ogive measuring

[popper]

Rifle loaded cast OAL isn't really important, but length to end of throat and seating depth are. Working on a rig to check (like a plunk test in pistol) so my ARs don't jam. Started with cutting neck of 308W case and boring through the PP. Note - next time remove more metal from the base with a drill! Idea is to have a hole sized so the ogive stops where 'bore' jam would occur (plus some tolerance), case length so loaded rnd is flat with new 'mouth'. Object is seat a bullet, drop into checker and if rnd base is at or below mouth, good to go - otherwise, seat deeper. PC thickness varies and OAL doesn't catch 'bad' ones. also found a small slide hammer at HF but I got some round rod I can bend, add weight for a range bag stuck rnd puller. Hook into carrier slot and slide weight.
First attempt.

 

[popper]

Have a Lee collet sizer for the 30/30. Took the finger part out, added a small spacer ( small round plastic magnet) under the adjust cap. Works perfect. I use 170 PB & 185 GC but same nose ogive. Now I won't jam the Marlin. Even if the ogive changes by alloy or PC. They do have one for BO. Yea.

 

[popper]

Checked some loaded ammo for the BO today. Wow, a few too long. Couple thous on the nose and ogive - 30 thous too long - PCd. Same bullet BLL is short but OK. I Originally reamed out a fender washer to 'size' the ogive to fit the marlin. Turns out the Lee stem hole is the same size. Now I have a drop in checker for marlin and 3 BO guns. I used cast bullet squeezed in vice to set the exact length. Determined size for BO by noting where PC is scraped on loaded dummy rnd, seat deeper until scraping stops. Drop in checker and adjust my cast spacer till base is below the tool rim. I'll verify when wind drops to < 30 knots. Actually just get to go shooting, I know it works.
Ran a bunch of 30/30 through, all fine but the one that was scuffed, test rnd. I'll use this after seating before crimping.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I use a Synclair "nut". I wish I could get ine that worked for 33-45 cal.

CW

 

[popper]

This is a drop in tester, no 'measuring' required.

 

[Rockydoc]

Have a Lee collet sizer for the 30/30. Took the finger part out, added a small spacer ( small round plastic magnet) under the adjust cap. Works perfect. I use 170 PB & 185 GC but same nose ogive. Now I won't jam the Marlin. Even if the ogive changes by alloy or PC. They do have one for BO. Yea.

I would love to see pictures of that.

 

[popper]

Washer is what I 'nose' sized with, same size as mandrel hole in the Lee tool. I could enlarge it with tapered reamer. Squished cast is for BO, 12 awg copper wire is spacer for 30/30. Either go under the cap. Assemble, drop into mouth - case above - too long and seat deeper, then crimp. Or I could get the sinclair/hornady tool, put on mic and measure each rnd. This is much faster. I don't use the Lee tool anyway, it came with the die set. All my rifles are 30 cal, don't know what mandrel other cals use, maybe stem is same on all. The nose has a scrape on it ~ 1/3 neck length from the mouth. Trig calc shows 2 thous added dia from PC requires ~30 thous deeper seating for this bullet. To nose size I put the washer on the nose (of bullet only),use the loading press to push it down, remove and tap the bullet out. That does increase accuracy in my marlin. Also a PITA so I don't do it much. Could have used this when I tried loading BO with 168gr Amax. To get any fps, powder was compressed and rnd wouldn't chamber. Pulled those and don't use the Amax anymore. You got a pic, it did happen.