Tool and method to find OAL?

[wraithen]

For all you reloaders, what is your preferred method to find a good starting point for OAL? So far I've seen the split case dummy technique and I've heard of others. What tool do you guys use? If it's homemade and you wouldn't mind posting a picture that would be nice of ya! 

On a sidenote, I think I start way too many threads but I can't find what I search for very easily sometimes. Sorry if this is hashing up something already discussed ad naseum.

[carpsniperg2]

A good high quality caliper is your friend in reloading Start with what the book says the COAL with what ever bullet you are shooting. Then just make them a little longer with each set and play with it tell you find what your rifle likes. You must be careful there is some bad stuff that can happen when you get to long.

[wraithen]

I read up on the dangers with increasing OAL in addition to the benefits which is the reason I asked. I need a good way to be really precise. I get that calipers will measure whichever way I use but I was curious of actual technique. IF I ever decide to start playing closer to the lands I want to be as exacting and precise as possible.

[actionshooter]

I load a round long, with no crimp and chamber it. Use a sharpie marker to verify it touched the lands and moved in the case.  Then back it off 30thou and start working there.

[hub]

I use a stoney point overall length gauge which was bought out by hornady. It is now called the Lock-N-Load O.A.L gauge. Cabellas and most all sporting goods outfits that sell reloading supplys carries this little goody. They are about 30 dollars. They are very easy to use and plenty accurate. You need a 6 inch dial caliper to go with it.

[dontgetcrabs]

I use a cleaning rod. Close bolt run rod down barrel till it hits bolt face, mark rod. Next take bullet you are using drop it into chamber and hold against lands with eraser end of pencil, run rod down barrel till it hits nose of bullet and mark the rod. Then just measure between the marks on the rod. Make sure you have something flat threaded on the cleaning rod so the tip of the bullet does not go inside of the hollow rod.

[carpsniperg2]

Some one posted a great write up on how to do it with a couple of wood sticks down the barrel. Seemed pretty cool and seemed like it would work well. Don't remember who it was on this site that posted it.

[b23]

X2 with what hub said.  Lock-N-load OAL gauge makes it about as easy it gets.

[Biggerhammer]

I use a cleaning rod. Close bolt run rod down barrel till it hits bolt face, mark rod. Next take bullet you are using drop it into chamber and hold against lands with eraser end of pencil, run rod down barrel till it hits nose of bullet and mark the rod. Then just measure between the marks on the rod. Make sure you have something flat threaded on the cleaning rod so the tip of the bullet does not go inside of the hollow rod.

It's not to often I hear something that I haven't heard when it comes to reloading. I like it!

[hub]

I did it with a cleaning rod for a long time. I cut off a plastic cleaning rod tip in order to have a flat surface to just touch the bullet. It works nicely.

[Fl0und3rz]

http://wildernessmeans.com/articles/hand-loading/hand-loading-for-long-range/rilflings

Essentially the same as some others posted here, but perhaps a little more precise than marking the cleaning rod with a marker.

Check out parts 1 and 2 also.  They are chock full of all sorts of information.

[grundy53]

I use a stoney point overall length gauge which was bought out by hornady. It is now called the Lock-N-Load O.A.L gauge. Cabellas and most all sporting goods outfits that sell reloading supplys carries this little goody. They are about 30 dollars. They are very easy to use and plenty accurate. You need a 6 inch dial caliper to go with it.

I also bought a set of these. I love it.

I load a round long, with no crimp and chamber it. Use a sharpie marker to verify it touched the lands and moved in the case.  Then back it off 30thou and start working there.

me too

[GregMcFadden]

if you are going to be actually measuring, and are not uniforming the melplat (tip) (spelling probably incorrect) you will see variation in the measurement of OAL even if the more critical dimension (lands to bullet) stays the same.    check this out: 

http://www.hornady.com/store/Lock-N-Load-Comparator-Set-Body-and-14-Bullet-Inserts-1-Each/

use the comparitor with the LNL OAL gauge to measure to the Ogive
http://www.hornady.com/store/Lock-N-Load-OAL-Gauge-Straight-1Each/

you will get more consistent measurements as well as be measuring more closely to what really matters (I am ignoring magazine feeding in that statement as that is about the only time that OAL will hinder you if you are too long).  Don't forget that meticulous documentation and statistics are your friend... 

[wraithen]

Thanks guys, there is a lot of good information coming. Hopefully some time in the next 6 months I'll have this underway and begin to get some great things accomplished. Don't worry though, I will be sure to ask a billion more questions.