Hornady OAL Gauge is Driving me Crazy(er)!

[User4302021]

That is highly debated.

It's common sense. Unless you want to load exactly at touch for some reason, it doesn't matter what any other length is referred to.

If the accurate length is .010 (actual) into the lands, what does it matter if it is referred to as .005 or .015? The name you call it is irrelevant. Same with any measure off the lands, if your .020 off is actually .010 off, what does it matter? The precision comes in consistency you apply in adjusting from whatever length you started from.

 

[User4302021]

No to completely strip a bolt, pull out the firing pin assembly about 10 seconds

Taking it apart isn't the part that is a pain. It is putting the ejector back in that is a pain. Let me guess, you can do that in 5 seconds as well...

 

[L.Sherm]

If you got one of these, the on lever goes over the cocking piece and the other pulls it back and about 8 turns and its out.

 

[L.Sherm]

Taking it apart isn't the part that is a pain. It is putting the ejector back in that is a pain. Let me guess, you can do that in 5 seconds as well...

Listen you dont like it i get it but O.P was trying to measure his so I was trying to explain to him whats the most accurate way like others you dont want well thats fine.
Reason I do it is I wanna know how much my throat moves every 100 rounds and I can adjust my seating depth Accordingly you dont want to more power to you.
Next thing is we weren't talking about reassemble now were we.

 

[User4302021]

If you got one of these, the on lever goes over the cocking piece and the other pulls it back and about 8 turns and its out.

I don't even need that, just use a piece of 550 cord loop hooked around the cocking piece, then hooked on something else solid. When the little slot is exposed put a penny in it to hold it open and srew it off.

Like I said, the ejector is what I don't like taking out.

 

[User4302021]

Listen you dont like it i get it but O.P was trying to measure his so I was trying to explain to him whats the most accurate way like others you dont want well thats fine.
Reason I do it is I wanna know how much my throat moves every 100 rounds and I can adjust my seating depth Accordingly you dont want to more power to you.
Next thing is we weren't talking about reassemble now were we.

We were discussing different methods and pros and cons. You don't seem to like people expressing opinions counter to yours. That is where we are.

 

[L.Sherm]

We were discussing different methods and pros and cons. You don't seem to like people expressing opinions counter to yours. That is where we are.

No theres always more than 1 way to skin a cat its whatever works for the individual.
You dont like putting the ejector back thats fine I get it, you said it doesn't matter how far to the lands I do other people do thats fine. O. P obviously thinks it does or he wouldn't be trying now its up to him.

 

[RuninL8]

Send me a fired case, ill drill and tap it for you. Use your hornady coal gauge to measure CBTO with your fired case and unless your dial calipers are not accurate you should not be getting anymore than .001 difference. Been doing it that way for years. Yes this point can change over time but if you are a precision shooter you will likely be tracking this anyway. I also use Eric Cortina's method, and it works well, although I havent noticed any difference in accuracy, many ways to skin this cat.

 

[rdr59]

I had same trouble with my aol tool. Found it more consistent to push bullet out no tension on thumb screw and let it push bullet in when pushing case in chamber then tighten screw.

 

[epoletna]

"put a penny in it to hold it open and srew it off."

Who has a penny any more?

 

[Bigdad]

This is going to sound crazy but it works buy a wood dowel small enough to go down you barrel with the bolt closed push dowell to face of bolt mark it with a marker /pen mark at top of the barrel then what ever bullet your using push the bullet in the chamber take the wood dowel down the barrel till the dowel touch's the bullet the hold your finger on the bulletise the dowel to push the bullet the push bullet back into lands mark the dowel again this will give you your oal remover to seat your bullet at least 0.20 lower from the tip or once you get your oal get bullet comparater and that will tell you where the ogive is and seat your bullet accourdingly

I use a similar method that has proven accurate and repeatable. I learned this from Kevin Rayhill when he trued my Savage action. Its easier with 2 people, one to hold the bullet in the chamber and the other manipulating the rod but can be done with one person. Frankford Arsenal makes a replacement for the drill stops I use but I think tight fitting drills stops are more accurate.

Amazon.com : Frankford Arsenal Cartridge Overall Length Gage for Reloading : Frankford Arsenal : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Frankford Arsenal Cartridge Overall Length Gage for Reloading : Frankford Arsenal : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

• Put 2 tight fitting drill stops on a cleaning rod
• Tighten a jag with the tip removed on the rod, the jag should have a flat face, not a point
• Slide the rod into the barrel from the muzzle until it touches the bolt face
• Slide both stops against the muzzle and tighten the rear stop
• Remove the rod
• Remove the bolt
• Drop a bullet into the chamber
• Take a short rod or dowel and push the bullet to the lands from rear of the receiver and hold it there
• Slide the rod from the muzzle into the barrel until it touches the bullet tip
• Slide the front stop against the muzzle and tighten the front stop
• Measure the distance between the front and rear stops to establish cartridge overall length (COAL)
• Load the bullet into a case to the established COAL. Save this dummy round
• Measure cartridge base to ogive (CBTO) using a comparator

 

[shinbone]

I use the same basic method described by Bigdad, except I never felt the need for a second person. I do multiple measurements with the same bullet, and they all come out within .001" of one another. Literally takes just a few minutes to do, and is a very easy and precise method. No specialized tools or disassembly required.

I first started with the Hornady OAL tool. It is very fiddley, and I could never get repeatable measurements with it, and finally gave up using it.

 

[Rooks]

I spent a couple hours today trying to get consistent CBTO readings on my Ruger Hawkeye 270 and some Nosler ABLR bullets. The readings are all over the place. I've had more consistent results with some other bullets. I try to be consistent, firm but not too firm, give it a couple taps. I got a few clumps of measurements, but the SD on 30 measurements was .02, if I remember right, and the ES was 67 thousandths! I didn't try burning incense or chanting mantras, but what's the frigging secret for getting repeatable readings with this thing? It must work or people wouldn't have used it all these years. I'm ready to put it away and try Erik Cortina's "Jam Method".

I've always used the "EC jam method" and his recommendation for COAL tuning for quite a while before his recent videos and it has always worked perfectly. For my rifles and for those belonging to friends.

 

[jdyoung]

I spent a couple hours today trying to get consistent CBTO readings on my Ruger Hawkeye 270 and some Nosler ABLR bullets. The readings are all over the place. I've had more consistent results with some other bullets. I try to be consistent, firm but not too firm, give it a couple taps. I got a few clumps of measurements, but the SD on 30 measurements was .02, if I remember right, and the ES was 67 thousandths! I didn't try burning incense or chanting mantras, but what's the frigging secret for getting repeatable readings with this thing? It must work or people wouldn't have used it all these years. I'm ready to put it away and try Erik Cortina's "Jam Method".

No offense met, but what type of calipers are you using , dial, or electronic ? Electronic calipers are dependent on how fresh is the battery.
I use the Hornady Lock n Load Anvil base on my calipers for a more constant reading.