COL ???? 257 Rob and 7-08
- Thread starter 44 man
- Start date
257 Ackley
Handloader
- Nov 25, 2008
- 1,763
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I can give info on what the OAL is for my 7mm-08 with the 120 BT's and 140 AB's, but it will be different for every rifle out there. You need to find a way to measure your chamber (like the Stoney Point gauge) and play with the seating depth until you find what works best. Nosler loading manuals have a common sense way of measuring OAL as well. Unless you shoot a single shot rifle, the clip or magazine may be the deciding factor on what your OAL will be for a hunting length.
I have three Bob's as well, but only shoot the 110 AB bullets so i can not comment on the 115BT.
I have three Bob's as well, but only shoot the 110 AB bullets so i can not comment on the 115BT.
longwinters
Handloader
- Oct 10, 2004
- 1,476
- 1
The standard OAL for the 7m-08 is 2.80 for Noslers. They list it in their reloading book.
Although there are other ways to measure ie with magic marker etc...I use what 257 suggested, the Stoney Pt gauge.
They may sell them at Jays in Clare.
Long
Although there are other ways to measure ie with magic marker etc...I use what 257 suggested, the Stoney Pt gauge.
They may sell them at Jays in Clare.
Long
- Thread starter
- #4
G
Guest
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minimum OAL is more important than MAx OAL. I look at other load manuals to compare. Lee load book has Minimum OAL.
- Nov 4, 2004
- 25,515
- 9,492
44 man
Welcome to the forum, glad to see another Michigander here.
I like to get about .015-.020" off the lands but magazine max length often will dictate your OAL. In the H&R, you won't have any problems since it is a single shot.
The 257 Bob is a different story. It was designed for a short action so the SAAMI spec will have the the COL short, 2.780". My M700 Classic 257 Bob is on a long action so I can load them long and the magazine max length isn't an issue.
JD338
Welcome to the forum, glad to see another Michigander here.
I like to get about .015-.020" off the lands but magazine max length often will dictate your OAL. In the H&R, you won't have any problems since it is a single shot.
The 257 Bob is a different story. It was designed for a short action so the SAAMI spec will have the the COL short, 2.780". My M700 Classic 257 Bob is on a long action so I can load them long and the magazine max length isn't an issue.
JD338
You can make your own gauge easy. Take a case and full length size it. Take a cutting tool and cut from the mouth of the case down to the beginning of where the neck runs into the shoulder on one side of the case. Clean up any burrs from the cut. Before every use run the case into your sizer to resize the neck. Take the bullet you want to use and just start it into the case with your fingers. Slip it into the chamber of your rifle and close the bolt. Ease the bolt open and carefully eject the round. The bullet should have been pushed back into the case when the Ogive hit the lands. This will be the to the lands OAL. I would seat the bullet at least 10 thousands deeper in the case to start with for a hunting load. Once you get your most accurate powder load with this setting you can do a ladder test by seating the bullet farther off the lands to see if your groups tighten up any. I have always found the with hunting bullets 10 thousands off the lands usually shoot pretty good. You do not want a bullet touching or almost touching the lands in a hunting rifle. Been there and done that and got the T-shirt. Different lots of bullets can have a different over all length unless you are measuring from the ogive and you can get them loaded too long and they will either not chamber or you will do like I did and stick a bullet in the barrel and when you eject it to climb out of your stand and it dumps powder all down in the rifle and you have a mess especially when you don't have a cleaning rod with you to poke the bullet out of the bore. Once you find the over all length with the bullet set ten thousands off the lands check to see if this length will work through your magazine other wise you will have a singe shot rifle. Oh! Once you use a bullet to get your over all length in the gauge you can pull it out with your fingers and load it. The cut in the case neck allows it to hold the bullet but not mess it up and allows you to pull it and push it with your fingers.
