Forums46
Topics537,805
Posts9,729,342
Members87,042
|
Most Online25,604 Feb 12th, 2024
|
|
|
COAL Question
#5920920
09/10/15 12:25 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 173
Hunter Gatherer
OP
Woodsman
|
OP
Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 173 |
Please let me apologize up front for my ignorance. I bought a Sinclair International bullet seating depth tool because I wanted to be as accurate as possible determining my COAL. I followed the instructions and got repeated results that were consistent. Now I'm not sure what to do with this information. Again, sorry for such ignorance, but I'm just not sure where to go from here. What's the next step in deterring seating depth?
I understand that these dimensions will change with each type and brand of bullet, etc. but I wasn't expecting the length to be so much greater than the SAAMI standard. Maybe that's what's throwing me off. Thanks for any help or advice.
|
|
|
Re: COAL Question
[Re: Hunter Gatherer]
#5920933
09/10/15 12:29 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,942
ChadTRG42
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,942 |
Don't pay attention to the standard book length. Seat the bullet to your rifles' chamber and/or magazine. Depending on what type of bullet you are running, depends on where to seat it. For example, if you plan to run a Berger VLD, it is a secant ogive bullet (the type of the radius angle where the bullet goes to full diameter). A secant ogive bullet can be seating depth sensitive. It, generally, likes to be seated very close to the rifling to shoot well. So, it depends a lot on the caliber and bullet you are running on where to seat it.
|
|
|
Re: COAL Question
[Re: Hunter Gatherer]
#5920955
09/10/15 12:40 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,163
J.G.
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,163 |
^^What Chad said^^
Also, now you will know where your rifling is from the case head. You can decide to load jammed in the lands, even with the lands, or jumping to the lands. All measured in thousandths of an inch.
SAAMI specs are for mass produced ammo and do not have any bearing on what the handloader does to produce ammo tuned to HIS rifle.
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
|
|
|
Re: COAL Question
[Re: Hunter Gatherer]
#5920983
09/10/15 12:49 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,517
RiverRider
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,517 |
There's no downside to being over the SAAMI OAL spec as long as 1. you're not jamming the bullet into the lands unintentionally when you chamber the round AND 2. your finished cartridges will fit the magazine of your rifle and feed properly.
If you can't get a particular bullet to seat so that it will be "close enough to the lands," don't sweat it. Many times there will be more than one sweet spot for OAL. Just choose a seating depth and adjust shorter and/or longer in experimentation, and keep good records.
"Arguing with you always makes me thirsty." -Augustus McRae
|
|
|
Re: COAL Question
[Re: Hunter Gatherer]
#5924867
09/12/15 03:19 AM
|
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,499
charlesb
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,499 |
A cheapie way to determine seating depth for a given bullet: This assumes that you have a dial caliper.
With a decapped neck-sized case (for your gun) that is extra, or nearing the end of its service life, use a thin Dremel cutting disk to cut a slot down one side of the neck, from the case mouth down almost to the shoulder. De-burr the slot. Make sure the prepared case chambers OK. - Maybe neck-size it again.
Use a magic marker or sharpie to blacken the sides of the bullet to be tested. Seat it in the case by hand, very shallow. ( Maybe 1/4 inch)
Carefully single-load the resulting "cartridge" into the gun, and very slowly close and lock the bolt. Now, slowly open the bolt and pull out the "cartridge" being careful not to disturb the bullet, which will now be seated just the right depth to touch the lands.
If you examine the bullet in the case, the blackening on the sides will reassure you that it did not get stuck on the lands and get partially pulled back out. If it did, you will see where the black was rubbed off as the bullet moved outward again. - If all is well though, use a dial caliper to measure the COAL, which will be the length for having that bullet touch the lands.
Subtract how ever many thousandths of jump that you prefer (I like 15-20 thousandths) and this new number will be your ideal COAL with that bullet.
Keep the altered case around to do the same thing with other bullets for that gun. It's cheap, but it is also very effective if you don't have a specialized tool handy.
If the altered cartridge case starts to lose its grip, neck-size it again.
Last edited by charlesb; 09/12/15 03:28 AM.
Kind regards, charlesb
|
|
|
Re: COAL Question
[Re: Hunter Gatherer]
#5925892
09/13/15 02:23 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,517
RiverRider
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,517 |
A good method indeed. I usually repeat the first step a number of times to make sure I'm getting a true length, so I do not use or need a marker. I would strongly suggest using a comparator with your caliper for taking measurements. It really is a lot more consistent.
"Arguing with you always makes me thirsty." -Augustus McRae
|
|
|
Re: COAL Question
[Re: Hunter Gatherer]
#5926245
09/13/15 02:44 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 22,630
Cast
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 22,630 |
I tried the dremel slot method and found it too tedious. It just didn't hold the bullet still. I found myself taking several measurements and averaging. Threw it out and bought the Stoney Point tool. Solid as a rock. Repeatable. Accurate.
Get the tool. Hornady is now making the tool.
Cast I have a short attention spa
|
|
|
Re: COAL Question
[Re: Hunter Gatherer]
#5926264
09/13/15 03:00 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,517
RiverRider
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,517 |
The split neck method is very repeatable. If done CORRECTLY.
"Arguing with you always makes me thirsty." -Augustus McRae
|
|
|
Re: COAL Question
[Re: Hunter Gatherer]
#5926276
09/13/15 03:11 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 22,630
Cast
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 22,630 |
If the tool was free you would have one. Grumpy.
Cast I have a short attention spa
|
|
|
Re: COAL Question
[Re: Hunter Gatherer]
#5926304
09/13/15 03:40 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,517
RiverRider
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,517 |
"Arguing with you always makes me thirsty." -Augustus McRae
|
|
|
Moderated by bigbob_ftw, CCBIRDDOGMAN, Chickenman, Derek, DeRico, Duck_Hunter, hetman, jeh7mmmag, JustWingem, kmon11, kry226, kwrhuntinglab, Payne, pertnear, rifleman, sig226fan (Rguns.com), Superduty, TreeBass, txcornhusker
|