how often do you check your OAL?

friesepferd · January 9th, 2008, 06:25 PM

how often do you check your OAL when reloading.
if it makes a difference as to what kind of equipment you are using, please say so.

i check every 5 rounds on my lee turret

farronwolf · January 9th, 2008, 06:34 PM

Rarely.

When I set my dies up, I do it for the lead I intend to use, and tend to stick with that lead manufacturer and grain, for a while. After I am satisfied with the setup, by measuring, checking the seating etc, I lock the dies down and they are set.

Occasionally I will check the OAL, but not very often. If I switch types of lead or go from jacketed to hollow point, whatever then I will measure, but I might run 1000 or more rounds on a setup without checking the OAL.

This is with pistols and mostly with target loads, not rifles, those will be checked more often as I will be building my first rifle rounds next week probably.

Bud White · January 9th, 2008, 06:52 PM

Every 100 rounds or more after i check the setup .. once its set you usually dont need to check it much

Airedale · January 9th, 2008, 07:36 PM

I spot check when I reload primers-every 100 rds.
Dave

1911NM · January 9th, 2008, 07:56 PM

actually more like every 25 or so, but this is with a press new to me, and so far, I am gaining confident in it enough to back up to every 100 rds. I find with the Hornady LNL-AP, I set my OAL, run 5, reset, check, and if satisfied just run that puppy.

fatboy97 · January 9th, 2008, 08:17 PM

I'd honestly more like every 100, unless I'm setting up a new set of dies.

friesepferd · January 9th, 2008, 08:44 PM

guess i didnt make my range large enough on the poll
o well.
i have a new press and dies so they still wiggle loose just a little.
just did my first 100 rounds today and i noticed towards the end that i wasnt having to adjust them near as much, if at all.

P95Carry · January 9th, 2008, 08:49 PM

I too voted the 50+ (thinking pistol ammo I might add) .... fact is, once whole system set up - consistency is pretty well assured. Unless, there is something loose that might effect a change, most importantly in bullet seating depth.

It could just occur that bullet lube could build to such an extent that over deep seating could happen and this matters of course with high pressure rounds like .40 and 9mm in particular. However, most of us I feel with some experience usually sense if something is wrong, or more precisely ''not right''! - subtle difference!

I will go thru a large number with only an OAL check perhaps at the end of a 50 batch but not always.

Now rifle - different matter ....... I want to keep tabs on too deep and not deep enough - so probably will reassure myself more often - calipers set to my then measurement and quickly slide finished round thru jaws - takes two seconds.

friesepferd · January 9th, 2008, 09:03 PM

ok then, what would you say your guys' tolerances are then?
.01"?

P95Carry · January 9th, 2008, 10:09 PM

Tolerances?

Again depends somewhat on the round. 10 thou is probably close enough but again it'd be more important on small high pressure rounds like 9mm than say .38 spl's. Smaller the case volume the more critical.

With rifle too - re the ''jump'' it would be undesirable if keeping that a short distance on critical loads to let OAL increase much at all, whereas a slight reduction on a regular load perhaps not too big a deal. On rifle I'd rather see -5 thou than plus 5 thou ...... but again if loads are hot and maxed out still best to keep to minimal tolerance IMO.

To be honest I don't apply a tolerance per se in general ... if I check and find a discrepancy I try to remedy it and so probably am thinking more like +/- 5 thou if I can be that scrupulous.

Certainly I am more ''forgiving'' on normal pistol loads - 'hot' .454 or 44 mag more fussy. In these instances tho I will see either a canellure or with cast, a top of grease groove perhaps - easy to spot significant discepancies by just a look.

View Poll Results: how often do you check your OAL?
every round	1	3.33%
every 2-3 rounds	1	3.33%
every 5 rounds	2	6.67%
every 10 rounds	7	23.33%
ever 50+ rounds	19	63.33%
Voters: 30. You may not vote on this poll

January 9th, 2008, 06:25 PM	#1
friesepferd Distinguished Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: what used to be the state of Franklin (look it up) Posts: 1,719	how often do you check your OAL? how often do you check your OAL when reloading. if it makes a difference as to what kind of equipment you are using, please say so. i check every 5 rounds on my lee turret

January 9th, 2008, 06:34 PM	#2
farronwolf Distinguished Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 1,527	Rarely. When I set my dies up, I do it for the lead I intend to use, and tend to stick with that lead manufacturer and grain, for a while. After I am satisfied with the setup, by measuring, checking the seating etc, I lock the dies down and they are set. Occasionally I will check the OAL, but not very often. If I switch types of lead or go from jacketed to hollow point, whatever then I will measure, but I might run 1000 or more rounds on a setup without checking the OAL. This is with pistols and mostly with target loads, not rifles, those will be checked more often as I will be building my first rifle rounds next week probably. __________________ Just remember that shot placement is much more important with what you carry than how big a bang you get with each trigger pull.

