reloading tolerances

[scotty1969]

dont know if its been talked about cant find anything:when reloading say .223 rounds case length is 1.760 ive been a machinist now for about 25 years can anyone tell me what the safe + or - would be for this stuff and for oal also. if i use a 55 gr. bullet its more oal than for a 45 gr bullet i guess my question is how close should you hold these tolerances               thanks in advance

[Curly]

My reloading manual say max length is 1.760 and the trim to length is 1.750. 

[Curly]

OAL really depends on your rifle.  You need to make sure that the bullet isn't jammed into the lands.  My Speer book shows the COL that the load was tested, but what is safe is dependent on your particular rifle.  You'd need to make up a dummy round or use an OAL gage to determine the length of your particular bullet/case combo in relation to your lands.

[Heredoggydoggy]

If you are reloading for an AR, the magazine pretty much dictates COAL.  I know the manual says 1.760, but with some bullets, even that is a hair too long.  I try to stay around 1.750, and see how they fit in the magazine if it's a new style of bullet.  Polymer mags are a bit thicker than metal mags, so that is where I run into problems with the published COAL, I suppose... 

[scotty1969]

wow quick replies thank you.so the 1.760 would be a general max and.01 short is a good start?im using bolt only for these loads

[h20hunter]

You can also get a chamber measure thing......


OAL gauge.

[scotty1969]

how much difference will a little longer or shorter on the case really make if the oal of the round is dead on?

[Curly]

A little shorter case would be ok, but longer could cause the case to get stuck in your chamber.

[scotty1969]

ok thanks.....now what about bullets whats the difference with say a straight or a boat tail as far as loading goes?reason i ask this is i have loaded sierra 55 gr. spitzer and they were fine ran out couldnt find anything for weeks today i found 400 55 gr. fmj-bt so i bought them now i want to load them but there is a difference in the shape(boat tail) and these are also with cannelure  any real diff in how i load them these are not in my book

[BigD]

I have only been re-loading for a short time, but from what I have read if to long you could jam a case or experience over pressure. I bought a box of lapua cases for my bolt 223 they were +/- .003 from the min trim lenth, that may give you an idea of where factory cases start out new. I have shot them twice and now they are up to 1.754-1.756. My thought was to stay at 1.757 as my max. My gun handles them fine so far.

[scotty1969]

what is the min trim length on a .223? 1.750?

[BigD]

My reloading manual say max length is 1.760 and the trim to length is 1.750.

[scotty1969]

i guess mine does also but doesnt say specifically min case length lol. so +- .005.got it thanks for your help

[BigD]

sent you a pm