COAL Question

[cornchuck]

I am just starting to reload for my Rem 700P in .308. Never loaded for it before. I found the OAL with my OAL gauge for 178gr. A Max's and started to load .020 shorter than the length I got with the gauge. After seating the first round, I found it won't fit in the mag at that length. Measuring from the ogive with the gauge it was 2.339 inches. After finding that it won't fit in the mag, I shortened it to 2.200 inches. Just barely fits in the mag.

Yes, it could be loaded to be shot as a single shot. But it will also see it's fair share of varmint hunting. So I want to be able to hold more then one in the gun.

I am just wondering what anyone else has seen with their 308's. Not just from Remy's, but from any other brand and any other caliber. Is this the kind of a norm?

Jason

 

[LouBoyd]

I am just starting to reload for my Rem 700P in .308. Never loaded for it before. I found the OAL with my OAL gauge for 178gr. A Max's and started to load .020 shorter than the length I got with the gauge. After seating the first round, I found it won't fit in the mag at that length. Measuring from the ogive with the gauge it was 2.339 inches. After finding that it won't fit in the mag, I shortened it to 2.200 inches. Just barely fits in the mag.

Yes, it could be loaded to be shot as a single shot. But it will also see it's fair share of varmint hunting. So I want to be able to hold more then one in the gun.

I am just wondering what anyone else has seen with their 308's. Not just from Remy's, but from any other brand and any other caliber. Is this the kind of a norm?

Jason[/QUOTE

Of ourse we have! There are only a few cartridges which had their SAAMI cartridge lengths set with shooting low drag bullets in mind. That's why the 243 Win is more popular than the 6mm Rem despite it's smaller case capacity. The SAAMI spec COAL of a 308 is 2.8". You now have a few choices. One is have an extended magazine installed They're not expensive made by Wyatts and others but they require some gunsmithing (milling and fitting).

Another is to sell your rifle and pick a more suitable action and cartridge which fits the bullets you want to shoot. For example, a 30-06 Rem 700 with a 3.6" magazine will shoot much longer bullets than a 308 since the SAMMI COAL for a 30-06 is only 3.34". Another is to live with the limitation. Do you need to shoot 178 AMAXs? It's something to consider when buying any rifle.

 

[cornchuck]

LouBoyd,

The 178gr. AMax's isn't the only choice I have choosen to try. I also have 175gr. SMK. I have noticed that ogive on the SMK's is different from the AMax. Which puts into the bullet into the lands faster than the AMax.

I tried 40 rounds of Federals Gold Match ammo with 175 SMk loaded in
them. They shot great. Half moa at 200 yards. Never loaded more than one into the gun to see if they fit into mag.

If I can get the gun to shoot great out to 1000 yards, with my loads, I will keep the gun.

Thank you for your input, Lou.

Jason

 

[boomtube]

It's quite common for factory rifle magazines to limit the OAL before the chamber does. We live with it, after all our hunting rifles aren't chambered to be like custom made BR rifles.