COAL too long

[jaym_100]

To have my bullets close to the lands my rounds will not fit in my magazine. I am using a Rem 700 5r and basically use it as a single shot. Actually it is the same way with my 300 WSM. Is this how most people do it or should I just keep the COAL the same as factory loads so they fit in the mag.

 

[BobinNC]

Re: COAL too long

I don't know most people do it, but I select my COAL as the <span style="font-weight: bold">lessor</span> of:

1) Distance to the lands or
2) My max mag box length

That's because I use repeaters, and prefer that my loads feed though the magazine.

So if my mag box was 2.840" long, I would load my rounds to a COAL of 2.830", or 0.010" under to allow for irregularities in the OAL of my bullets.

If you prefer a single shot rifle, ignore your mag box and chase the lands.

 

[gvanhyning]

Re: COAL too long

You want your bullet off the lands where you get the highest level of accuracy. The COAL you end up with may or may not fit in your magazine. It ends up being your decision on whether you want accuracy or a round that fits in the magazine. There is a fix that you may want to explore, that is new bottom metal. On my GAP Rock I have Badger Ordnance M4 and it will accommodate a 2.850" OAL for .308 Win. If you decide to go with a clip feed type like the M5 just make sure it's uses the AICS type clip. The HS Precision bottom metal for clip feed will only accommodate factory length ammo.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: COAL too long

Try both, decide which works better for you. Others can't answer this question for you.

How I deal with this depends on the application.

Most of mine involve bolt guns being fired in a slow-fire match cadence. In these cases, I load to the length which provides optimal accuracy and sengle feed each round.

Other applications require sustained fire at a significantly more rapid cadence. In these cases, magazine feeding length is necessary, and I shoot from a full magazine.

Greg

 

[TonyAngel]

Re: COAL too long

It appears that Remingtons have notoriously long throats and your issue is not unique. When I was shooting a stock Remington, I just loaded to mag length and didn't worry about, since the rifle was shooting really well.

If you feel that you just have to get closer to the lands, a solution that has already been mentioned is going with a magazine system that allows longer bullets. This will allow you to seat longer, but I feel that it just treats the symptom and not the problem. You really don't want to wind up with bullets that are barely seated because you wanted to get closer to the lands. The best way to address this issue would be to have your gunsmith set the barrel back and recut the chamber with a reamer that won't cut the throat so deep.

When I had my barrel done, I had was shooting 168SMKs, so my smith cut my chamber for 168s. Now, when I load 168s to 2.8", they .010 off of the lands.

 

[vman]

Re: COAL too long

You have a few options here...

A) Take your rifle to a smith and get him to set the chamber back a little so that your throat isnt so long.

B) Use Alpha Industries mags and trim your feed ramp

C) Do both A & B

D) Single feed

There are many options, and really none of them are a major set back in any way.

Take the advice above, and do some tests on seating depth. You may find a stellar load that has some jump to it.

 

[sakoluvr]

Re: COAL too long

As stated, some bullets jump well, others not so much. I load to magazine constraints on all hunting rifles. You can probably load to a longer COAL than factory rounds, but not much. It just depends on your mag and how well it feeds.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: COAL too long

When I ordered my identical pair of L-W .260 barrels, I requested 'shorter throats' as a hedge against throat wear. 1K rounds or so later, the rounds touch at 2.9".

 

[notquiteright]

Re: COAL too long

Apparently remington long throats their rifles due to an old 220grain round nose.

Some bullets need a special distance from the lands.

I use the Amax series in 308 and dont see any real advantage to chasing the lands vs loading a round that can feed from the magazine, ummm not 'clip' as one poster calls em.

That said, all but my LTR have custom barrels chambered for spitzer bullets and thus dont have that far to fly before engaging the lands.

But the LTR gives up nothing when shooting 100 yard groups.

Other bullets may profit from special OAL, but I dont see the need in Amaxs.

 

[kill_goose]

Re: COAL too long

I load to .010" under max mag length. Im loading for hunting, and I want to be able to magazine feed.

My last .308, loading to a magazine feedable length put me .08" from the lands.

Guess what, it was every bit as accurate there as loading it right to the lands, which I also tried. Just because you arent "on" the lands, doesnt mean it will be innacurate.

Experiment. Depending on bullet type, you may find several lengths that work well.