nosler ?

[m_due151]

I picked up a box of 150 gr .30 cal nosler ballistic tips . ive heard good stuff about them so figured why not try them out. only problem is that there is no COL for the bullets. can i use te col from a hornady bullet with the same weight? im confused thanks!

[ironhiide]

Use the listed SAAMI Overall length. What are you reloading btw?

[Whiterabbit]

As a general rule of thumb, try subtracting the difference in bullet length from the COL. That way, the base of the bullet is in the same spot for each cartridge.

In other words, COL of 3" with bullet A which is 1" long, and want to use bullet B of the same weight which is magically 2" long, use a COL of 4", and the BASE of the bullet will be in the same spot.

Verify feeding, land clearance, etc.

edit:

What you are ultimately talking about is just ONE bullet with an unknown COL. Here's another recommendation: Two schools of thought say seat the bullet till loading density is close to 100% (aka seat bullet till base just touches the powder). You can look up powder specs to see if it's sensitive to empty space in the cartridge (ie trailboss, dont compress, or H110, don't leave empty space).

The other school of thought is seat just off the lands. Some say jam it in there, some say .05 off, some say work up a load then vary the OAL to test. MY gun has such a long throat that I can't seat bullets like that anyways unless they are heavy-for-caliber solid copper or solid brass bullets. So I won't be much help there. But I CAN tell you I have a load that shots light for caliber bullets at radioactive speeds and there is a mile and a half jump from the case to the lands due to that long throat. Groups great at 100 yards (who knows past that).

So you'll get to experiment

[m_due151]

im reloadinf for a weatherby vanguard in 308 win and a model 70 243 wssm...it gives one length but it sticks out so far that it doesnt look safe...whiterabbit lll try that tonight thanks!

[Whiterabbit]

They even feed in my mauser just fine.

Though I DID pull one out of the chamber once and it was a mess of powder everywhere. I guess the benchrest shooters complain of such things.

[m_due151]

^that is the result i got and that does not look right..does not llook like the bullet is in there enough or safe.

[m_due151]

whos complaining?

[Whiterabbit]

I don't care if it LOOKS right. I care if it feeds and cycles. (from my bolt gun.)

Most important, I care if it groups.

Those rounds feed and extract just fine. Those rounds will drop the bullet if I pull a loaded round, but I don't care, they were meant for bench shooting tiny groups. Which they do VERY WELL for a hunting rifle!

I have other loads that look just as ridiculous but use heavy round nose bullets and look exactly the same. Those can do it all.

Looks mean nothing to me. A bullet can LOOK unsafe and be totally fine. That's all I care about!