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Okiecat,
There is no such a thing as a dumb question.
Hopefully I'm understanding the question correctly. Once you
touch the rifling, and you measure this many times to make
sure you're getting the same dimension, you write it down on
paper; let's say you measured 3.662" to just touching the rifling. Now if you want to be 0.010" into the rifling we
add 3.662" + 0.010" = 3.672" this new number is what you
want to have when you sit the bullet into the casing. you
would have to adjust your bullet sitting die until your AOL
is 3.672".
I hope I answered the question.
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OAL can differ depending on the types of bullets you use with a constant seating depth. For instance if you are using a polycarbonate tipped bullet, the tips vary in dimension from lot to lot. Even non-poly tipped bullets vary in the distance from the bullet ogive to the bullet tip and that will give you erroneous depths for the same readings of OAL. To truly get an accurate loading specific distances off or into the lands, you will have to get an ogive tool for measuring seating depth. Sinclair has two models of them. Once you start using them, you will see which company really makes the most constistant bullets.
James