Posted: 3/7/2016 9:42:47 AM EDT
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New to reloading, less than a year. Using a Lee Challenger single stage press for .308 reloading. When seating bullets, once I have die set to correct depth for first bullet, the next bullet will too short by typically 0.005". So I must turn the die back out for every bullet and "sneak up" on the correct length for every bullet. This takes 2 or 3 iterations for every bullet, taking a lot of time.
Is this normal? Is 0.005 variation good enough? Any suggestions for a solution? A friend has loaned me a very heavy duty cast iron press to try - haven't had an opportunity yet to try it Thanks |
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The tip shape and consistency of your bullets as well as your technique will dictate how consistent your seating depth is. With standard dies and non match grade bullets you are well within normal variances. As stated above, you won't really know how accurate you are seating until you start measuring off the ogive.
The tip of the bullet has so little impact on the whole ballistics equation most people don't worry about COAL variances unless they are very large. You are posting in the precision forum so I am guessing you are starting to look for that next .01 moa improvement. If so buy an ogive measuring tool and Forster Comp Seating dies. That will get you down to .001 +- .0005. FWIW, I only get anal about my loads that will be shot for groups. My squirrel and blasting loads get loaded and placed in the ammo box. The COAL variances don't amount to anything measurable in the field. JMHO. |
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Quoted:
New to reloading, less than a year. Using a Lee Challenger single stage press for .308 reloading. When seating bullets, once I have die set to correct depth for first bullet, the next bullet will too short by typically 0.005". So I must turn the die back out for every bullet and "sneak up" on the correct length for every bullet. This takes 2 or 3 iterations for every bullet, taking a lot of time. Is this normal? Is 0.005 variation good enough? Any suggestions for a solution? A friend has loaned me a very heavy duty cast iron press to try - haven't had an opportunity yet to try it Thanks A heavy duty press does nothing your press does for the issue .The topic of slight OAL variation has been discussed in the Reloading section a few times. Browse the FAQ's and stickies at top http://www.ar15.com/forums/f_6/42_Reloading.html There can and will be OAL variation, between bullets. You're really going out an extra .00 or so to be concerned. If i'm loading to 2.20 OAL and get 2.210 on 1 and 2.209 another, the POI is minimal if that. IMO IF you're going out that far OAL and concerned, DON'T start weighing your brass 
As others mentioned buy an Ogive tool http://www.accurateshooter.com/gear-reviews/hornady-oal-gauge-and-comparator/ |