Thread: OAL Trouble

@TeRei alerted me to my recent .223 loads looking a bit long. So I checked them.

I use one of these things to measure the over all length to the ogive (pic). You put a collet in for the caliber you are working with. A good sound and accurate system that I have always thought was foolproof.



When I checked I found the OAL of the reloads tip to base was too long (eg meant to be 2.426" for one batch and were 2.446) but their length to the ogive was correct according to the thingy. Hmmm.
Fortunately I had a spare unused collet and put that in - and the ogive distance jumped from using the the original collet. The original collet has had a lot of use and when I shone a torch into it I found the problem. There is a worn area at the collet's mouth. Hence the over length (pic). So it's now swapped out and problem solved. Just have to run 350 loads back through the seater again.

Good to know. Thanks.

Gotta ask....how many rounds have you measured to wear out the insert ? Holy crap
I generally will measure the first couple then as long as seating is consistent I don't measure any more.
I have never looked at the inside of the insert but now I feel I should

Yeah, wow - that's a gauge and supposed to never wear out! Especially considering that the other bits touching it for the measuring are likely made from softer materials like copper and lead... I'm wondering if it missed a step in the factory like surface treatment.

The inserts are aluminium. They're quite soft.

Could likely fix it by turning a few thou" off the face till you get back to a sharp rim around the central hole.

I use the .22 one quite a bit. Load development. Checking during reloading runs. I load at least 700 a year.
And I adjust the round in the collet by turning it/wobling it to get it square and to get more than one reading.

Email Hornady..it will impress them enough to send you a new one. I have them but not really used much so far. Would like to think they would not wear out. Thought the same on their bullet puller..if you saw my recent thread there was no issue after contacting Hornady to get Reloaders to replace the insert that wore a dish against the cam.

You have made me consider a possibility that I’ve never considered……..

Originally Posted by gimp

The inserts are aluminium. They're quite soft.

But should be anodized? This should give a bit of hardness and protection to the ali?

The Norma 62 grn I had set up to just touch the lands (5 thou off) had started popping the odd primer which perplexed me and I couldn't understand. Just measured them with the new collet and they are 35 thou jammed into the lands. Bugger. But at least it answers the problem.

Has anyone tried having the throat taken out a bit on a 223 . . . Lots of the latest 223s have a bit of mag length (but seem to retain the 2.26OAL throat) that can't be used, the Bergara's are like this. Another 2-3 mm of throat would be great as long as there isn't a downside?

Originally Posted by Tentman

Has anyone tried having the throat taken out a bit on a 223 . . . Lots of the latest 223s have a bit of mag length (but seem to retain the 2.26OAL throat) that can't be used, the Bergara's are like this. Another 2-3 mm of throat would be great as long as there isn't a downside?

This is what I am considering on the Titan.

Originally Posted by No.3

But should be anodized? This should give a bit of hardness and protection to the ali?

They are not.

Originally Posted by Tentman

Has anyone tried having the throat taken out a bit on a 223 . . . Lots of the latest 223s have a bit of mag length (but seem to retain the 2.26OAL throat) that can't be used, the Bergara's are like this. Another 2-3 mm of throat would be great as long as there isn't a downside?

My next barrel will be throated longer. Perhaps a .223 Wylde chamber