I'm trying to determine max COL for a bullet in my gun. I've determined it might be "best" to go buy the Hornady tool but, frankly, I don't feel like dropping another $45 on something. It feels like I've been doing that a lot recently (headspace gauge, new dies, a couple of new powders, multiple types of new bullets, new brass, etc.). I don't want another tool to manage where it's stored, or drop more dough, etc. etc. etc.

The gun is a Rem 700 - in .243. I'm doing my first load with a 105gr Hornady Match bullet. Man - this beast is LONG! Test COL on Hodgdon's website (H4831) is 2.76".

I created a dummy at 2.80" and smoked the bullet. When I chambered it the bolt was a little stiff when closing - but I saw *NO* marks in the smoking after I extracted it. (I FL size - and do it to a very minimal amount - which may explain the firm bolt closing.)

If it was hitting the lands I would see marring of the smoking for sure? With no disruption of the smoked bullet I can have confidence I'm off the lands? I just want to double-check my methodology sounds right.

Thanks!

OR

I'm a rookie but I did similar with 35 Remington loads and 357 pistol bullets. Some of the bullets I have are fatter in the olgive than a "standard" 35 rem bullet and I thought they were contacting the rifling causing the bolt not to close. After using a sharpie on a bullet to check for marks it wound up being the shoulder of the brass needed to be bumped back ever so slightly. The brass was once fired but not by my gun. I had to adjust my full length die down in small increments until it closed smoothly (this gun was a lever action). I also used the sharpie on the neck of the brass to "see" how far it the neck sizing ring was coming down.

Again, I'm only a few years into reloading and even less with rifle. The only rifle round I loaded was the 35. What I listed above worked for me but might not be your issue. I figured it might be worth a try since you said you are not completely full length sizing, no marks on the bullet, and having trouble closing the bolt.

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Jim

Neck-size a case ever so slightly, so the bullet will be lightly held in the case. Then seat the bullet with your fingers extra long.
Now carefully put it in the chamber, as to not cause the bullet to hit the sides, skewing the test. Gently close the bolt on the dummy round, then eject it as gently, making sure you don't move the bullet.
Measure the COL, and repeat the process to make sure of that measurement. If the measurement isn't consistent, size the neck a bit smaller.
That will be the COL, where your bullet meets the lands.

Leave the primer out as to give you access to the bullet from behind with a wire.

Sharpie works, easier too.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

I would seat a bullet in a case well past the standard OAL with
just enough tension to stay put and chamber it.

I then would run a cleaning rod with a flat tip down, until it touched the bullet that was against the lands.
Place some tape or mark with a marker pen.
I would load that bullet .05" shorter, some only go .03" but I like a little cushion on safety.

Just make sure your case is loose and not over spec and binding in the chamber, when doing this.

You might be a rookie but you've taken a safe and intelligent approach.
Qc

When and where I grew up "smoking a bullet" had a completely different meaning altogether....

Just sayin

Did you always make sure that the caliber of the ''smoked bullet''fitted the chamber of the smoker...er...I mean the shooter?
Qc