Question about OAL vs Magazine length

[SnkBit]

I am VERY new to reloading and have a few questions. The one thats bothering me at the moment is OAL vs Magazine length. The numbers listed will be theoretical so don't get off on the wrong tangent. Lets say my magazine will only accept an OAL of 2.810" and the rifle likes the OAL to be 2.84". I have seen people true the meplat for accuracy but could it be cut back .030" to allow the cartidge to fit the mag without killing the integrity or accuracy of the round? Or would it be more accurate if it was just loaded to the 2.81" and left alone?

 

[High Binder]

Re: Question about OAL vs Magazine length

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SnkBit</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am VERY new to reloading and have a few questions. The one thats bothering me at the moment is OAL vs Magazine length. The numbers listed will be theoretical so don't get off on the wrong tangent. Lets say my magazine will only accept an OAL of 2.810" and the rifle likes the OAL to be 2.84". I have seen people true the meplat for accuracy but could it be cut back .030" to allow the cartidge to fit the mag without killing the integrity or accuracy of the round? Or would it be more accurate if it was just loaded to the 2.81" and left alone? </div></div>

You can trim but it's not worth the hassle. I would load for what your rifle likes which means you may have to single load and skip the mag all together or invest in new bottom metal that will allow for longer mags. Or you could just experiment until you found a load that meets you OAL requirements and shoot good too. Point being that you have a lot of options.

 

[SnkBit]

Re: Question about OAL vs Magazine length

I don't want to single feed, it's for an AR10 variant. I was just curious if it was worth the effort to cut back the meplat in order to seat the ogive where the rifle likes it.

 

[High Binder]

Re: Question about OAL vs Magazine length

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SnkBit</div><div class="ubbcode-body">it's for an AR10 variant. </div></div>

Oh, haha, that would suck! I think your best bet is to load to a little shy of the max your mag will accept and the bolt will cycle and then develop a load based on those factors, starting with a lower charge and working your way up.

 

[SnkBit]

Re: Question about OAL vs Magazine length

Alright, thanks.

 

[TrooperBrian]

Re: Question about OAL vs Magazine length

I've had to load .308s at .193" over MaxCOAL to even reach the lands on my Rem700, and I have to single feed them. So its a tradeoff. Feed it what it likes.

 

[JSTARSZ]

Re: Question about OAL vs Magazine length

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SnkBit</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am VERY new to reloading and have a few questions. The one thats bothering me at the moment is OAL vs Magazine length. The numbers listed will be theoretical so don't get off on the wrong tangent. Lets say my magazine will only accept an OAL of 2.810" and the rifle likes the OAL to be 2.84". I have seen people true the meplat for accuracy but could it be cut back .030" to allow the cartidge to fit the mag without killing the integrity or accuracy of the round? Or would it be more accurate if it was just loaded to the 2.81" and left alone?</div></div>
Wait to you have multiple 308 rifles and they all like different length cartridges. But, if it is a semi I go to mag length and leave it at that. Single loading to me may shows me I can get better accuracy but so what. In a real world scenario I can't use it that way. If I am in a match then I can do that. But, as the Army taught me - "train as you fight"

 

[SnkBit]

Re: Question about OAL vs Magazine length

Ok, let's take this one step further. If I'm understanding correctly the reason for seating the bullet long is to seat the ogive in a certain relation to the lands where the barrel likes to shoot. If that is the case and we determine a certain gun/barrel likes bullets seated to 2.84" but the magazine will only allow 2.81" could we bump the barrel back the .030" so that we could load our cartridges to 2.81" and seat the ogive in its "sweet" spot as well.

 

[JSTARSZ]

Re: Question about OAL vs Magazine length

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SnkBit</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ok, let's take this one step further. If I'm understanding correctly the reason for seating the bullet long is to seat the ogive in a certain relation to the lands where the barrel likes to shoot. If that is the case and we determine a certain gun/barrel likes bullets seated to 2.84" but the magazine will only allow 2.81" could we bump the barrel back the .030" so that we could load our cartridges to 2.81" and seat the ogive in its "sweet" spot as well.</div></div>
Could you do that: yes but it isn't that simple. Not all rifles like to shoot close to the lands. In fact, if you check manufactured ammo, i.e Federal 168 Gold Match, Black Hills 168 BTHP and others you will see that they are all below COAL of 2.8 and are usually around 2.78. And, that is supposed to be what we aspire to in our reloads and they are not being shot close to the lands in any of my rifles. I don’t want to become a Bench rest shooter so my concern for the best MOA shooter is of concern but not my only concern. Being able to carry that beast in the field is one of my biggest concern. For example, my GAP M40A3 is my best shooter by far; however, that thing all decked out weighs about 17lbs. I have other rifles that have shorter barrels and weigh less. They are not the best shooters but they weigh less than 12lbs. They can hit their mark but they are not going to be the best MOA shooter on the line.