[Bullet94]

Bullet seating depth is the OAL (over all length) of the cartridge (measured from the base of the case to the tip of the bullet). Some may list COAL (cartridge over all length) which is the same as OAL. Reloading data in manuals or from the powder makers or bullet makers should list OAL for their data and cartridge. The listed OAL’s are a length that will work in all SAAMI spec rifles, which should also fit in the rifles magazine. Some rifles and reloaders load to OAL’s longer than what is listed which may not fit in a mag, trying to find the best OAL for accuracy in their rifle. For new reloaders I would say to stay with the listed data, OAL's or recipes. Loading into the lands is not for every rifle and not for every bullet and not for every reloader either.

When loading close to or into the lands measurements are made using bullet comparators, which measure from the bullets ogive (the curved portion of a bullet forward of the bearing surface) not the bullet tip. Measurements made from the bullets tip will vary in the same lot of bullets (you will probably notice this when measuring OAL’s) where measurements made using a bullet comparator on the bullets ogive will be more consistent. And by the way your seating die doesn’t seat the bullets from the bullet tip but rather by the ogive (at least for rifles) more consistent.