teach me about OAL

[CarbonMTN]

Just doing more research before I get into reloading.

So whats the best result for hand loading that you have found and why- Saami Spec OAL, Ogive length, or just go measurement of the jump from the lands?


Need a lot of input here! please and thank you

 

[Snuby642]

Wow lots of room for variables in that question.

You have 2 major differences.
Magazine length constrictions,
And bolt gun chamber variations.

Many threads already exist on the hide.

Bullet jump to the lands effects accuracy but varies load and caliber.

There is only a published load constant to work from.

 

[Snuby642]

Some place between published compressed loads and jamming your bullet into the lands is a sweet spot that you can use.

Advise is: STICK TO THE BOOK.
For now.

 

[1J04]

Although the pics that @TresMon posted using Photobucket for his awesome step by step guide are now blurred, I would highly suggest you go through each and every one of these 5 articles he took the time to post here 10 yrs ago until you know them inside and out. Then go from there.

EVERYTHING you need to know at this point regarding building something that is going to explode right by your face is in there. As @Snuby642 stated, your question is extremely open. Too open.

So go through these 5 posts till you can literally recite them and the verbiage so you and we know what you're talking about, then check back in. If you have someone near you that knows what they're doing, you'd be smart to see if they can mentor you. EVERYBODY over thinks this game at the beginning and makes it a bit harder than it needs to be. Therefore, the more you read up and learn now will be very beneficial, and SAFE, for you down the road. And it's a loooong road.

In regards to what you've asked, I'm confident in this reply:

1. Best Result for Handloading? There isn't one. It's literally gun by gun, bullet by bullet, case by case, powder by powder. And within just that, there's still a ton of info we're forced to leave out because of so many variables. Variables we try to control as a whole. And speaking of variables........

2. SAAMI Spec. SAAMI Spec is nothing but you and me being able to go to the local gunshop and buy a box of 30-06 factory ammo that we both can shoot in our guns with no problem. That's the simple answer and all you really need to know about that. We don't concern ourselves with SAAMI. We're reloaders, and as such, we build dang good ammo for OUR guns and our guns only.

3. SAAMI OAL. Again, we're Reloaders, and as such, we know COAL, which you're referring to, isn't going to give us near as good of measurement as CBTO, so we splurge on comparator's so we can measure off the Ogive since the Meplat can be wildly inconsistent.

4. Measurement regarding "Jump" off the Lands. So ya, again, we usually know this with any particular bullet because there are SEVERAL ways to skin that cat. Then we know, approximately, how far out we can seat a particular bullet before kissing/touching/jamming/hard jam/soft jam, whatever everyone calls it, but before we build "Bad Pressure" and at the very least end up with a hard bolt lift, or worse.

Pro Tip: Reloaders argue over all kinds of shit because some folks can't accept the fact there is truly several ways, methodology's, to achieving the SAME goal. If you're just getting into Reloading, I HIGHLY suggest you stay away from anything that even remotely resembles "JAM". Again, you're building something that is going to go BANG right in front of your face. You're probably gonna be building rounds that you want to magazine feed anyhow, unless you want to make your gun a single shot, so you're not gonna be anywhere near the lands more than likely. But you will want to know the number, none the less, of how far out you can seat a particular bullet before you're touching the lands. You can keep track of erosion as well.

Read, Read, Read. Then read some more. I'd suggest some videos on that site we all know, but there's a shit ton of bullshit on that site that can lead you down a bad path. Hell, we get some crazy ass shit posted up in here from time to time, but we have people that usually catch it and call them out HARD, as it should be.

Check these Posts of @TresMon . You'll be better off for it and you'll be able to ask clear, concise questions regarding your adventure, unlike my more than likely confusing blah blah blah. If you take any of this to heart, just read through the Sticky's.


https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/hand-loading-for-long-range-1-brass-case-prep.34176/

https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/hand-loading-for-long-range-2-bullet-sort-prep.34360/

https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/hand-loading-for-long-range-3-finding-start-oal.34665/

https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/hand-loading-for-long-range-4-powderin-it.35086/

https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/hand-loading-for-long-range-5-inspect-tips.35589/


Good luck, stay safe, and seriously, check back in as ya go...........

 

[Feif64]

Top Grade Ammo by Glen Zediker
Read this

 

[918v]

SAAMI spec oal might work extremely well and fit in the mag.

Close to the lands oal maximizes case capacity and allows you to use more powder to squeeze a few more FPS out of the load. But it often exceeds mag length and turns your rifle into a single shot.

Either will produce accurate ammo. You just have to play with the seating depth and use an appropriately shaped bullet. Generally, secants are easier to tune close to the lands, while tangents don’t care about jump length. They still require tuning, but you sometimes end up jumping .150” at the ideal oal.

Also, understand that bullet nose shapes restrict the oal range. Sometimes you cannot reach the lands with a certain bullet or load to SAAMI oal with another. Fortunately we have a lot to choose from.

Don’t be afraid of mag length ammo. It shoots just as good as stupid long ammo.