O.A.L. in 357 max custom contender barrel

[gerrye]

New to this, Thanks for the chance.
18" bull barrel, new to reloading, learning by reading.
I saw a device in a catalog that measured the distance from the bolt face to where a bullet gently seated against the lands. A few thousands short of this would be the OAL for this bullet in this chamber. Heck, I'm broke but a cleaning rod with a locking collar set touching the bolt
then seating a bullet with a pencil, the distance from the barrel to the collar, minus a bit would be the indicated OAL. A Hornady 180 SSP comes in at 2.625 by this test. Loading to the cannelure results in 2.195. I can't lengthen any of the 357/358 in 180 through 225 grains to match their indicated OAL's. I dimly remember being asked about the chamber when I ordered the barrel and in my ignorance, as I thought I was going to shoot the same rounds as my Blackhawk, have a pistol-like chamber and forcing cone. I'm getting 3 to 6 inch groups from a sandbag rest at 100 yards with the above bullets using Imr 4227 and H110 with CCi 450 primers.
  Can varying the OAL help, how can I improve these groups, could I cut .223 brass to a length that allows seating a bullet to this indicated OAL, if so would more case volumn mean more powder/velocity potential?

 I appreciate your help!
Gerry

[cwlongshot]

Gary,

I THINK I know what you are trying to do but a bit confused with your methodology...The store bought tool for this is a Stoney Point gage. It does work nicely, but you can do it with out one. The S.P. gage makes it easier.
  Drill out the primer pocket on one case. crimp the case mouth to snugly hold the bullet you desire to shoot. Seat bullet, insert bullet in chamber. Then a rod into the drilled primer pocket and gently push bullet forward until rifling contact is achieved. Remove bullet, measure and record O.A.L.  and insert into your SEATING DIE. Be careful that the stem is backed out far enough not to move bullet. Now with bullet completely inside die, begin gently screwing the stem in/down until contact is made. Now you can seat it a touch beeper and re measure to check you progress.

 As for the Hornady SSP 180, I would try a diff bullet. For me, this one shot very well, but is overly light/thin jacketed at the velocities I was getting. (22" Handi & 21" Contender @ about 2200fps) It shed its core and didn't penetrate thru whitetails. I now use the 180FP from Speer and it works WONDERFULLY!!! The Hornady 200 RN will allow you a longer bullet to help reach the rifling. Remember keep it off by a touch. I like 5-10 thousand's. Also try 1680- powder. Its my hands down favorite for this cartridge.

 Good luck,
 CW

[gerrye]

CW,
Thanks for the reply.
I see the different method you described and will try it but if what I did measures the same ( I think it will) then every bullet I have tried will pop right out of lthe shell! Including the 170 Speer Gold Dot FP. If the 180 FP you mentioned is different, 357 or 358?, can you give me a serial #?
My method was to measure from the face of the bolt (not a bolt in the contender but that face) to the barrel end  and then  slide just a bullet until it stopped and measure from the bullet tip to the end of barrel.
Again thanks for the input!!
Gerry