Hornady Modified Case/OAL Gauge Issue

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Mr.Moa

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Apr 24, 2011
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I'm using a Hornday OAL guage to measure my distance to the lands on a 6.5x284 Norma. Just recieved my Hornady modified today and when i insert a bullet in it, it has a much tighter fit than I imagined and does not allow me to push the bullet smoothly. It seems like there are two points where the bullet really binds up as well. So needless to say, I'm not sure that I'm getting an accurate measurement to the lands. I could be hitting the lands or the bullet may be binding up in the case and I think that I'm at the lands.

Should I get a .264 diameter brush and apply some polishing compound and hit the inside of the modified case to try to smoothen it out?

I have tried with 140 VLDs and 156 EOL and get different distances to the lands. Both bullet would bind up in my modified case.
 
Mr.Moa said:
I'm using a Hornday OAL guage to measure my distance to the lands on a 6.5x284 Norma. Just recieved my Hornady modified today and when i insert a bullet in it, it has a much tighter fit than I imagined and does not allow me to push the bullet smoothly. It seems like there are two points where the bullet really binds up as well. So needless to say, I'm not sure that I'm getting an accurate measurement to the lands. I could be hitting the lands or the bullet may be binding up in the case and I think that I'm at the lands.

Should I get a .264 diameter brush and apply some polishing compound and hit the inside of the modified case to try to smoothen it out?

I have tried with 140 VLDs and 156 EOL and get different distances to the lands. Both bullet would bind up in my modified case.
Click to expand...
If you want to, but I would just return it.
 
What bullet are you using? Please measure the diameter of the bullet to see if it's larger than it should be. If your bullet measures 0.2640 no matter where you measure diameter then the modified case is to blame.
 
I have the same for my 6.5x284N, it doesn't fit the chamber correctly, never will, the 6.5x284N is not SAAMI spec, so rifle chamber specs are all-over the place! I did however, get the drill & tap kit, to make my I own custom modifies case. Before I found the tools, I just used the fired sized case and cut neck technique, works just as well or better. To be more accurate with this method, remove the ejector from the bolt.
 
Lightly chamfer the case mouth and work a bullet back and forth in the case a dozen or so times. If still tight, use a bit of polishing compound........not a big deal, I have over a dozen of them for various cartridges.....most of them needed a bit of tuning for precision results.
 
Are you using a dowl to push the bullet out once its jammed into the lands? You could return it, but in reality you can use what you have.

Place a dowl down the barrel after using the modified case and use it to push out the bullet after you remove the modified case. Then you will know where you are jammed. Subtract .003" for safety reasons and now you have your Jammed OAL. With a little safety net built in. PM if you need help
 
I make my own brass for the OAL gauge. I feel once fired brass that is sized for my rifle's chamber is a better fit than the store bought Hornady adapter brass. It's very easy to modify once fired brass to screw onto your Hornady gauge and cheaper.

I took a 2x2 and made a jig to hold the brass. First, I drilled multiple holes in it the size of various brass I have. Basically 308 common rounds and magnum common rounds. Second, I rip-sawed it in the center through the holes, but stopped before the end leaving the end not ripped.

Next I sized the once fired brass like I plan to reload it (ie. .002-3 setback or full size it) removing the spent primer.

I then place the brass in my jig and place the jig in a drill vise to squeeze the brass tight in the jig so it doesn't rotate while drilling the primer pocket. Then I use a 13/64 drill bit to drill the primer pocket out of the brass. Finally, I remove the drill bit from the drill press and insert a 5/16-36 tap in the drill press and turn the drill chuck by hand to thread the brass turning the tap in a little until it binds, then back it out and blow the brass off, then back in again until it binds again, and then back out, etc. until the tap passes entirely through the brass (take it slow so as not to gall the soft brass and ruin the threads). Drill all sizes of your brass at once and then tap all sizes at once rather than going back and forth with the drill bit and tap. Takes only a few minutes to do all of your brass. Now you have form fitted once fired brass that fits your exact chamber.

NOTE: The resizing process squeezed the neck down so I had to insert a bullet slightly in the neck and wobble it around to open up the neck slightly so the bullet moves in and out freely. ​
View attachment 150638

Here's another method if you don't like the Hornady OAL gauge.



​
 
Last edited:
Mr.Moa said:
I'm using a Hornday OAL guage to measure my distance to the lands on a 6.5x284 Norma. Just recieved my Hornady modified today and when i insert a bullet in it, it has a much tighter fit than I imagined and does not allow me to push the bullet smoothly. It seems like there are two points where the bullet really binds up as well. So needless to say, I'm not sure that I'm getting an accurate measurement to the lands. I could be hitting the lands or the bullet may be binding up in the case and I think that I'm at the lands.

Should I get a .264 diameter brush and apply some polishing compound and hit the inside of the modified case to try to smoothen it out?

I have tried with 140 VLDs and 156 EOL and get different distances to the lands. Both bullet would bind up in my modified case.
Click to expand...
Assuming you have the correct modified case for your chamber the simplest fix is to lube up the modified case and run it in your sizer die just enough to run the neck over the expander ball. It's a case so you could full length size it but it's not necessary to fix your bullet issue. I've had to do this several times for the Hornady modified cases. I had one for a 300 WSM and one for a 7 Rem Mag that had a tight neck.

The other simpler fix is to try some dry lube inside the case neck of the modified case.
 
Had the same issue. Measured the bullet and found the .224 was actually closer to .2245....made it a too tight to push. I just made up another Modified case especially for that box of bullets... May not be your issue, Best of luck
 
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