January 9th, 2008, 07:56 PM	#5
1911NM Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New Mexico Posts: 307	actually more like every 25 or so, but this is with a press new to me, and so far, I am gaining confident in it enough to back up to every 100 rds. I find with the Hornady LNL-AP, I set my OAL, run 5, reset, check, and if satisfied just run that puppy. __________________ NRA, USPSA SS & Lim-10 Blessed are they who, faced with danger, think only of the front sight. J. Cooper

January 9th, 2008, 08:17 PM	#6
fatboy97 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Land of 10k Lakes Posts: 858	I'd honestly more like every 100, unless I'm setting up a new set of dies. __________________ Be Observant and Be Safe. Current Collection: Glock G26, G19, G23C, SIG P226-40 TT, Ruger GP-100, and 22/45 MKII Former Collection: Taurus 92SS, SIG P220 TT, S&W 360, SIG P239-40

January 9th, 2008, 06:52 PM	#3
Bud White VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Elsewhere Posts: 17,476	Every 100 rounds or more after i check the setup .. once its set you usually dont need to check it much

January 9th, 2008, 07:36 PM	#4
Airedale Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kentucky Posts: 421	I spot check when I reload primers-every 100 rds. Dave

January 9th, 2008, 08:44 PM	#7
friesepferd Distinguished Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: what used to be the state of Franklin (look it up) Posts: 1,719	guess i didnt make my range large enough on the poll o well. i have a new press and dies so they still wiggle loose just a little. just did my first 100 rounds today and i noticed towards the end that i wasnt having to adjust them near as much, if at all.

January 9th, 2008, 08:49 PM	#8
P95Carry Assistant Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South West PA Posts: 25,366	I too voted the 50+ (thinking pistol ammo I might add) .... fact is, once whole system set up - consistency is pretty well assured. Unless, there is something loose that might effect a change, most importantly in bullet seating depth. It could just occur that bullet lube could build to such an extent that over deep seating could happen and this matters of course with high pressure rounds like .40 and 9mm in particular. However, most of us I feel with some experience usually sense if something is wrong, or more precisely ''not right''! - subtle difference! I will go thru a large number with only an OAL check perhaps at the end of a 50 batch but not always. Now rifle - different matter ....... I want to keep tabs on too deep and not deep enough - so probably will reassure myself more often - calipers set to my then measurement and quickly slide finished round thru jaws - takes two seconds. __________________ Chris - P95 NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member. "To own a gun and assume that you are armed is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!." If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

January 9th, 2008, 09:03 PM	#9
friesepferd Distinguished Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: what used to be the state of Franklin (look it up) Posts: 1,719	ok then, what would you say your guys' tolerances are then? .01"?

January 9th, 2008, 10:09 PM	#10
P95Carry Assistant Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South West PA Posts: 25,366	Tolerances? Again depends somewhat on the round. 10 thou is probably close enough but again it'd be more important on small high pressure rounds like 9mm than say .38 spl's. Smaller the case volume the more critical. With rifle too - re the ''jump'' it would be undesirable if keeping that a short distance on critical loads to let OAL increase much at all, whereas a slight reduction on a regular load perhaps not too big a deal. On rifle I'd rather see -5 thou than plus 5 thou ...... but again if loads are hot and maxed out still best to keep to minimal tolerance IMO. To be honest I don't apply a tolerance per se in general ... if I check and find a discrepancy I try to remedy it and so probably am thinking more like +/- 5 thou if I can be that scrupulous. Certainly I am more ''forgiving'' on normal pistol loads - 'hot' .454 or 44 mag more fussy. In these instances tho I will see either a canellure or with cast, a top of grease groove perhaps - easy to spot significant discepancies by just a look. __________________ Chris - P95 NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member. "To own a gun and assume that you are armed is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!." If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

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