading.

Yes it is safe so long as you are not loading to the maximum listed load. Chances are that with 30-06, you won't be exceeding that by a dangerous amount even if you do, but why risk it?

As for crimping, in just about all cases, the neck tension ought to be enough to hold the bullet in during handling and shooting. The recoil of a 30-06 rifle is long and wide, not like a 357 magnum in a 2 pound revolver. I doubt that you are loading for a lever gun, so you don't have to worry about setback in a tube magazine. That being said, you should have enough neck tension so that you absolutely should not be able to push the bullet in or pull it out with your fingers. If you can, the neck isn't sized properly and either the die is not doing its job or the neck has been work hardened too much.

Max OAL is the dimension that is used to ensure proper feeding in industry standard magazines. Bolt action shooters often seat longer and some cast boolit shooters seat much much longer.

Aside from pressure concerns, you do not want to seat the bullet so deep that any part of the bullet is sticking below the neck of the case. You can estimate that by simply holding a bullet next to an empty case.

Hope that helps.

[Gunsrruss]

30.06

I just Crono'd my 30.06 that I use in the Grand. I was loading 47gr of 4895 on a 173gr bullet with an OAL of 3.300. The velocity was about 2640. Now at 200 yards I shot a best 198 and 11 "X's" out of 200 points. My Grand is also bedded and has national match sights.

[24Sailor]

I've read some threads on OAL but still have qustions. Also, the bullets I have include a crimp area. When I seat the bullets and crimp in that area the OAL is less than the maximum OAL. At work right now so I don't have the measurement of how much the difference actually is.

Is it correct to assume seating and crimping at the crimping area of the bullet produces a safe OAL?

Also, if and when I load bullets with no crimping area, is it okay not to crimp?

Well you're loading for 30.06. The bullets you're using can be components to varied cartridges 30-40 Krag, 308 Win., 300 magnuns, 7.62mm and the list goes on. Recomended COAL for a particular bullet with a crimp canulure may not always seat the bullet to the case mouth....In my experience with 30.06 it usually does though if the case is trimmed properly. Granted I've only loaded a few different brands of bullets and now have settled on a very few that turn my old 30.06 into a tack driver.

I also load .308 Win., .243 Win., 6mm Rem. and 8 x 57mm (JS) in bolt action rifle calibers. I do play with OAL but never shorter, always longer. Matter of fact I need to go clean the powder out of my mauser magazine. So much for the rumor all the German 98k's are real long throated. Seated a Nosler 200 gr. partition (which is a little blunt compared to a standard spritzer) to max cartridge COAL of 3.250" & it jammed in the lands so hard I couldn't close the bolt. Extracted the case, less bullet, and powder flew everywhere. Ran a few more trials and found these bullets touch the lands at ~3.160" in my rifle.