Anybody know why Factory 308 COAL is shorter than Most reloading Data suggest the reloader use?

Factory ammo is typically shorter because it has to fit in ALL magazines and ALL chambers; however the SAMMI or whatever the acronym is max length should fit in all chambers/magazines.

How is the reloading data suggesting you do it? I don't think I have ever seen a suggested loading length that I can think of.

Only reason I can come up with is that factory ammunition is loaded to specifications that allow it to work in all factory rifles of that chambering. I've never shot enough factory ammunition to pay any attention to it.

REDCHEVY beat me to it.

FWIW, all reloading manuals that I have seen show a OAL for every bullet they are referencing in the data. I rarely load to those lengths, but they are published.

The 2.800 seems a little long to me but its what the books says for most 308 loadings.
I just happened to notice factory run around 2.7-2.75.

Then comes all the seating depth questions with round nose verses pointed.

I just know that a 308 case with 43 grains of varget looks full and pushing the bullet down to 2.7 seems like you have a compact load. Then with the load at 2.8, my bolt closes a little snug. I'm sure I'm overthinking it.

I dunno I'm pretty new and don't really know enough to ask the right questions.

Yup. Made to fit in all magazines and chambers. Which, technically is not something the hand-loader is bound by. Load your ammo to fit, and work, in your rifle.

It all depends on the tip to ogive length.

You can likely get a bit more info from the guys here if they knew what bullet you were shooting, and what gun it is in.

A snug bolt might be caused by more than the bullet being pushed in to the lands. Over length brass can cause this also. I've loaded 308 at 2.800" before and wasn't even close. But it all depends on the bullet in question.

I'm about to go load up a few Hornady 180gn interlocks.
Rifle is a savage hog hunter in 308.
I have about 60 rounds through it so it's still pretty new.
The bolt closes at 2.8 but it's just a little snug. Could be cause it's still new. Don't recal it being tight with 150s or 125 factories but it could of been.
My local range has been closed going on 4 weeks. They are building up the berm. Apparently some one over shot and hit a house 1200 yards away. Ridiculous.
Won't have a chance to shoot any reloads until they open.
Good news is my savage and 700 are zeroes so I'm good to go as far as hunting goes.
Since purchasing my reloading equipment I plan to be an all year shooter.
Also loading 223 and 44 mag which have been a breeze.

If I were in your shoes I would spend $35 or so and get the Hornady OAL gauge and the appropriate case for it to see exactly how far off you are seating the bullets. That would tell you an awful lot about what you are doing.

Dremel a case mouth longitudinally, then size it. Seat a bullet long, measure case head to ogive, with a bullet comparator, write it down, chamber it, extract the dummy round, measure again, write it down. Set the seating stem for a shorter round, but still longer than the "after chambering" measurement. Repeat, until you can load a bullet, chamber it, extract it, and the measurement does not change. Then you will know where your lands are.