I bought one of these to try and get my best accuracy out of my Savage 10fp .223. I'm using Hornady V-Max bullets with the pointed red tips. When I used the gauge and then measured the OAL length of modified casing with bullet inserted, I came up with 2.312" using digital caliper. when gauging, I pushed just enough to lightly touch the bullet to the rifling then tightened the lock screw. Does it seem I did this correctly? and should I seat my bullets slightly deeper than the 2.312" gauge reading to set back from the lands a little and if so, what's a good OAL starting point to seat the bullets to? Thanks for all advice!
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=00005C1000
These are the bullets
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0000322716 </div></div>
I have both the straight and curved OAL tools. They aren't 100% repeatable, due to technique and positioning.
Here's how I do it.
Get 3 or 5 bullets depending on time and how badly my OCD is flaring up. Mark each bullet with a scribe, or Sharpie pen...something permament, 1, 2 and 3 (/, //, /// works too).
Take the 1st, marked bullet and insert it into the modified case (making sure it's completely cinched onto the tool) and with the thumbscrew in the 12:00 position within the action, measure to the lands and tighten the screw, making sure not to let that rod float rearward as you tighten. I also lightly tap the bullet, but don't smash it into the lands. Remove with rod, as it'll stick most of the time.
Write this COAL down and repeat two more times for a total of 3 measurement for that exact bullet.
Move onto bullet 2, but this time, the thumbscrew will be at the 9:00 position. Measure and record 3 times. Always check that the modified case is screwed down tightly onto the tool.
Move to bullet 3, but this time, put the thumbscrew at the 3:00 position, towards you and the ejection port and record your 3 measurements.
If you want to do 5 bullets from a single box, repeat, but if you're going to stop here, take the 3 measurements from bullet 1 and average them together. Do this with bullet 2 and 3 (or 4 and 5) and then average those three (averages) together for a single number.
After you have a number, take these 3, or 5 bullets and
place them into a ziplock bag, putting them away for referencing throat errosion throughout the life of the barrel.
If you want to seat to the lands, you have a good number to go by. If you want to seat .005" into the lands, load them .005" longer. .015" off the lands, subtract that from your grand average and have fun hitting the range.
You'll get the hang of the tool and how things can be different, so don't fret if things aren't exactly the same every time.
Chris
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Chris: any preference between the straight and curved oal gauges? i bought the curved for my AR and REPR because it says its for semi-autos. but if i pull the bolt carrier group out, i can go straight in, if it's long enough. Stick with the curved or trade for the straight? thanks!
