Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 30-06 coal???

Ok I am completely new to reloading just getting everything together. Today I had a hornady OAL gauge come in so I wanted to check the coal of my 700. The nosler book says saami is 3.340. Well I tried mine with 165 grain ballistic tip 4 or 5 times just very easy pushing it to the lands then pushing it off with a rod. My measurements I'm getting is 3.485 this seems super long. What do u all think

Well the book is a suggestion. Some rifles have longer COAL. I read somewhere stating Nosler bullets loaded slightly longer gives better accuracy. When you used your Stoney and got your measurement that measurement is to the ogive. To transfer that to your caliper you should use a comparator. This will give your measurement to the ogive which is where the lands contact.

3.30" is Mil Spec.-Muddy

I realize the ogive is touching the lands but I was just measuring from the hornady lock and load case to the tip of the nosler ballistic tip

Take note of the length of the magazine box, that may make the choice for you.

I'm just trying to figure the coal. I was gonna back it off 10 thousands but I agree if they don't fit in the mag box but does it matter if it is hinged floor plate

I guess the actual box in the hinged floor plate is probably not gonna allow that long will it

You'll be in the 3.6's easily on a Remington 700. You'll be fine.

I guess my thing is I'm so use to factory ammo then seeing this bullet seated longer made me wonder

Worn out 700... That's way too long.

And don't listen to the idiot above. He ain't had pussy since pussy had him.

Worn out it is brand new I'm guessing has 75 shots down it

But really I'm guessing that probably won't fit will it? Just load a couple and see if they will push down in the mag box?

A long action Model 700 should have a magazine box allowing a 3.7" COAL, it's one of the longest among the major brands.

Just to be sure I understand what you're doing:
You have a Hornady OAL gauge with a threaded .30-06 case screwed on the end. You put a Nosler BT in the mouth and insert the whole thing in the chamber making sure to push the case fully into the chamber, then while holding the gauge and case in the chamber you push forward on the OAL gauge rod to push the bullet against the lands. Then you lock the set screw on the OAL gauge. Removing it, the bullet sticks in the lands so you push it out with a cleaning rod, then reinsert it into the .30-06 case on the OAL gauge as far as it will go to rest against the locked down inner rod.

Then you measure from the base of the case to the tip of the BT - and that measurement is 3.485". If the above procedure is what you're doing then that should be an accurate measurement.

I've never used the Nosler 165 BT but a Remington 150 Bronze Point can measure 3.432" pressed against the lands so the slightly longer OAL for the Nosler doesn't sound out of line.

As long as you still have a decent amount of bullet in the case mouth (rule of thumb is at least one caliber deep but don't pray at that altar too much) go ahead and seat the bullet to fit whatever distance off the lands you want and commence fire.

What did I tell you, you can easily get into the 3.6's, with a Remington 700. Your and 3.4 and change, no problem to fit.

I load my Whelen at 3.435 in a 700. Long throat but the magazine is long too, so it ain't a problem.

Jim that is what I'm doing now I'm not jamming it into the lands just pushing it till it touches

Bet a heavy round nose would give you a much shorter OAL.

What you are seeing is common in a factory chamber. I cut mine to fit the bullet I plan to shoot.

As others have said seat your bullet out as far as you can. Leave 1 caliber in the case neck. Your 700 mag is plenty long. If you end up with a similar issue in another rifle with a shorter box I seat my bullet out as far as the mag box will allow if I can reach the chamber OAL

Ok what does leave 1 caliber in the case neck mean?

I just keep things simple and start at 3.30" and go from there if need be. Usually with the right powder there is no need to keep chasing. NAB tend to like a jump and I use NBT for plinking.

In this case, your caliber is .308", so the theory is to have like amount below the neck.

So long as it grips (can't be pushed in easily, or more importantly fall out..) you'll be good.