I just received my Hornady tools that you're using. I'm stoked that I found this video and have already watched it multiple times. Well done sir. Thanks a million.
been reloading pistol for a while, but just started rifle, this Ogive thing has been haunting me, you Sir are the first person to explain it, in a way that made perfect since to me , I feel much more comfortable about how to set my dies now that I watch this. Thank You !
I’ve come to depend on your videos as the most informative and well presented on TH-cam. You are a methodical and excellent teacher. Thank you for the effort you put into your presentations.
Thank you!! I watched 3 different videos with people using this tool and I knew that something wasn't right. My intuition was that the headspace on my fire formed brass will most likely be longer than Hornady's in all instances. You are the only one who explained how to use this tool the right way. Well done.
+Steven Peters You're welcome Steven! That's exactly why I did this particular video. I also watched several videos of people using the OAL gauge and just had to shake my head in wonder at how so many people didn't understand the underlying concepts. Thanks for watching!
Excellent video. Thank you very much for taking the time to explain the use of the Hornady OAL gauge and comparator. Your diagrams really drive the point home and make it very easy to understand. I am new to reloading and have found your videos have added the confidence I've needed to move forward with this new hobby. I'm looking forward to your future videos. Thank you again.
+cjmcnaulty That's great! I love hearing that my videos are helping out! And welcome to the brotherhood of reloaders. It's a great hobby and I hope you come to enjoy it as much as I do.
I have watched many videos on the subject. This is the best one. when I first tried to use the oal gauge I kept getting different readings. Then I realized the modified case was loose. Once I tightened it no problems.
I just want to thank you for helping to clear a lot of this up for me. You have saved me from much headaches. I have not actually started the reloading process but, I have been accumulating tools & gauges along with presses and other items needed.
along with your program you are great at explaining ways to do things clearly and to the point. which makes it easy to listen to. thank you for all the info. Michael
This is the best video I have every seen on this topic. It is what you don't know that bites you and I never considered the difference in head space between my fired reloaded brass and the modified case.
+Anthony Owen Thanks Anthony. You're absolutely right, I've been bitten by that particular malady myself more than a few times. After watching some of the other videos on this device, I figured I'd better do my own video and get the word out. Thanks again, lot's more to come so stay tuned!
I have competition dies and I am glad I watched this video before measuring and seating my bullets. I am going to start 30,000 back and work my way up.
Great information. I've been using the Hornady OAL gage along with the Hornady Headspace gage for several years and your videos pointed out some errors I have been making with both tools.Many thanks!
+Jim Goodel You're welcome Jim! To be honest, I made the same errors until I sat down and did the math one day. It was one of those moments of epiphany for me. Thanks for watching!
Detailed instruction gives me the confidence to expand my reloading skills. I started with Hornady and this video supports my decision. Thank you HornadyLoader for this video and all your other presentations.
Doug Brown Thanks Doug! I'm kinda proud of this one. I'm not much of an artist but I couldn't think of any way to really illustrate how these devices work without putting together a PowerPoint animation. I'm happy you liked it! Hornady Loader
HornadyLoader, this was one truly awesome, educational video. Detailed, patient, methodical. Just excellent. And just what I needed! It was particularly cool that you showed the WRONG way to set up the overall length gauge. I knew when you started that part of the video that that's EXACTLY how I would have tried to set it up the first time, and it would have taken me 10 minutes to figure out what I'd done wrong. Count me as a new subscriber. Well done!
This is the first video of yours I have watched and found it very helpful. The video, your instructions, and the diagrams were all excellent. Thank you!
0321 jarhead Thanks Jarhead! I appreciate that! I try to be as in-depth as possible and to include info that doesn't seem to be mentioned on other videos.
Found the same issues. My fireformed neck sized stuff figured quite a bit longer oal than with modified case. Love the comparator. You are awesome. Don't know why you don't have thousands of views. Thanks!
aracp Thanks! I just started doing these videos in February because I watched a few reloading videos and was appalled at the lack of information and/or general misinformation that many of them contained. There are some good channels out there, but I most fail to mention some of the pitfalls and downright dangerous situations that can occur during the reloading process. Something as simple as a sticky balance beam scale or getting the OAL of a cartridge wrong can seriously injure or kill someone. Thanks again! Lots more to come! Hornady Loader
aracp Oh, I also wanted to mention...for $15.00 (includes return shipping), Hornady will take two of YOUR fire formed cases and do the modifications on them so you'll have a modified case that matches YOUR firearm and can be used with the OAL gauge. Hornady Loader
Excellent video... From now on, I'll be taking my measurements from the case head to the ogive of the bullet with the comparator installed on mt calipers. Thanks for a job well done....
