The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - How to estimate OAL without having to mess up a bunch of rounds

serf 'rett · February 6, 2012, 07:30 PM

The "dummy" pattern idea is great once you have developed a load and COAL. I'll admit that I'm economically minded, so I haven't made the dummy round; instead I just use a round like the one I going to reproduce. Grab a reload out of the box and use it as a pattern.

For developing a new round COAL, I do as others have stated. Start long and creep up on the target COAL.

For shore enough new round (with new bullet) development, I will try to determine the maximum COAL length as established by the magazine, pistol feed parameters or chamber. Load at maximum length with allowance for proper feeding or bullet setback off lands.

February 6, 2012, 07:30 PM	#15
serf 'rett Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2009 Location: Stuttgart, AR Posts: 1,569	The "dummy" pattern idea is great once you have developed a load and COAL. I'll admit that I'm economically minded, so I haven't made the dummy round; instead I just use a round like the one I going to reproduce. Grab a reload out of the box and use it as a pattern. For developing a new round COAL, I do as others have stated. Start long and creep up on the target COAL. For shore enough new round (with new bullet) development, I will try to determine the maximum COAL length as established by the magazine, pistol feed parameters or chamber. Load at maximum length with allowance for proper feeding or bullet setback off lands. __________________ A lack of planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an emergency on my part.