You got that right Topgun! Sure seems like a 'handy tool' should make life easier, not more complicated, right?

Another simple method, what I was taught to use a long time ago (I'm not quite as grey as Ridge though ) is "smoking the bullet".

The way I was TAUGHT was to seat a bullet really long with a firm crimp to hold it in place, then use a match to soot or "smoke" the bullet black. Then close the cartridge (just bullet and case) into the chamber, jamming it into the lands.

Then when you eject the cartridge, you'll have rifling marks in the soot. COAL minus the length of the witness marks, minus your desired bullet jump, and you have your COAL for THAT BULLET. These days, rather than sooting with a match, I use magic marker as my 'witness fluid'.

I've heard of the ram rod method (might have seen it in a manual even?), but it also is reliant upon the TIP not being deformed (since the ram rod engages the tip), so I revert back to the old school "smoking" method.

Many ways to skin a cat. Sadly, new "tools" don't always make life simpler, they just make more money for the folks selling them.