Again, excellent video. I thought I knew how to use the OAL gauge. Problem is I didn't give much thought on thumbscrew placement at the body. I learned something useful. Thanks.
Great video never thought about my cases being slightly different than the modified case from Hornady. I will measure the headspace on my fire formed cases more closely now. Also never knew that you could use the 2 different sides on the comparator to make sure the bullet went in straight. Thank you for sharing
Great explanation but I had one problem that drove me and my son nuts when trying to measure with the dial caliper, bullet comparator and OAL gauge. We could not get consistent readings even in the hundredths. So after fussing with the OAL gauge for a couple of days my son figured out that the pushrod in the OAL gauge has a flat part that must be positioned correctly when measuring for overall length. It's obvious when you look at it and realize that's why the rod is shaped the way it is. Also I'd advise "feathering" the pushrod into the lands, not pushing or forcing in any way. Thanks for another great video Hornady Loader!
+shoot2survive Thanks! I don't have the right tools to tap and drill the heads of my cases so I send mine out to Hornady to do it. Someday I'll get some decent tools in the shop. lol. Thanks for watching!
TIP: for the Hornady bullet comparator; I just measured 3 different 223 bullets of different weights and manufacturers and found a total of CBTO variance of some .030. All bullets must have identical O'Gives. Then I removed the plastic plunger and filed down the rounded end into a more pointed end and remeasured a 3 bullets again @ 8 each and found the new total variance of the same bullets to be .010. In two of the bullets the CBTO variance was less than 5%. Very accurate now. My conclusion is the bullet bases are not 100% perpendicular to the concentricity of the bullet and the plastic plunger end is too large to get an accurate reading on a small point from the base of the bullets. This was all done in a brand-new JC Custom barrel just purchased and not installed. I wish Hornady would install a smaller metal pointed end on their plunger for a little extra money.
Awesome video you're the first person that I've seen actually explained the entire tool set up. I learned a little something. I have the same set a bullet comparator and overall length gauges you have and a Hornady caliper. The only part that I would have added was the simple fact that Hornady their caliper has extra thick Jaws that hold the bullet comparator and headspace gauges much tighter and aligned much better. So a recommendation to all reloader if you're going to use the Hornady equipment use a Hornady digital caliper as well so that everything fits the way it's supposed to. The Hornady digital caliper and the headspace gauge along with the bullet comparator is all available on amazon.com. as well as the overall length gauges. Great video keep up the good work. Echo
I have all the tools, and watched a bunch of videos on the procedure. Only one other divulges your analysis and consideration of the differences between the Hornady modified case dimensions and the case that is to become the final project. I have to say that your rendition is clear and precise, giving reloaders a true in depth base to build on. I've been reloading for 51 years and always based my measurements on OAL case head to the tip as provided by the reloading manuals. Thank You for your work and presentation.
Mate you explained that perfectly,i reload myself for competition.I am going through exactly the same process(bullet jump,powder loads...etc)bullet weights,case weights.....what amazes me is you can have bullets out of the same batch and they will vary ever so slightly,my 308,223,6.5 are nail drivers at 700mtrs.....good on ya
mickycricket Thanks Mickey! I was surprised that no one else seems to mention the variance between the modified cases and the cases that you actually use to reload. I've also noticed the same variance you have in the bullets themselves...even within the same lot. Some manufacturers are better than others, but you have to keep a close eye on tolerances regardless. Good luck with your competition! I've been competing for years...wish I was a better shot, lol. It seems my son Cody is the marksman in this family. Hornady Loader
HornadyLoader Thanks mate ,i hope cody goes far in the competion world(he has a great head start with you as his mentor)i am building a 6.5 creedmore at the moment with a peirce action with fluted bolt,a pacnor shute (fluted)custom barrel tuner,macmillan tasmanian black wood thumb hole stock,14x42x56 nf scope(davies trigger 2 stage)made in australia ,took out the single stage(timmney)should have someting shooting (great)i'm an ozzie....i will subsribe right now......GOOD LUCK CODY....MAKE EVERY SHOT AN........ X
great job explaining. When I first started reloading I thought these tools were a waste of time and money, now I won't load for any of my rifles without them. I thought my seating depths were accurate just using calipers but once I got the bullet comparator, they all were varied slightly. Now everything is precise for each rifle...must have tools for precision shooting
mojo jojo Hi mojo jojo, I know what you mean. When I first started loading, all I had was a press, some dies, a powder measure and a caliper. As I learned more and more about reloading, I upgraded my equipment and now I feel the same as you...if you want to print clovers on paper, you need to go the extra mile. Thanks for watching!
I understand what you are teaching here and I agree that for me as a beginner 30 thousand is a good place to start. I have all the measuring equipment and am practicing with the tools getting a feel for them. Loading for a 721 Remington .270.
