Which one is right???

[thumbs]

Been working on the coal for my mosin. I have the Hornady coal gauge. When using the gauge I get 2.525. When I take the same case and bullet and put it in the chamber using the bolt I get 2.570. Which one is the true coal?? These numbers are constant over several measurements.

thanks

[bunkysdad]

I'm thinking the Hornady gauge is specific to their particular bullets? Is that correct?

[bunkysdad]

It seems that using the bolt to achieve 2.570" and then backing it down a few thousandth would be fine but maybe for that particular firearm. The gauge is gonna give you a safe coal that would be closer to factory ammo suitable for most any 54r firearm. So both answers could be right. You have to see how it performs with samples of both at the range, which is the fun part too. Don't you love this stuff?

[thumbs]

The only thing that could be making the longer coal using the bolt could be the rifling is holding the bullet just a tad. I realize depending on the bullet used the coal will vary. I keep thinking the Hornady should be right with as little variable ad possible but the final coal will be about 2.511. That is a long way from the 2.755 listed in the load book. Again they are bullet specific. Mine don't taper a heck of a lot but they sure look short compared to the PPU bullets which are over 3" coal

[silverado1999]

I use the Lee reloading dies and determine by the manual data. If the coal is more than my last loading according to the data, I will turn the adjustment on the seating die out. Then I seat a bullet and check the coal and continue to adjust and check till I reach the correct coal according to the data. Then I make 5 at the same coal and test fire these and adjust as needed until I get the best performing rounds. I do this with all of the cartridges I reload. Just my 2 cents, and it works well for me.