I've been watching a few Youtube videos on reloading and I'm interested in finding the C.O.A.L for my Remington 700 5R in .300 Win Mag. I noticed that the videos on Youtube that address this usually require you to take a fired round from the rifle you're working on and set the bullet you want to use in the case mouth. They say that you want a fired case so that the bullet will be able to easily slide in the neck when pushed from the back. Well, I've tried four different spent csings that I've shot in my rifle along with three different bullets and not one of the bullets falls through the neck easily. In fact, they barely sit in the neck opening at all. Am I missing something?
Weird issue when trying to determine .300 WimMag C.O.A.L...
- Thread starter Gunner1
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MudRunner2005
Well-Known Member
Buy these 3 items, and you'll be much happier with the results.
Hornady Lock-N-Load Overall Length Gage Bolt Action
Hornady Lock-N-Load Bullet Comparator Basic Set 6 Inserts
Hornady Lock-N-Load Overall Length Gage Modified Case 300 Winchester
Hornady Lock-N-Load Overall Length Gage Bolt Action
Hornady Lock-N-Load Bullet Comparator Basic Set 6 Inserts
Hornady Lock-N-Load Overall Length Gage Modified Case 300 Winchester
You'll need a modified brass from Hornady or send a couple of your spent brass of your rifle to be moded. Do search on YouTube for Hornady's lock and load COAL gauge for a demo.
Canadian Bushman
Well-Known Member
First off, i would investigate why your bullet doesnt fall through the neck of a fired (unsized) piece of brass. This could be a problem if not addressed.
Typically this is indicative of a case that needs to be trimmed. I would check that first.
Typically this is indicative of a case that needs to be trimmed. I would check that first.
The mouth of the modified brass noted by Mud is opened up slightly wider than when it is resized to allow standard bullet diameter to slip into the case mouth effortlessly.
PowellSixO
Well-Known Member
Try chamfering and de-burring a fired case. Then see if it slides through with ease. But like others said, buy the Hornady Lock N Load stuff. They're wonderful tools to have. When I load a around from my rifles I use the Hornady tools to find my COAL with the bullet kissing the lands. I then make a dummy round, and save it. I do this so that I can occasionally check my rifle to check the throat of the rifle. I'll compare my original dummy round to a new dummy round once a year or so.
I really like my Hornady LNL OAL and head space gauges but there other gadgets out there to help you measure your OAL.
For instance, check out the 2:08 mark of this video ...
[ame]https://youtu.be/9OZ8u8e7mSc?t=128[/ame]
Barrelnut
Well-Known Member
I have and have used the Hornady CBTO/COAL tools.
Now I mostly: Remove the ejector from the bolt. Create a dummy round from fired brass that has been bumped .002. Seat a bullet. Try to chamber it and keep seating the bullet .001 or .002 deeper each time until the bolt closes with NO resistance at all. I know I am at the lands now. Sometimes I pull the bullet out a little with a Grip-N-Pull or collet bullet puller and reseat in smaller increments until I get no resistance closing the bolt. This has been very repeatable for me. And when I'm done, I have a perfect dummy round for reference.
This method is a bit of a hassle since I have to remove the ejector, but I think it is very accurate and well worth the effort.
Now I mostly: Remove the ejector from the bolt. Create a dummy round from fired brass that has been bumped .002. Seat a bullet. Try to chamber it and keep seating the bullet .001 or .002 deeper each time until the bolt closes with NO resistance at all. I know I am at the lands now. Sometimes I pull the bullet out a little with a Grip-N-Pull or collet bullet puller and reseat in smaller increments until I get no resistance closing the bolt. This has been very repeatable for me. And when I'm done, I have a perfect dummy round for reference.
This method is a bit of a hassle since I have to remove the ejector, but I think it is very accurate and well worth the effort.
You can't use a fired case to determine oal. The neck has expanded beyond its elastic limit and cannot hold a bullet. You have to either neck size or fl size. But then the neck is too tight to allow the oal to conform to the rifling. So what to do? You cut a slit lengthwise through the neck into the shoulder. This allows the neck to hold the bullet tight enough to allow you to measure oal but still loose enough for the bullet to slide.
Are you sure because every video I've seen has used a fired case that wasn't resized.
Sully2
Well-Known Member
Thats what I do. Fired casing...not resized and the bullet "painted" with a HD MarksALot. Insert it in and work the bolt 3-4 times to get a GOOD indication of where the lands are.
Withdraw and set the bullet in about .015 and use that as my MAX...unless of course its tool long for the box magazine!!