Hornady will tap and thread and enlarge the neck of your fire formed brass i will be sending mine out soon.....thanks for the video it was very useful.
Very thorough tutorial on the use of this device. I would add one comment. Your lighting could be improved on to make the video more detailed. I am glad that I found your channel, thank you for your efforts.
Hi Dave, Yup, that's the best way to do it! If you have a fire-formed case modified by Hornady for you, you can get the second measurement the same way as in the video. Just take the OAL as measured by the OAL gauge and subtract the headspace of the case Hornady has modified for you (as measured by the Hornady headspace gauge). Hornady Loader
HornadyLoader Sir, thanks a lot for that educational video. Is there any disadvantage in using the generic "Modified Cases" Hornady sells for the O.A.L. gauge rather than a fire-formed case (which has been modified by Hornady)? I am half a world away, so sending a few brass cases to Hornady would be impractical.
Karamojo7mm Hi there, there's nothing wrong with using the Hornady Modified cases. Just be aware that it is probably a different length than your brass and apply the formula I use in the video and you'll be good to go. Thanks!
HornadyLoader Sir, thank you for your quick response! It's highly appreciated. I bet you're bringing Hornady some additional business through your clear demonstration of how tools and gauge are used properly. I'll order these gauges. I am sure I will revert to this video in the future.
+HornadyLoader Excellent video, especially for a newbie like myself ... I just got into the hobby about 3 years ago. I just picked up my Hornady Overall Length Gauge - Straight Model late October from one of my gun shops I go to; and I have my 4 Hornady Modified Cases (.30-06 Springfield, .303 British, .30-30 Winchester and .32 Winchester Special) on order, along with the Hornady Overall Length Gauge - Curved Model thru him. I've been looking into the L. E. Wilson's Headspace Cartridge Gauges for my above mentioned calibers to compliment this tooling. Is this a good choice; or should I invest in the Hornady Headspace Gauge instead? I would not have considered the headspace issue of the actual case (Full Sized or Neck Sized) being used. Very good point you made in this video. I wish Hornady mention this point in their Overall Length Gauge instructions. I'll be viewing this video again and again to assist in my reloading process. My other question is, what size of Hornady Bullet Comparator set should I purchase, considering what calibers I already have now? I can get the smaller set, which will work for the calibers I'm shooting now, from Bass Pro Shops in Moncton, New Brunswick. Would I be better off with the bigger set later down the road? Bare in mind, I'm trying to anticipate my needs for tooling 5 - 10 years down the road.Looking forward in seeing the rest of your videos, especially those on the Hornady L-N-L Classic Kit Press Set and other Hornady equipment.
+HornadyReloader If you could humor my on a technique I came up with(out of necessity) for my particular application. I seem to have been having issues with the OAL gage. When inserting tool and plunging the bullet for o.a.l I would get what I can only describe as run-out in the mod'ed case neck. This required me to exert a significant amount of force to push the bullet onto the lands. So I figured out that I needed to drop the bullet into the chamber.Then begin to tilt my rifle,listen as the bullet slid home. Then I'd insert the gage/mod'ed case in to the chamber to interface with the bullet. Lock the pushrod down tilt the rifle w/muzzle up to allow gage and bullet to come out. This is where the humor comes in. Can you try this technique and see if you can get consistent readings. Thank You. Mike C.
If anyone is wondering; The straight model will work with an AR10 but it's not ideal. The brass screw will be inside the receiver when the modified cartridge is chambered. You can make it work, but curved might be easier. I read a few reviews of people having consistency issues with the curved model...not sure if true.
Exceptional video, great diagrams/pictures, extremely helpful. One question; from reading the Hornady manual they ask that if you want, you can send in 2 fired (fire formed) brass to them however they stress to NOT resize the fired brass. With this being said, how can you find the other unknown length not the given .799 length? And, what or how would you determine the OAL/COAL? Thanks again, awesome video.
Dave the overall length gauge is much more accurate on a fire formed piece of brass because it comes from your particular rifle chamber. Hornady simply takes your to once fired cases that have not been resized or touched and they drill out the primer pocket and run a tap to tap the threads needed by the overall length gauge so that it will install on it. When you're using brass that has not been fire formed out of your chamber there's a little bit of Wiggle inside your chamber. Most competition shooters will neck size their fire formed brass so that there is less misalignment between the bullet and the throat into your rifling. Fire formed brass that is simply next sized 4 bullet retention usually two thousands of an inch will be more accurate then a fired piece of brass that has been bumped back on the shoulder two thousands of an inch. What you're doing is setting up for precision rifle work and the once fired brass is a duplicate of the internal diameters of your particular rifle chamber. It's just going to be more accurate overall when determining overall length to your rifling. Hope it helps, Echo.
