Easy/accurate way to find the lands

This is a super easy and more importantly accurate and consistent way to measure bullet touch on the lands.

wheeleraccuracy


Take a casing that is sized and will hold a bullet with a snug grip. Take the slug to intend on firing and dykem ( I use a deep blue marksalot) and paint the bullet up good.
Insert the slug ito the case enough to hold it and insert the "loaded" round into the action. Slowly and gently close the bolt and lock it down....If you feel you need to...close and then lock down the bolt several times.

Open the rifle up gently and retrieve the "loaded" round. You wil see where the lands marked the slut and where they start is the beginning of your barrel lands.
 
Using a candle to smoke the bullet black works much better than a marker.

just remember you have to do it for every bullet you load.

I did two new bullets for my .223 today. Trying out the 77 and 69 gr lapua scenar L. They shoot fantastic in my 6mm.

I used my stoney point. It is really easy. I take two measurements and do them each several times. When I first contact the lands and then a little firmer jam into the lands. The range might vary 0.005. It works for me.

I will run the 77 jammed 0.01 into the lands to start and the 69 gr mag length to start. Find the powder charge that looks best and then start working with seating depths. 77 will probably stay a jam.
 
I use to do those methods but have switched to using a comparator. Those methods work but just remember your really getting a jammed measurement. Not a big deal you just don't know what is exactly just off or barely touching your lans.
 
I use to do those methods but have switched to using a comparator. Those methods work but just remember your really getting a jammed measurement. Not a big deal you just don't know what is exactly just off or barely touching your lans.

not exactly. I do two measurements. A series of three or four measurements just touching the lands and then a series of three or four jamming the bullet into the lands. usually they are about 0.005 apart. gives me a good Idea of where the lands are. About once a year on my most used range guns I check it again just to see how the throat has eroded.

how do you use a comparator to find the lands?
 
Since I'm a cheep skate I take a case and split the neck with a dremel tool just to the point the bullet will slide in but not get stuck and set it in the case and close the bolt slowly atleast 10 times and measuring each time till I come up with the most consistent measurement. It may not be 100% perfect but it gives me a very good starting point and has worked well for me.
 
I have tried all still own the stoney point/hornady and the Sinclair units. The last while for my bolt actions I have been using a resized and trimmed case seat a bullet slightly. Then load in the rifle try to close the bolt seat the bullet in .005 increments until the bolt closes.

Works fine for my needs just record in my journal.

Good luck and shoot straight

Bob
 
This is the method we're using now in 1k benchrest. We had always polished the bullets and watched for marks to go away as we creep up on it. This method is by far the easiest most repeatable method to date.

Tom
 
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