Hornady Overall Length Case Gauge

[Doug in Alaska]

I received my Hornady Modified 7mm Ultra case to use with the case length gauge. The case would not fit all the way into the chamber, resized cases fit fine. Being the rocket scientist I am, I thought no problem, just run the case through the resizing die. Ha, I forgot to consider that the neck would also be resized so now I have a useless modified case. Anyone else had this problem with the Hornady modified cases?

 

[RT2506]

Take a cutting tool and cut from the mouth of the case down to the start of the shoulder on one side of the neck. Clean out the burrs and use as normal.

I just make my own overall length case gauge. I just take a case for the rifle FL size it cut the neck like described above. Take what ever bullet I want to use start it into the case by hand and slip it into the chamber and close the bolt. It will push the bullet back into the case when the ogive hits the lands. Eject the case carefully from the action measure the OAL and go from there. Simple and very cheep. Oh! You can remove the bullet from the case with your fingers and use it to load. The next time you want to use the case either run it into your size die to size the neck tighter or just pinch the neck together with your fingers a little.

 

[Doug in Alaska]

I'm not sure what type cutting tool you are talking about. Hack saw?

 

[mo]

You can buy your on tap, that's what I do.MSC Item Detail or send me couple of your cases and I'll make you a few.

 

[Doug in Alaska]

Thanks for the info guys.

mo, after threading the case, how do you expand the neck enough so a bullet will slip in easily?

 

[jmason]

I had the same predicament with a 270 modified case. I ran a .284 expander through it a couple times and moved on. I don't know what you can move up to. 308 daim seems kinda big but as long as it doesn't mess the case up you'll be fine.

 

[boomtube]

Doug, you can slit the neck with a fine tooth hacksaw but the cut will be a bit ragged. It's MUCH better to do it with a Dremel tool and a thin fiber "cut-off" wheel.

IF you don't have the tools you can just get a Dremel wheel from most Walmarts/Lowes . Chuck the 1/8" shaft in a standard electric drill and do it that way, neatly. A cut-off wheel costs about $3 last time I looked. (I think any shooter/reloader NEEDS a Dremel tool and assorted bit and wheel set!)

 

[mo]

Doug I was assuming you had some new pieces of brass. If you buy that tap you can make your on modified case for every rifle you have. Just drill out primer pocket with drill bit then run your tap through.

 

[Doug in Alaska]

Doug I was assuming you had some new pieces of brass. If you buy that tap you can make your on modified case for every rifle you have. Just drill out primer pocket with drill bit then run your tap through.

Yes, I have plenty new brass and I have the tap also. I just wasn't sure how you expand the neck to easily accept the bullets. I've ordered a new modified case from Midway but like the fact that I can make my own modified cases. I'll pick up a thin fiber cut-off wheel and give that a try.

Thanks guys!

 

[johnnyk]

Doug,
I used to make my own modified cases also. Pretty simple to do. I always tried to use a case that had been fired in my rifle's chamber. This served two purposes, (1) it fit my rifle and (2) the neck was expanded enough that a bullet would drop in and out of the case.
I have also had a problem or two with the Stoney Point/Hornady modified cases. Sometimes the case just doesn't seem to want to fit snugly in the rifle's chamber. I checked the chamber and cleaned it as best I could and eventually resized the case and used the next size up expander ball from another of my dies. Luckily the problem cases were .260 and .270WSM and I could use .277 and .284 expander balls. After doing this the problems went away. JohnnyK.

 

[RT2506]

Yes you can use a hack saw or a dremel with a cutting wheel. I have used both and they both work. I just made another case for finding the OAL of a 6mm-225 Winchester for a 14" custom T/C Contender barrel this evening. I could not find the case that I had made a couple years ago. Problem is this barrel has too long of a throat to get a 58 gr V-Max to touch the lands.

 

[Doug in Alaska]

You can buy your on tap, that's what I do.MSC Item Detail or send me couple of your cases and I'll make you a few.

mo, thanks for the generous offer, much appreciated!

The new modified case arrived from Midway yesterday. This case works well but when trying to determine COAL with the Hornady Case Gauge, if I run the 168 gr Berger out to touch the lands, the bullet is just inside the case mouth. Obviously, this isn't practical and won't work. Berger's info suggests a 3.600 COAL and I could probably seat out to some where around 3.650 and still have magazine functionality. I guess I'll start at 3.600 and go from there.