I really like your video on this, I use the stony point gage all the time. But I never gave it a thought about the case that comes with the gage verses the military brass that I use for prairie dog hunting. But how or what kind of a gage can you use to measure the head space difference between the two. It would be nice if you can point us in that direction. I would like to thank you so much for showing this method on how to measure properly, and bring this to everyones attention. Thanks so much, I think that this will shock most serious reloaders. In other words guy's really pay attention to this guy, and watch it twice if you don't understand, because remember, SAFTY ALWAYS COMES FIRST !!
0.007 thousands is the SAAMI head space for that cartridge - proves why this tool is worth the money without all the complications. A Go No-Go Gauge is 0.004 - SAAMI Spec is 0.007.
Good insights. You didn't address the issue of the cartridge fitting in the magazine. Some will get an extended magazine or have to load cartridge by hand if it is larger. I am not a seasoned reloader and appreciate your take on advanced techniques. Thanks.
+Earle BuBar Hi Earle, yup, I probably should have mentioned that in the video. I tend to use terminology that a novice can relate to and sometimes forget to follow up with the correct or common terms. 99% of my videos are not scripted, I usually just turn on the camera and start talking so sometimes I do forget to include some things. Thanks!
Aside from the headspace issue which is relevant and important, using a smaller bushing than the bore size place the measurement at some 'random' point on the ogive. Using the correct bushing (ie. .30 bushing for a .308 projectile) at least tells you where your rifling starts.
Great video. I am just getting into loading pistol ammo, 9mm, and am hoping you will do a video on reloading a rimless pistol cartridge in the near future. Really enjoy your videos.
+robert austin Hi Robert, I'll put that on the queue. I have 4 videos that I'm working on right now but doing a pistol load would be a good idea. I've been concentrating on rifle loads and pistol would be a nice change of pace. Pistol loads are done slightly different as well so it would be a good topic to cover. Thanks!
All gunsmiths I've talked with say DO NOT USE a cleaning rod to remove the bullet. They say best way is to take the rifle and put it upright and lightly bang the butt on the work bench and the bullet falls right out.
I started reloading about three months ago. Presently, I only do .308 Winchester. It seems like the more I learn, the more I find out there is more I need to learn. I just gauged my Remington 700 with 175 gr. Sierra Match Kings and, my numbers were quite different. My True OAL, after subtracting the 0.030", was 2.312", which seems pretty long but, I measured everything at least three times. I wouldn't have thought the 178 gr. A-Max would be that different. I tried again with 168 gr. Sierra Tipped Match Kings and, my result was a True OAL of 2.285", not that far off the 175 SMK. This video was VERY informative and, I learned a lot from it. Now, I have to ask, do you crimp your rounds at all? It doesn't seem like there is much bullet inside the neck.
Great video HornadyLoader. I found your video after I purchased a Hornady overall length gauge and a Hornady bullet comparator. I have used a caliber specific Wilson headspace gauge for many moons, so I dropped in a fire formed 30-06 case that had not been sized. It dropped right into the "sweet spot" on the Wilson gauge. Hornady's modified '06 case was visibly higher in the Wilson gauge, meaning to me as you said, there is slight measurement disparity between the two cases in the headspace area.I just ordered a set of Hornady headspace gauges to work with the body housing that came with my Hornady comparator kit. I'll be able to read a fire formed case form my '06 and compare it to the modified case made by Hornady. From there I can do the math and work out the difference on my final seating depth. At least this is my intention....so please let me know if I am thinking this out correctly??? Thanks for a great video!!!
Is .799 a standard variable for all cases? I realize from your outstanding video that my head space will be different and must be factored in. The illustrated glossary in the Hornady manual defines the head space as "The fit of a cartridge in a chamber measured as the distance from breech face to that part of the chamber which stops the case's forward movement." With that being said (STUPID QUESTION ALERT) is a .223 a rimmed or rimless case? It appears and measures to be rimless.
I assume the OD of the red tube is 5/16", but what is the ID or how thick is the tube wall? Mcmaster Carr offers that tube (.313 OD) in steel with an ID of .183, or .215, and even .243. Making the red tube should be easy, and as for the case, chuck the case in your drill press and clamp the drill bit /tap in your vice and it will drill like it's in a lathe.
I wonder, Would it be better to have a case that is a once fired in the gun we are loading for ? i.e use a once fired case that has been drilled and tapped for the wonderful Hornady gauge. I am loading for a 7.62x51 but using .308 fired brass...the cases are a bit diff.
I just bought the Hornady equipment so thanks very much indeed for explaining how it works. I have lots of fired shells and when I measured them it appears there are differences in length upto 0.09 milimeters. This consequently means that if one wants the overall lenght to be the same the bullet will be either deeper or not as deep pushed into the shell when reloading ... I wonder, how does this affect the accuracy or doesn't it ? By the way, very best wishes for a prosperous and healthy 2019.
When you measure from the cartridge base to the ogive, you aren't measuring the OAL of the round. And zeroing out the caliper with the body and bushing length won't give you OAL either. If I'm not mistaken, you never really get OAL with this device inspite of the name. The key here is the word "comparator". You are only establishing the comparative distant between a bullet seated to the lands and one that you have backed off from the lands.
I bought the O.A.L., HEAD COMPARATOR, and BULLET COMPARATOR GAUGES not knowing different die types existed until a about a month ago. I bought a fixed 30-06 and it looks like I can't use any of these tools because I've been looking for a match grade set for a month here and there and can't get my hands on one. I'm going to get one when I find one, but say I only reloaded to SAMMI spec's, will this mess my rifle up over time? I've been under impression to make rifle last longer, need to follow all these steps in video.
Could you resize the modified case in your press to get the same shoulder length as your own resized cases? I know you need to open the neck back up to allow the bullet to move easily in the tool. But I would think this would give you the same headspace. Just curious if you’ve tried that, the math works as well to make sure you fall in the Hornady recommend .020 to .040 off the lands.
I just received my Hornady tools that you're using. I'm stoked that I found this video and have already watched it multiple times. Well done sir. Thanks a million.
been reloading pistol for a while, but just started rifle, this Ogive thing has been haunting me, you Sir are the first person to explain it, in a way that made perfect since to me , I feel much more comfortable about how to set my dies now that I watch this. Thank You !
I’ve come to depend on your videos as the most informative and well presented on TH-cam. You are a methodical and excellent teacher. Thank you for the effort you put into your presentations.
After watching hours of videos from others. You taught me something and saved me hours of frustration. Now I fully understand ogive measurements.
I was aware of this problem. You just explained it so I actualle understood it. Thanks from a brand new reloader in Denmark (6,5x55) 😊👍
Thank you!! I watched 3 different videos with people using this tool and I knew that something wasn't right. My intuition was that the headspace on my fire formed brass will most likely be longer than Hornady's in all instances. You are the only one who explained how to use this tool the right way. Well done.
+Steven Peters You're welcome Steven! That's exactly why I did this particular video. I also watched several videos of people using the OAL gauge and just had to shake my head in wonder at how so many people didn't understand the underlying concepts. Thanks for watching!
By far the best explanation of this system ive seen thank you for your efforts and passing this on to us humbled re loaders :-)
Excellent video. Thank you very much for taking the time to explain the use of the Hornady OAL gauge and comparator. Your diagrams really drive the point home and make it very easy to understand. I am new to reloading and have found your videos have added the confidence I've needed to move forward with this new hobby. I'm looking forward to your future videos. Thank you again.
+cjmcnaulty That's great! I love hearing that my videos are helping out! And welcome to the brotherhood of reloaders. It's a great hobby and I hope you come to enjoy it as much as I do.
Thanks HornadyLoader for sharing your knowledge with us. Glad I watched to the end of the video.
I have watched many videos on the subject. This is the best one. when I first tried to use the oal gauge I kept getting different readings. Then I realized the modified case was loose. Once I tightened it no problems.
Well done. Perfect example of what makes youtube great. Thanks for your effort HornadyLoader!
I just want to thank you for helping to clear a lot of this up for me. You have saved me from much headaches. I have not actually started the reloading process but, I have been accumulating tools & gauges along with presses and other items needed.
Great explanation of backing bullet off .030 instead of .002 or .004. I am new to this ,and you clearly explained it. Thanks Hornady Loader!
along with your program you are great at explaining ways to do things clearly and to the point. which makes it easy to listen to. thank you for all the info.
Michael
This is the best video I have every seen on this topic. It is what you don't know that bites you and I never considered the difference in head space between my fired reloaded brass and the modified case.
+Anthony Owen Thanks Anthony. You're absolutely right, I've been bitten by that particular malady myself more than a few times. After watching some of the other videos on this device, I figured I'd better do my own video and get the word out. Thanks again, lot's more to come so stay tuned!
I have competition dies and I am glad I watched this video before measuring and seating my bullets. I am going to start 30,000 back and work my way up.
Great information. I've been using the Hornady OAL gage along with the Hornady Headspace gage for several years and your videos pointed out some errors I have been making with both tools.Many thanks!
+Jim Goodel You're welcome Jim! To be honest, I made the same errors until I sat down and did the math one day. It was one of those moments of epiphany for me. Thanks for watching!
Detailed instruction gives me the confidence to expand my reloading skills. I started with Hornady and this video supports my decision. Thank you HornadyLoader for this video and all your other presentations.
Excellent video Hornady Reloader! You put it all together in a clear concise video with excellent illustrations. Thank you!
Doug Brown Thanks Doug! I'm kinda proud of this one. I'm not much of an artist but I couldn't think of any way to really illustrate how these devices work without putting together a PowerPoint animation. I'm happy you liked it!
Hornady Loader
AWESOME video. Your explanation, and graphics make OAL easy to understand.
HornadyLoader, this was one truly awesome, educational video. Detailed, patient, methodical. Just excellent. And just what I needed! It was particularly cool that you showed the WRONG way to set up the overall length gauge. I knew when you started that part of the video that that's EXACTLY how I would have tried to set it up the first time, and it would have taken me 10 minutes to figure out what I'd done wrong. Count me as a new subscriber. Well done!
This is the first video of yours I have watched and found it very helpful. The video, your instructions, and the diagrams were all excellent. Thank you!
The best video on this topic. Thanks.
Great information it will be very helpful as I move forward with my reloading project! Thank you.
Great video! You are explaining it for all to understand. Very informative.
0321 jarhead Thanks Jarhead! I appreciate that! I try to be as in-depth as possible and to include info that doesn't seem to be mentioned on other videos.
That makes your, true OAL spot on. Thanks HornadyLoader
Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
RIP you made great videos a wealth of knowledge has been passed to future shooters.
Been reloading for a bit and this was very informative. Thanks!!
Found the same issues.
My fireformed neck sized stuff figured quite a bit longer oal than with modified case. Love the comparator. You are awesome.
Don't know why you don't have thousands of views.
Thanks!
aracp Thanks! I just started doing these videos in February because I watched a few reloading videos and was appalled at the lack of information and/or general misinformation that many of them contained. There are some good channels out there, but I most fail to mention some of the pitfalls and downright dangerous situations that can occur during the reloading process. Something as simple as a sticky balance beam scale or getting the OAL of a cartridge wrong can seriously injure or kill someone.
Thanks again! Lots more to come!
Hornady Loader
aracp Oh, I also wanted to mention...for $15.00 (includes return shipping), Hornady will take two of YOUR fire formed cases and do the modifications on them so you'll have a modified case that matches YOUR firearm and can be used with the OAL gauge. Hornady Loader
Yep that's what I'm gonna do. Thanks again!
Also...What I'd like to see is the head stock close up on the concentricity gage.....thinking of making my own
Excellent video... From now on, I'll be taking my measurements from the case head to the ogive of the bullet with the comparator installed on mt calipers. Thanks for a job well done....
Great video! Easy to understand and just what I was looking for....I have learned a lot watching your videos...I look forward to many more!
+Anthony Howard Thanks Anthony! I'm working on my next video right now and there's lots more to come so stay tuned!
Again, excellent video. I thought I knew how to use the OAL gauge. Problem is I didn't give much thought on thumbscrew placement at the body. I learned something useful. Thanks.
Good show great tool..In the old days we used a color die on the bullet to gauge the bullet dept in the lands of the bore..Quite an improvement
Great video never thought about my cases being slightly different than the modified case from Hornady. I will measure the headspace on my fire formed cases more closely now. Also never knew that you could use the 2 different sides on the comparator to make sure the bullet went in straight. Thank you for sharing
This is superbly educational. I'll be starting into precision rifle this season and this info helps a lot. Thank you!
You did an excellent job on this presentation. Thanks!
Fluffy O'Bannon Thanks Fluffy! I'm kinda proud of this one!
Excellent explanation. Very professional. Thank you.
You are a baaaaddddd man. In a good "way better than me at reloading" kind of way!
Thank you for taking the time to make this video and explains it so clearly.
Great explanation but I had one problem that drove me and my son nuts when trying to measure with the dial caliper, bullet comparator and OAL gauge. We could not get consistent readings even in the hundredths. So after fussing with the OAL gauge for a couple of days my son figured out that the pushrod in the OAL gauge has a flat part that must be positioned correctly when measuring for overall length. It's obvious when you look at it and realize that's why the rod is shaped the way it is. Also I'd advise "feathering" the pushrod into the lands, not pushing or forcing in any way. Thanks for another great video Hornady Loader!
Excellent explanations! Measures CBTO (Cartridge Base to Ogive).
Thank you for this video. Just starting out and found this very informative. Regards from UK.
+salr362 Thanks! Glad to help and thanks for watching!
great video & excellent explanation of all the oal tools. I make my own modified cases from fire formed brass for each rifle I have.
+shoot2survive Thanks! I don't have the right tools to tap and drill the heads of my cases so I send mine out to Hornady to do it. Someday I'll get some decent tools in the shop. lol. Thanks for watching!
Precise and to the point for the most part
TIP: for the Hornady bullet comparator; I just measured 3 different 223 bullets of different weights and manufacturers and found a total of CBTO variance of some .030. All bullets must have identical O'Gives.
Then I removed the plastic plunger and filed down the rounded end into a more pointed end and remeasured a 3 bullets again @ 8 each and found the new total variance of the same bullets to be .010. In two of the bullets the CBTO variance was less than 5%. Very accurate now.
My conclusion is the bullet bases are not 100% perpendicular to the concentricity of the bullet and the plastic plunger end is too large to get an accurate reading on a small point from the base of the bullets.
This was all done in a brand-new JC Custom barrel just purchased and not installed.
I wish Hornady would install a smaller metal pointed end on their plunger for a little extra money.
Very informative, thank you!!!
Awesome video you're the first person that I've seen actually explained the entire tool set up. I learned a little something. I have the same set a bullet comparator and overall length gauges you have and a Hornady caliper. The only part that I would have added was the simple fact that Hornady their caliper has extra thick Jaws that hold the bullet comparator and headspace gauges much tighter and aligned much better. So a recommendation to all reloader if you're going to use the Hornady equipment use a Hornady digital caliper as well so that everything fits the way it's supposed to. The Hornady digital caliper and the headspace gauge along with the bullet comparator is all available on amazon.com. as well as the overall length gauges. Great video keep up the good work. Echo
Thank you for video brother. I’m just getting into reloading. Your info is much appreciated!
I have all the tools, and watched a bunch of videos on the procedure. Only one other divulges your analysis and consideration of the differences between the Hornady modified case dimensions and the case that is to become the final project. I have to say that your rendition is clear and precise, giving reloaders a true in depth base to build on. I've been reloading for 51 years and always based my measurements on OAL case head to the tip as provided by the reloading manuals. Thank You for your work and presentation.
Mate you explained that perfectly,i reload myself for competition.I am going through exactly the same process(bullet jump,powder loads...etc)bullet weights,case weights.....what amazes me is you can have bullets out of the same batch and they will vary ever so slightly,my 308,223,6.5 are nail drivers at 700mtrs.....good on ya
mickycricket Thanks Mickey! I was surprised that no one else seems to mention the variance between the modified cases and the cases that you actually use to reload. I've also noticed the same variance you have in the bullets themselves...even within the same lot. Some manufacturers are better than others, but you have to keep a close eye on tolerances regardless.
Good luck with your competition! I've been competing for years...wish I was a better shot, lol. It seems my son Cody is the marksman in this family.
Hornady Loader
HornadyLoader
Thanks mate ,i hope cody goes far in the competion world(he has a great head start with you as his mentor)i am building a 6.5 creedmore at the moment with a peirce action with fluted bolt,a pacnor shute (fluted)custom barrel tuner,macmillan tasmanian black wood thumb hole stock,14x42x56 nf scope(davies trigger 2 stage)made in australia ,took out the single stage(timmney)should have someting shooting (great)i'm an ozzie....i will subsribe right now......GOOD LUCK CODY....MAKE EVERY SHOT AN........ X
What a great video!!
Cheers from Moose Jaw Saskatchewan !!!!
Mr. Loader, you are amazing. learned sooo much from your video. I wish to be as skilled as you some day. Your Kung-Fu is un-matched.
You really do a nice job on your videos. Thanks. J.
great job explaining. When I first started reloading I thought these tools were a waste of time and money, now I won't load for any of my rifles without them.
I thought my seating depths were accurate just using calipers but once I got the bullet comparator, they all were varied slightly. Now everything is precise for each rifle...must have tools for precision shooting
mojo jojo Hi mojo jojo, I know what you mean. When I first started loading, all I had was a press, some dies, a powder measure and a caliper. As I learned more and more about reloading, I upgraded my equipment and now I feel the same as you...if you want to print clovers on paper, you need to go the extra mile. Thanks for watching!
Thank you very much! I've learned something today.
+alin s That's great! Nothing better than hearing one of my videos helped someone out! Thanks for watching!
Really enjoyed that and very educational!
I understand what you are teaching here and I agree that for me as a beginner 30 thousand is a good place to start. I have all the measuring equipment and am practicing with the tools getting a feel for them. Loading for a 721 Remington .270.
Very helpful video. Thank you for sharing the info.
I just think you have made it look to technical. And it is so easy to do !
Hornady will tap and thread and enlarge the neck of your fire formed brass i will be sending mine out soon.....thanks for the video it was very useful.
torkroll Yup, that's the best way to do it.
Great video. Learned a lot. Thanks
Very thorough tutorial on the use of this device. I would add one comment. Your lighting could be improved on to make the video more detailed. I am glad that I found your channel, thank you for your efforts.
