Shell casing length capability?
12-23-2006, 10:46 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 11
Shell casing length capability?
Well, one night I was watching the Outfoor Channel, and on comes a commercial about reloading and your casing. They were talking about how shell manufacturers make cartridges that are shorter than what your gun can really hold. He went on to say that because of reloading you can load your own shells that are of a longer case.
He then goes in and puts in a shell, and then inserted a rod. He did some weird measuring and then compares the factory cartridge to the rod. Which showed it had, oh, I dunno, a 1/4 more of chamber for a shell. Now, if this is true, I would really be interested in getting a shell that takes the whole chamber of my gun.
Anyone have any clue as to what I'm talking about?
He then goes in and puts in a shell, and then inserted a rod. He did some weird measuring and then compares the factory cartridge to the rod. Which showed it had, oh, I dunno, a 1/4 more of chamber for a shell. Now, if this is true, I would really be interested in getting a shell that takes the whole chamber of my gun.
Anyone have any clue as to what I'm talking about?
12-23-2006, 10:49 PM
#2
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NW Arkansas
Posts: 1,673
RE: Shell casing length capability?
I saw exactly the same thing, and, in all honesty, it makes no practical difference, as long as you use ammo marked for the caliber of your weapon, you will be fine, I have had no problems getting under 1/2" with factory ammo.
12-23-2006, 11:14 PM
#3
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Saskatchewan Canada
Posts: 6,921
RE: Shell casing length capability?
I assume your refering to Over All Length. True factory ammo is produced so that it will cycle/load into most rifles -standard OAL. Where as a reloader will tailor their OAL to meet their rifles. This has to do with seating depth of the bullet inside the case, where the general thought is closer the bulletto the lans and groove(rifling) the more accurate. Limitations exist to the reloader as well such as magazine length, so it may not be possible to get tight in some chambers. My experience isjacketed bullet like to be closer, while solid coppers like a little more jump (distance till the lans). No doubt I have found reloading to be far more accurate then any factory offering, one reason is seating depth but also the ability to tailor powder/bullet/primer to find the best load is also part of the equation.
Chantecler...wow under 1/2" average, easily and with factory ammo to boot. I wish I had your skills
Chantecler...wow under 1/2" average, easily and with factory ammo to boot. I wish I had your skills
12-23-2006, 11:18 PM
#4
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NW Arkansas
Posts: 1,673
RE: Shell casing length capability?
ORIGINAL: skeeter 7MM
I assume your refering to Over All Length. True factory ammo is produced so that it will cycle/load into most rifles -standard OAL. Where as a reloader will tailor their OAL to meet their rifles. This has to do with seating depth of the bullet inside the case, where the general thought is closer the bulletto the lans and groove(rifling) the more accurate. Limitations exist to the reloader as well such as magazine length, so it may not be possible to get tight in some chambers. My experience isjacketed bullet like to be closer, while solid coppers like a little more jump (distance till the lans). No doubt I have found reloading to be far more accurate then any factory offering, one reason is seating depth but also the ability to tailor powder/bullet/primer to find the best load is also part of the equation.
Chantecler...wow under 1/2" average, easily and with factory ammo to boot. I wish I had your skills
I assume your refering to Over All Length. True factory ammo is produced so that it will cycle/load into most rifles -standard OAL. Where as a reloader will tailor their OAL to meet their rifles. This has to do with seating depth of the bullet inside the case, where the general thought is closer the bulletto the lans and groove(rifling) the more accurate. Limitations exist to the reloader as well such as magazine length, so it may not be possible to get tight in some chambers. My experience isjacketed bullet like to be closer, while solid coppers like a little more jump (distance till the lans). No doubt I have found reloading to be far more accurate then any factory offering, one reason is seating depth but also the ability to tailor powder/bullet/primer to find the best load is also part of the equation.
Chantecler...wow under 1/2" average, easily and with factory ammo to boot. I wish I had your skills
12-23-2006, 11:50 PM
#5
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Saskatchewan Canada
Posts: 6,921
RE: Shell casing length capability?
Wasn't trying to be funny.Pretty touchy!! I don't think of myself as a gun god, I have a right to post here and an opinion just like you.
BTW nice edit
Best of the seasons to yeah
BTW nice edit
Best of the seasons to yeah
12-23-2006, 11:52 PM
#6
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NW Arkansas
Posts: 1,673
RE: Shell casing length capability?
ORIGINAL: skeeter 7MM
Wasn't trying to be funny.Pretty touchy!! I don't think of myself as a gun god, I have a right to post here and an opinion just like you.
BTW nice edit
Best of the seasons to yeah
Wasn't trying to be funny.Pretty touchy!! I don't think of myself as a gun god, I have a right to post here and an opinion just like you.
BTW nice edit
Best of the seasons to yeah
12-24-2006, 02:27 PM
#7
Typical Buck
Join Date: May 2003
Location:
Posts: 920
RE: Shell casing length capability?
Skeeter, you are a knowledgableguy.....about summed it up in a nut shell, again great answer.
Rifles with long throats/free boresuch as the Weatherby can suffer. I know I fella that just recently told me his Rem 7mmRUM had a long throat in it and he was having trouble getting his bullets to seat close to the lands.
As a rule of thumb, bullets seated closer to the lands will be more accurate than bullets that are taking a bigger jump. Different OAL can also change the barrel harmonics some and thus change accuracy potential somewhat.
Handloaders can try seating the bullet at various OAL's and there is usually a sweet spot to be had.
Rifles with long throats/free boresuch as the Weatherby can suffer. I know I fella that just recently told me his Rem 7mmRUM had a long throat in it and he was having trouble getting his bullets to seat close to the lands.
As a rule of thumb, bullets seated closer to the lands will be more accurate than bullets that are taking a bigger jump. Different OAL can also change the barrel harmonics some and thus change accuracy potential somewhat.
Handloaders can try seating the bullet at various OAL's and there is usually a sweet spot to be had.
12-24-2006, 03:55 PM
#8
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 11
RE: Shell casing length capability?
Well, I figure I could do it so I could have more powder capacity? But I bet 250 grains could be fit in a 7mm shell... I don't know a whole too wealth of guns and ammo... And I assume my bullet is jacketed because the tip shows lead and the rest is copper. I'm wondering if maybe I should purchase a box of the silver ballistic tips and use them for big game instead.
I have been pondering the question of how well reloading would do for me, but I just bought my first rifle this year. I suppose I should wait a little and see how much I get into it. So I also guess taking advantage of that last bit of chamber is'nt going to make much of a difference. Cool, just a little bit more I learned and know now.
I have been pondering the question of how well reloading would do for me, but I just bought my first rifle this year. I suppose I should wait a little and see how much I get into it. So I also guess taking advantage of that last bit of chamber is'nt going to make much of a difference. Cool, just a little bit more I learned and know now.
12-24-2006, 04:00 PM
#9
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NW Arkansas
Posts: 1,673
RE: Shell casing length capability?
ORIGINAL: HeX0rz
Well, I figure I could do it so I could have more powder capacity? But I bet 250 grains could be fit in a 7mm shell... I don't know a whole too wealth of guns and ammo... And I assume my bullet is jacketed because the tip shows lead and the rest is copper. I'm wondering if maybe I should purchase a box of the silver ballistic tips and use them for big game instead.
I have been pondering the question of how well reloading would do for me, but I just bought my first rifle this year. I suppose I should wait a little and see how much I get into it. So I also guess taking advantage of that last bit of chamber is'nt going to make much of a difference. Cool, just a little bit more I learned and know now.
Well, I figure I could do it so I could have more powder capacity? But I bet 250 grains could be fit in a 7mm shell... I don't know a whole too wealth of guns and ammo... And I assume my bullet is jacketed because the tip shows lead and the rest is copper. I'm wondering if maybe I should purchase a box of the silver ballistic tips and use them for big game instead.
I have been pondering the question of how well reloading would do for me, but I just bought my first rifle this year. I suppose I should wait a little and see how much I get into it. So I also guess taking advantage of that last bit of chamber is'nt going to make much of a difference. Cool, just a little bit more I learned and know now.
12-24-2006, 06:07 PM
#10
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MD
Posts: 4,572
RE: Shell casing length capability?
ORIGINAL: HeX0rz
Well, I figure I could do it so I could have more powder capacity? But I bet 250 grains could be fit in a 7mm shell... I don't know a whole too wealth of guns and ammo...
Well, I figure I could do it so I could have more powder capacity? But I bet 250 grains could be fit in a 7mm shell... I don't know a whole too wealth of guns and ammo...
..................................ok, now seriously, Skeeter hit it right on the head, the facotries have to load em deeper to accomodate all guns, that being said closer to the lands isnt ALWAYS better. I load for 9 different rifles and some like it .010" off and some like it .090" off.