Hornady's Lock-n-Load OAL Gauge and Bullet Comparator

[ScreaminEagle]

Just bought these tools the other day and am very pleased with them. I'm really not sure how i reloaded without them. I bought a new rifle and my old loads wouldn't fit in it. All I had to do was use the OAL tool to figure out the correct length and I'm back in business. I plan on trying out different distances from the lands in my 22-250 for the best accuracy. These tools will really make that easier.

Just a side note, I never had anything to check the accuracy of my handloads till now. I use a very old rcbs press and standard dies. I checked my 257, 280, and 22-250 loads with the bullet comparator and so far the biggest difference in OAL is only 0.003"! I'd say that is pretty good for my "old" equipment.

 

[DrMike]

I wouldn't work without an OAL gauge. Though some rifles limit the OAL by the magazine depth, many permit you to make very precise (ergo, accurate) ammunition.

 

[ScreaminEagle]

I wouldn't work without an OAL gauge. Though some rifles limit the OAL by the magazine depth, many permit you to make very precise (ergo, accurate) ammunition.

How far from the lands would you start to work up a load? I was gonna start with 0.010".

 

[DrMike]

How far from the lands would you start to work up a load?

The bullet itself and the magazine depth determine the answer to this question in part. Cup and core bullets will often give great accuracy near the lands (0.010 inch off the lands). However, some rifles don't permit that sort of OAL. Remington (in particular), Savage and Browning magazines tend to be short. These rifles can be very accurate, so loading to the magazine and fine tuning the charge is the way to go in these instances. For monolithic bullets (E-Tip and TSX), I like to give them a good jump to the lands (I often start at 0.100 inch off the lands). The GMX appears to be an anomaly, but then since it is not pure copper, it is not truly a monolithic bullet. The GMX can be loaded as though they were cup and core bullets in my observation and according to conversations with Hornady techs. Also, bullets with long bearing surfaces seem to benefit with a long jump to the lands (e.g. Swift Scirocco). These will often give best accuracy with a moderate jump to the lands (0.050 inches and greater).

 

[woods]

One thing to know about the OAL gauge and the modified cases is that you have to allow for the headspace of the modified case. IOW the modified case will not be as large as your chamber

For instance this is the measurement on the shoulder of a 30-06 modified case

and the same measurement on a 5 times fired case out of my 30-06

the difference is .010"

Since you push the modified case into the chamber until it hits the shoulder, the measurement you get off of it will be that .010" shorter. If you had planned on seating .015" off the lands, in fact you will be seating .025" off the lands. If you push the shoulder back on the 5 times fired case .001" then the difference will be .009"

The good thing is that you will always be seating deeper and pressure and velocity decrease with distance from the lands so there is no danger.

This will all depend upon the size of your chamber and the headspace on your particular modified case.

 

[ScreaminEagle]

Thanks guys that's good info to know.

 

[Guest]

Just for reference, the E-Tip is also a gilding metal alloy and not pure copper.

As for the tools, in my opinion the comparator and headspace bushings are invaluable. I haven't needed the OAL gauge, but I get the same measurements via a different method.

Definitely precision ammo is the name of the game!