Shorter OAL than Factory Ammo with Hornady Comparator?? not uncommon?

[GBOGH]

So I bought a bunch of factory 143 ELD-X PRC ammo mostly to get brass but also to break in my new 6.5 PRC. running a Bartlein barrel on it. I measured the factory bullet on the comparator and got 2.307. so I finally got my cases for the Hornady oal for the 6.5 PRC....pushed them in with a bullet and measured 2.238 .... is it fairly common that a factory load may be pushing the lands tight as is and I actually need to back way off?

or is it clear I am doing something strangely wrong here???

 

[308pirate]

I would re-do the CBTO to the lands measurement a few more times to make sure you get repeatable results.

Then, if you do, might want to bounce your findings with whomever built your rifle.

 

[GBOGH]

ok redid about 5 times with several bullets. looks like I am at 2.300 or so .. the factory bullets are 2.305 ...so basically right on ... ill use these to get brass and then I will go back to my load ladder and with the nodes I liked load to about 2.26 or so to start so about 0.04 off the lands. ill see how that plays and adjust up/down accordingly..

 

[TheOfficeT-Rex]

Sounds like you have a chamber with a short throat.

It's only a problem if you stick bullets or factory ammo shows pressure signs.

 

[Doom]

To use the comparator you need to use the same bullet to find the lands. The comparator measures a point on the ogive and different bullets will touch the lands at different points on the ogive.

 

[GBOGH]

I have used the same bullet the whole time just different ones from the same lot of 143g box of 100 so not diff bullets but different ones in same lot.

 

[GBOGH]

I also took several from the lot and measured them on their own to ensure some consistency prior to using them in the comparator

 

[leclairk]

To use the comparator you need to use the same bullet to find the lands. The comparator measures a point on the ogive and different bullets will touch the lands at different points on the ogive.

Just to clarify, if I find the lands with a Berger but plan to load a Nosler, I need to find the lands with the Nosler.

 

[Bullspotter]

Just to clarify, if I find the lands with a Berger but plan to load a Nosler, I need to find the lands with the Nosler.

This is correct.