Thread: Seating depth measurement problems

I made a budget version of the Hornady OAL gauge out of a fired case and an old telescopic car aerial and a nut from a dyna-bolt as my comparator.

With it I get near 100% repeatable results...and that's all that really matters - Its just a way of comparing one seating depth against another when I'm developing a load, as long as the measurements I get from it can be used to compare one loaded round V's another that all that matters to me.

Basically I use it to establish a baseline and then alter from there (reduce OAL by .005", .0010", .0020" or what ever) and shoot a group until you find the optimum OAL that gives you the best result. Then always use the same tool/s to determine it again in the future if you need to measure it again. I normally keep a few dummy rounds aside loaded to the optimum OAL to reference later on if need be for setting up dies etc..

Once you have your rounds shooting well the distance from the lands becomes irrelevant, the OAL from base to ogive is the most important measurement to know.

kj