RE: OCL vs Ogive
 

honestly, I use a dummy round and a black magic marker.

when it's seated deep enough the lands quit scraping the ink off,
an OAL is taken
then
it's checked to see if it functions in the magazine

if it passes there, a load is worked up
and yes, COAL is played with a little bit

RE: OCL vs Ogive
 

"honestly, I use a dummy round"

I use a case that has been full lenth resized. Seat the bullet way out of the case, put a little grease on the bullet and then stick it in the gun and close the bolt. Take the round out, measure the OLA and reduce it by .010-.040 for the finished live round.

RE: OCL vs Ogive
 

Iwasn't going to put it quite that bluntly, but what Razorhead said is my "predetermination".;)

RE: OAL vs Ogive
 

it's the relationship of the ogive to the lands that matters. while there are different ways to measure it....by far the easiest is to use a comparator gauge. to use the tip of the bullet and go by an oal to determine the seating depth is downright risky.[8D]

RE: OAL vs Ogive
 

i should point out thatmy prior post concerns rifle cartridges....for handguns it is the oal from the tip of the bullet that matters. sorry for any confusion.[8D]

RE: OAL vs Ogive
 

I use the same as what ridge runner has there..At one time
I trimmed the little lead tip off the bullets and made them
all the same length..But now that I have gotten away from
the competion game,I don't worry about it at all...1 to 3
thousands doesn't matter..

RE: OCL vs Ogive
 

Ogive

RE: OCL vs Ogive
 

I also use a black marker but I take a unsized case and put a small flat spot in it by just pushing the side of the case against my bench, just enough to make the bullet a little snug. Then I black the bullet out with the markerand place it in the chamber and close the bolt. I then take it out of the chamber and carefully pull the bulet back out until I see where it stopped in the blacked out part. I put the bullet back in just to where the line in the blacked out part is and then measure the Ogive and that is my OAL unless they won't cycle in my magazine then I start seating deeper until they just barely will cycle in my magazine. I do this 3-5 times to make sure I get a good consistant measurement.