What tools are yall using for measuring the throats in your rifles? I have a procedure outlined below that is from my days as a poor student that has worked very well for me so far, but has some slop built into it unfortunately. Specifically I want to be able to set seating depth more precisely.
What I have done previously.
1. Run a closely fitting cleaning rod down with a special flat threaded brass head that I fabricated down the barrel of the unloaded rifle to the bolt face. Place a piece of masking tape on the rod such that it straddles the plane of the muzzle. Use a razor blade to score a line parallel to the end of the muzzle.
2. Take bullet of choice, drop it in the chamber and jam it lightly into the rifling such that it sticks. Repeat the process above with the flat brass jig on the tip of the bullet.
3. Measure between these two lines. This gives me the maximum theoretical OAL from tip to base.
4. Subtract whatever jump I want (typically .015) from this theoretical maximum OAL seat the same bullet in a case at that OAL, measure with a comparator from Ogive to base, use that measurement to set seating dies in the future. Function check, check for magazine length, etc.
I recognize there is error in scoring the lines, measuring between the lines, and the headspace of the rifle, amount of jam etc. However this has produced good results for me, but I would like to move to something more repeatable and precise. What tool(s) would I need?
What I have done previously.
1. Run a closely fitting cleaning rod down with a special flat threaded brass head that I fabricated down the barrel of the unloaded rifle to the bolt face. Place a piece of masking tape on the rod such that it straddles the plane of the muzzle. Use a razor blade to score a line parallel to the end of the muzzle.
2. Take bullet of choice, drop it in the chamber and jam it lightly into the rifling such that it sticks. Repeat the process above with the flat brass jig on the tip of the bullet.
3. Measure between these two lines. This gives me the maximum theoretical OAL from tip to base.
4. Subtract whatever jump I want (typically .015) from this theoretical maximum OAL seat the same bullet in a case at that OAL, measure with a comparator from Ogive to base, use that measurement to set seating dies in the future. Function check, check for magazine length, etc.
I recognize there is error in scoring the lines, measuring between the lines, and the headspace of the rifle, amount of jam etc. However this has produced good results for me, but I would like to move to something more repeatable and precise. What tool(s) would I need?