308 OAL

I'm just getting set up to reload 178gr A Max 308's. When I seated the bullet in the brass with the bolt of the Savage Edge it took the OAL to 2.890. I put it in the press and took it down to 2.887. I then painted it with a Sharpe and put it back in the gun to see if it hit anywhere, it did not. So, if I back it off ten thousandths more it will be. 2.877.
That is more than the maximum OAL length for a 308 and the Lyman reloading manual I just bought said it's test cartridge with 178gr A Max OAL was 2.78.

So where do I start?

You aren't going to find many rifles that are throated so that you can jam the bullets in the rifling when seated to SAAMI COAL. Most 308-class magazines are gonna limit seating depth to a max of around 2.825-2.850 or so. Work around a round that you can fit in the magazine, and tune with powder charges to start. You can then fine tune with seating depth once you are happy with the powder charge. I would recommend Varget or RL15 to start with as far as powder goes.

Happy to help,

Kevin

My 308 is built on a Mauser 98 action with a Parker Hale heavy barrel. Being control round feed, I have to seat in the mag but, the Mauser mag box is generous enough (because of the 8X57 cartridge) to where I can seat into the lands with my 150 grain SMKs and 155 grain Palmas and still feed from the mag.