RE: Overall Length Variations
Big country-The first thing you need to do is ignore the manual when it comes to overall lengths.All bullets vary in shape as different rifles vary in chamber and throat dimentions.I measure each bullet to see how long it would have to be to touch the lands then adjust as necessary for best accuracy and to make it fit the magazine.To measure each bullet I take a fired case and put a small dent in the lip so the bullet slides into the case snugly.I then start the bullet in the case and chamber this dummy round letting the bolt push the bullet into the rifling.I then carefully remove the dummy round and measure the overall length.This takes a bit of trial and error so I do it until I get the same measurement a few times.I then shorten this length slightly so the bullet is off the lands and load some ammunition.As I said you must do this for each different bullet and you will be surprised at how much they do vary.