Texas10
01-31-2017, 10:46 AM
I just completed my first build, a 6mm BR assembled entirely from parts I bought on this site and began the loading process. In trying to find a seating depth for my 105 BTHP Match, I could not get a consistent reading on my Hornaday OAL tool. The difference in OAL measurements from a light tap to a firmer push was .142, an impossible spread to work with.
I thought about what I was trying to do, and then came up with a simple idea. I took one of my fire formed and FL sized Norma cases and drilled and tapped the head for a 6-32 thread, and then seated a bullet long.
Using an old 3 piece cleaning rod, I screwed a section into the back of the case and inserted it into the chamber. I could quite easily feel the bullet stick into the lands. I removed it, seated the bullet deeper using my RCBS micrometer seating die, and repeated the process.
When I had it down to about 2-3 thou in the lands, I inserted a cleaning rod down the muzzle and using both hands, could shuttle the bullet back and forth into and back out of the lands. It was quite easy to feel when I was engaging the lands. A couple of more trips into the seating die and I had a perfect measurement to touching the lands, but that was with a 105 A-Max.
When I again tried the BTHP I found it was a slightly fatter bullet, and would drag in throat before hitting the lands. But using this method, I still could seat to touch by shuttling it back and forth.
Anyone need a Hornaday OAL gage? I got a spare one now :cool:
I thought about what I was trying to do, and then came up with a simple idea. I took one of my fire formed and FL sized Norma cases and drilled and tapped the head for a 6-32 thread, and then seated a bullet long.
Using an old 3 piece cleaning rod, I screwed a section into the back of the case and inserted it into the chamber. I could quite easily feel the bullet stick into the lands. I removed it, seated the bullet deeper using my RCBS micrometer seating die, and repeated the process.
When I had it down to about 2-3 thou in the lands, I inserted a cleaning rod down the muzzle and using both hands, could shuttle the bullet back and forth into and back out of the lands. It was quite easy to feel when I was engaging the lands. A couple of more trips into the seating die and I had a perfect measurement to touching the lands, but that was with a 105 A-Max.
When I again tried the BTHP I found it was a slightly fatter bullet, and would drag in throat before hitting the lands. But using this method, I still could seat to touch by shuttling it back and forth.
Anyone need a Hornaday OAL gage? I got a spare one now :cool: