measuring chamber's OAL

[Creature]

I know about the stoney point instrument but am not trying to drop out $30 for it. Is there any methods to measuring my chamber that wouldn't cost me anything?

Could I just barely size the neck on a empty case, then put a bullet in and close it in my rifle? Then measure the OAL of the bullet? It seems like this method would leave some room for error. Anyone know how to do this in a accurate manner?

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: measuring chamber's OAL

Seat the bullet long and chamber the round. If it touches, seat it another .010" deeper and do it again. If it doesn't touch, seat the next one longer.

 

[Pete E]

Re: measuring chamber's OAL

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Creature</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Could I just barely size the neck on a empty case, then put a bullet in and close it in my rifle? Then measure the OAL of the bullet? It seems like this method would leave some room for error. Anyone know how to do this in a accurate manner? </div></div>

Thats the method I use, but I colour the bullet with a sharpie type marker first...This allows you to see exactly when the bullet starts touching the rifling...

Having said that, i did read a comment on here that the ink can cause corrosion/pitting of the steel. I'm a little sceptical about that, but give the chamber a clean out afterwards, "just in case"...

The whole process only take a few minutes and I get far more consistant results than using the S-P tool, which I also have..

Regards,

Peter

 

[Mag 300]

Re: measuring chamber's OAL

Chad has it!! this will get you real close
Remember that this wil change in most rifles after 500 rounds or so due to erosion and depending on how hot the load is.


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ChadTRG42</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Seat the bullet long and chamber the round. If it touches, seat it another .010" deeper and do it again. If it doesn't touch, seat the next one longer. </div></div>