Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters How do you determine COL?

I've had 155 scenars vary enough to cause problems. Trying to buy them in thousands helps but not always possible.

I admit it dont usually matter much, especially in hunting rifles when you keep the bullet away from the lands (I do anyway).

Was just sayin a comparator along with your micrometer is useful,and cost 20 bucks, didnt mean to make a thing out of it.

The ogive moves forward as the dies wear during produce, when the old worn dies are replaced the or give will move back, as the dies wear again during production the ogive move forward until the dies are replaced. This has always been the case.

I measure .004 less than bullet diameter and scribe a line around the bullet at that diameter. I can periodically check with loaded rounds compared to the dummy load with the scribe.

Sure, I'm using my eyeballs to do it, but I trust them.

When I pick a different bullet, all I do is find where .004 less than bullet diameter is and make that line up with the dummy, even though that dummy is a different bullet. It gives them the same jump.

Your advice was reckless and you know it. The OP's question wasn't about load development, it was specific to determing COL. It was so important to you pop off about your technique for load development and tweak the thread by flying in the face of conventional wisdom that you touted skipping a basic safety rules of reloading.

If you had suggested that COAL was only useful for determining safe operating parameters, but you prefer to start you load development XXX off the lands and here's my technique...., I would have had no comment.

Now instead of admitting that you left out crtical information to an obviously less advanced reloader and trying to rectify the situation, you've doubled down on your original post and stated that there are generalities about rifles that can be applied. At least one member on this forum has RUGER American that is throated short enough to get in trouble with their reloads were they listen to your stupidity.

Save your though provoking tweaking for articles where you have the space and time to explain yourself. As a "Gunwriter" your opinions may be viewed by some as carrying more weight and they may be tempted to follow your advice without realizing the consequences. Its OK, I didn't expect you to recant or apologize when you were wrong - you've already proven your were incapable of that long before this thread started.

David

What kind of measurement changes are we talking about here? Thousandth's? Ten-thousandths? What?

As long as my accuracy doesn't change.....I'm loading to the same COL. And like I said.....I don't push pressures like I used to. Just not worth it.

No harm, I've always liked you.

Please don't assume because one isn't using a 'tool' that it doesn't work and work just as well.

The ogive moves forward as the dies wear during produce, when the old worn dies are replaced the or give will move back, as the dies wear again during production the ogive move forward until the dies are replaced. This has always been the case.

257heaven,

Thanks for repeating the common notion that pressure increases when seating bullets deeper. I'm working on a HANDLODER article about "Handloading Myths" and it will fit right in. (Did one a dozen years ago but the editor and I agreed it's time for another.)

Like many handloading myths, this is partially true. Pressure does increase with seating depth in HANDGUNS (and here I'm not talking about hand-carbines, like Contenders chambered for rifle rounds). This is because of the degressive most handgun powders burn, starting out fast with the highest pressure right in front of the case mouth, and is exacerbated in revolvers, because there's more chamber for the bullet to travel before pressure's relieved somewhat by the cylinder/barrel gap.

But with progressive-burning rifle powder, pressure decreases with greater bullet-seating depth (at least until it's really deep, say 1/2" or more, and we're not talking about seating them that deep). You can even see this on an accurate chronograph, as velocity will normally decrease slightly as well. (However, a lot of cheaper chronographs aren't all that accurate, especially for only three shots, because the sensor spacing is so short.)

257, Don't be a tool! (-:

I am convinced that nobody can explain how a "2 in 1 out" group means anything. If it does, it's a mystery. If seating deeper cures it, great, but a mystery nonetheless.

[quote=Canazes9][quote=AussieGunWriter][quote=Canazes9][quote=AussieGunWriter]

David,
Article 1 was written for people like you and I respect and support your right to an opinion including an opinion that differs to mine.

My point, which you clearly did not get, was that I personally think OAL can be over emphasized, which is why I offered an alternate view. Also, my, Article 1 right, for which you are free again, to disagree with.

John

257, Don't be a tool! (-:

I am convinced that nobody can explain how a "2 in 1 out" group means anything. If it does, it's a mystery. If seating deeper cures it, great, but a mystery nonetheless.