COL question

screaming4vengence · November 30, 2014, 10:35 PM

so i threw together a box of .308 rounds the other day (180gr BST) and every recipe i could find called for 2.80 COL. however my mic is not digital and so the closest thing i could get is 2.75, however whenever i go to put the rounds in the magazine they dont fit as they are to long. the rounds shoot fantastically as they are (breech loaded).i can make them fit by seating them a bit deeper ,and so far i dont notice any performance changes but id like to be doing this right.so am i doing something dumb,or is it the magazine? help a brother out?

tikka t3 .308 -180gr Nosler BST

**Unclenick** · November 30, 2014, 10:43 PM

If you are measuring 2.75" and they don't fit the magazine, the most likely thing is the measurement is wrong for some reason. Lay one down over a ruler. 2.75" is the same thing as 2 and 3/4 inches. See if it doesn't look longer than that on the ruler.

jdscholer · November 30, 2014, 11:02 PM

I've gotta ask, since you're kind of challenged in the caliper department, are you sure that your cases aren't longer than maximum length?

If your mag is proper for that rifle/cartridge, about all you can do is seat a little deeper till they fit. jd

screaming4vengence · November 30, 2014, 11:03 PM

i just double checked they are indeed at 2.75>x they would fit perfectly if the ballistic tip wasnt there.

jd- cases are factory new, and only neck sized and trimmed
magazine is also correct. and yes they are seated somewhere in the 2.7 range

steve4102 · November 30, 2014, 11:23 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7-6ALptqQQ

Ulrice · December 1, 2014, 12:35 AM

can you post a picture with a round in the caliper?

Barnacle Brad · December 1, 2014, 12:37 AM

So how deep do you have to seat them in order to fit the magazine?
Have you contacted Tikka to find out if this is a normal condition?
Have you had this issue with other 180gr ammo, factory or otherwise?

Looking at the Hodgdon Load Data, I notice there are quite a few powders listed with compressed max loads. This could become an issue if you seat the bullet deeper than the test load.

I would be on the phone to Tikka for an explaination and a new magazine (or two). That is of course if you are reading your calipers correctly.

balderclev · December 1, 2014, 05:45 AM

I seat my Hornady 150 SST bullets at 2.75 along with other ballistic tip bullets. 180's may be slightly longer.

tobnpr · December 1, 2014, 07:50 AM

If you're measuring correctly, contact Tikka as something's wrong with the DBM. Any .308 class mag should be able to handle 2.8 "plus".

I don't know if the T3 is compatible with AICS type mags, but if so there are aftermarket mags that will allow 2.9"+ for long throats and VLD's.

Type of bullet, seating depth, etc. is all irrelevant here. Overall length is overall length...

screaming4vengence · December 1, 2014, 05:16 PM

The load is not even close to compressed 40gr of xbr8208. I'll get on the phone with tikka, I promise I'm reading the caliper right ( double checked with a ruler as well)

Bucksnort1 · December 1, 2014, 10:28 PM

Screaming, I'm sure you've heard this many times but, there are no stupid questions, other than the ones you don't ask. I think this is especially true in reloading.

Bucksnort1 · December 1, 2014, 10:29 PM

Screaming, I think you have a very good excuse to buy another gun for testing.

November 30, 2014, 10:35 PM	#1
screaming4vengence Member Join Date: September 5, 2014 Posts: 40	COL question so i threw together a box of .308 rounds the other day (180gr BST) and every recipe i could find called for 2.80 COL. however my mic is not digital and so the closest thing i could get is 2.75, however whenever i go to put the rounds in the magazine they dont fit as they are to long. the rounds shoot fantastically as they are (breech loaded).i can make them fit by seating them a bit deeper ,and so far i dont notice any performance changes but id like to be doing this right.so am i doing something dumb,or is it the magazine? help a brother out? tikka t3 .308 -180gr Nosler BST

November 30, 2014, 10:43 PM	#2
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	If you are measuring 2.75" and they don't fit the magazine, the most likely thing is the measurement is wrong for some reason. Lay one down over a ruler. 2.75" is the same thing as 2 and 3/4 inches. See if it doesn't look longer than that on the ruler. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

November 30, 2014, 11:02 PM	#3
jdscholer Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2008 Location: Jefferson State Posts: 1,197	I've gotta ask, since you're kind of challenged in the caliper department, are you sure that your cases aren't longer than maximum length? If your mag is proper for that rifle/cartridge, about all you can do is seat a little deeper till they fit. jd __________________ "We're all dummies, just in different ways." Old Okie Philosopher

November 30, 2014, 11:03 PM	#4
screaming4vengence Member Join Date: September 5, 2014 Posts: 40	i just double checked they are indeed at 2.75>x they would fit perfectly if the ballistic tip wasnt there. jd- cases are factory new, and only neck sized and trimmed magazine is also correct. and yes they are seated somewhere in the 2.7 range Last edited by screaming4vengence; November 30, 2014 at 11:08 PM.

December 1, 2014, 12:37 AM	#7
Barnacle Brad Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2009 Location: Greybull, Wyoming Posts: 416	So how deep do you have to seat them in order to fit the magazine? Have you contacted Tikka to find out if this is a normal condition? Have you had this issue with other 180gr ammo, factory or otherwise? Looking at the Hodgdon Load Data, I notice there are quite a few powders listed with compressed max loads. This could become an issue if you seat the bullet deeper than the test load. I would be on the phone to Tikka for an explaination and a new magazine (or two). That is of course if you are reading your calipers correctly. __________________ Brad Last edited by Barnacle Brad; December 1, 2014 at 12:45 AM.

November 30, 2014, 11:23 PM	#5
steve4102 Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,952	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7-6ALptqQQ

December 1, 2014, 12:35 AM	#6
Ulrice Member Join Date: February 14, 2008 Location: Langley, BC, Canada Posts: 95	can you post a picture with a round in the caliper?

December 1, 2014, 05:45 AM	#8
balderclev Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2013 Location: Benton, Arkansas Posts: 120	I seat my Hornady 150 SST bullets at 2.75 along with other ballistic tip bullets. 180's may be slightly longer.

December 1, 2014, 07:50 AM	#9
tobnpr Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2010 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 4,556	If you're measuring correctly, contact Tikka as something's wrong with the DBM. Any .308 class mag should be able to handle 2.8 "plus". I don't know if the T3 is compatible with AICS type mags, but if so there are aftermarket mags that will allow 2.9"+ for long throats and VLD's. Type of bullet, seating depth, etc. is all irrelevant here. Overall length is overall length... __________________ Remington 700/Savage Rebarreling /Action Blueprinting 07 FFL /Mosin-Nagant Custom Shop/Bent Bolts Genuine Cerakote Applicator www.biggorillagunworks.com

December 1, 2014, 05:16 PM	#10
screaming4vengence Member Join Date: September 5, 2014 Posts: 40	The load is not even close to compressed 40gr of xbr8208. I'll get on the phone with tikka, I promise I'm reading the caliper right ( double checked with a ruler as well)

December 1, 2014, 10:28 PM	#11
Bucksnort1 Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2013 Location: Littleton, Colorado Posts: 1,121	Screaming, I'm sure you've heard this many times but, there are no stupid questions, other than the ones you don't ask. I think this is especially true in reloading.

December 1, 2014, 10:29 PM	#12
Bucksnort1 Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2013 Location: Littleton, Colorado Posts: 1,121	Screaming, I think you have a very good excuse to buy another gun for testing.