ORIGINAL: charlie brown
From what I have read, that is the general rule.
That's interesting. I have a new 6.5x284 rifle for benchrest. The figures are for lapua brass and scenar 139 bullets:
Bullet Length 1.370"
Bullet diameter 0.264"
The minimum Cartridge Overall Length from Lapua reloading tables is 3.11"
So, by using the general rule 1.370 - .264 = 1.106" of bullet should be sticking out of the case and 0.264 should be seated in it.
Mine, however, has about 0.50" (nearly twice as much as the "rule of thumb") in the case when touching the lands and about 0.87" sticking out of the case. It is also very close to the minimum COL.
It hasn't been fired yet. Do you reckon I should get a little more freebore reamed out before I do fire a round, say around another 0.2" so I can seat the bullet a bit further out?
Thanks
Robert