22hornet C.O.L.

[littlepig]

How far off the lands do you guys try to get with your handi's ?
I have checked 2 hornady bullets for my 22hornet. The 35gr v-max and the 45gr hornet.
I know my way is primitive but I feel it works. I would barely seat the bullet then I would slowly close the gun and reopen slowly then measure C.O.L.  After several times I came up with the 35gr. v-max being 1.750 and the 45gr. hornet being 1.860  How far do I need to drop back? The hornady book list the C.O.L. for the 35gr at 1.715 and the 45gr. at1.750. Thanks for your advice, Dana

[quickdtoo]

I load the 35gr Vmax to 1.759" which is .005" off the lands in my rifle.
Tim

[LaOtto222]

Every gun is going to be slightly different, even if it is the same brand. When you load develop you need to find what is ideal for your gun. Some like to to be snugged right up to the lands and some like to be off the lands. the ones that like to be off the lands can vary how much off the lands they need to be. Some like a few thousandths and some like to be .040" or more off. Some guns can not even come close to the lands, so you just have to work with what you have. You will have to try it to find out. Keep in kind that generally if you are touching the lands, you will need to back off your powder charge if you are at or near max and work your way back up. If you have not done any load development and you want to start into the lands, start at the bottom of the load book(s) and work your way up carefully. Good Luck and Good Shooting

[Gerry N.]

I see new handloaders especially, get all wrapped up in COL as if some Black Ops team was going to neutralize them if they get it wrong.   

The length of a cartridge is determined by so many factors it boggles the mind. Well, mine anyway.  For cast boolit loads I load my singleshot rifle's bullets to be as close to the rifling as I can get it.  For jacketed loads, I try to get the bullet as close to .050 from the rifling as possible.  That's what I try for.   Reality sticks it's boogery nose in and makes my life all slimy.  Some bullets are too short for this ideal and some are too long, compressing the powder too much.  Bullet nose shape makes a big difference as well.

Then there are my magazine fed rifles where the big bugaboo is magazine length.  I think most load manuals give lengths which will feed through most magazines or simply parrot  lengths published by ammunition makers.  Ammunition manufacturers determine cartridge length by worst case scenario.  Their product must work perfectly in any gun chambered for their product.  Even when some drooling mouth breather loads .303 Savages into his WWI souvinir Enfield.  Hey, I watched him do it.

So, the length of a given cartridge is dependant on too many factors to list and you'll have to arrive at it yourself.  As long as it chambers, the bullet doesn't fall out of the cartridge while it's in your pocket, and it feeds through the magazine, all while producing those all too common .323" fifty shot groups at 500 yards offhand, you have found the perfect C.O.L.

An example.  I have a Ruger #1 in .308 Win. and a M1912/61 Chilean Mauser in 7.62 NATO.  Cast loads using a Lyman 311299 loaded .005 off the lands in the Mauser will not chamber in the Ruger.  The same bullet  seated .005 off the lands of the Ruger in the otherwise most accurate loads will pattern 10" at 50 yds. Seating them back to .125" off the lands closes the group to a reliable 3".  That load also is the most accurate in the Mauser where it is .250" from the lands.  Yes, boys and girls a quarter of an inch.   Ain't rifles fun, people?

To make a long story interminable, don't get too invested in C.O.L.  Every load in every rifle is different.   Keep careful records so you can easily duplicate a success.  Or if someone tries to get you to load ammo for them, a failure.  If you can load some dismally inaccurate ammo for someone, he won't be back.

Gerry N.

[oldyardog]

I load my Hornet to listed COL in the lee book. Tried differnt COLs and found that was the best in my little H&R.


Oldyardog