Showdown between OAL and OGive

[longwinters]

Which measurement is more important for bullet accuracy, OAL or OGive?  This is of course regarding cartridge lengths that would fall within the chamber,and/or magazine, length of the specific rifle.

long

[Donna]

Hello longwinters,

In my belief and experience if you are not restricted to magazine length then the distance the ogive is to the lands for a firearm is far more important than the OAL is. I cannot say what this distance is because different firearms like different distances from touching the lands to as far away as 0.020 inches but this is my personal maximum length away from the lands then I will switch powder, primer, or bullet and rework the load.

Donna

[Catfish]

Every thing is important and nothing is important. I have had rifles that seem to shot every thing you put in them very well and others that shot nothing well. With those 2 types of guns nothing is important. With most, however, distance off the lands matters alit. You can not ask the question you did though as there are to many other variable to figure in before you get to the of setting depth. Twist rate, bullet weight and to a lesser extent, velocity also play a part in accuracy. The biggest problem is that until try all the different combination in that barrel you can never be quite sure what will shoot best in it.

[Duffy]

Have to agree with Donna in that distance from the lands is more important if oal isn't a hindering factor. Now on the other side I have two bbls and have seen several others that shoot very well with the bullets .030-.040 off the lands. And yes I started over and worked up and always came back to that same distance with these bbls. What ever works!

[Lloyd Smale]

Donna's got it.