Excellent explanation, thank you. Subscribed.
Hi Dave,
Yup, that's the best way to do it! If you have a fire-formed case modified by Hornady for you, you can get the second measurement the same way as in the video. Just take the OAL as measured by the OAL gauge and subtract the headspace of the case Hornady has modified for you (as measured by the Hornady headspace gauge).
Hornady Loader
HornadyLoader
Sir, thanks a lot for that educational video. Is there any disadvantage in using the generic "Modified Cases" Hornady sells for the O.A.L. gauge rather than a fire-formed case (which has been modified by Hornady)? I am half a world away, so sending a few brass cases to Hornady would be impractical.
Karamojo7mm Hi there, there's nothing wrong with using the Hornady Modified cases. Just be aware that it is probably a different length than your brass and apply the formula I use in the video and you'll be good to go. Thanks!
HornadyLoader Sir, thank you for your quick response! It's highly appreciated. I bet you're bringing Hornady some additional business through your clear demonstration of how tools and gauge are used properly. I'll order these gauges. I am sure I will revert to this video in the future.
+HornadyLoader Excellent video, especially for a newbie like myself ... I just got into the hobby about 3 years ago. I just picked up my Hornady Overall Length Gauge - Straight Model late October from one of my gun shops I go to; and I have my 4 Hornady Modified Cases (.30-06 Springfield, .303 British, .30-30 Winchester and .32 Winchester Special) on order, along with the Hornady Overall Length Gauge - Curved Model thru him. I've been looking into the L. E. Wilson's Headspace Cartridge Gauges for my above mentioned calibers to compliment this tooling. Is this a good choice; or should I invest in the Hornady Headspace Gauge instead? I would not have considered the headspace issue of the actual case (Full Sized or Neck Sized) being used. Very good point you made in this video. I wish Hornady mention this point in their Overall Length Gauge instructions. I'll be viewing this video again and again to assist in my reloading process. My other question is, what size of Hornady Bullet Comparator set should I purchase, considering what calibers I already have now? I can get the smaller set, which will work for the calibers I'm shooting now, from Bass Pro Shops in Moncton, New Brunswick. Would I be better off with the bigger set later down the road? Bare in mind, I'm trying to anticipate my needs for tooling 5 - 10 years down the road.Looking forward in seeing the rest of your videos, especially those on the Hornady L-N-L Classic Kit Press Set and other Hornady equipment.
+HornadyReloader
If you could humor my on a technique I came up with(out of necessity) for my particular application. I seem to have been having issues with the OAL gage. When inserting tool and plunging the bullet for o.a.l I would get what I can only describe as run-out in the mod'ed case neck. This required me to exert a significant amount of force to push the bullet onto the lands. So I figured out that I needed to drop the bullet into the chamber.Then begin to tilt my rifle,listen as the bullet slid home. Then I'd insert the gage/mod'ed case in to the chamber to interface with the bullet. Lock the pushrod down tilt the rifle w/muzzle up to allow gage and bullet to come out. This is where the humor comes in. Can you try this technique and see if you can get consistent readings.
Thank You.
Mike C.
Excellent clip, tks for sharing this.
+Gman yahman Thanks Gman, it's actually one of my most popular videos. Thanks for watching! There's lots more in the queue so stay tuned!
great video sir! you are a smart reloader. very informative..
Thanks very informative !
Great video Sir!
If anyone is wondering; The straight model will work with an AR10 but it's not ideal. The brass screw will be inside the receiver when the modified cartridge is chambered. You can make it work, but curved might be easier. I read a few reviews of people having consistency issues with the curved model...not sure if true.
Exceptional video, great diagrams/pictures, extremely helpful. One question; from reading the Hornady manual they ask that if you want, you can send in 2 fired (fire formed) brass to them however they stress to NOT resize the fired brass. With this being said, how can you find the other unknown length not the given .799 length? And, what or how would you determine the OAL/COAL?
Thanks again, awesome video.
Dave the overall length gauge is much more accurate on a fire formed piece of brass because it comes from your particular rifle chamber. Hornady simply takes your to once fired cases that have not been resized or touched and they drill out the primer pocket and run a tap to tap the threads needed by the overall length gauge so that it will install on it. When you're using brass that has not been fire formed out of your chamber there's a little bit of Wiggle inside your chamber. Most competition shooters will neck size their fire formed brass so that there is less misalignment between the bullet and the throat into your rifling. Fire formed brass that is simply next sized 4 bullet retention usually two thousands of an inch will be more accurate then a fired piece of brass that has been bumped back on the shoulder two thousands of an inch. What you're doing is setting up for precision rifle work and the once fired brass is a duplicate of the internal diameters of your particular rifle chamber. It's just going to be more accurate overall when determining overall length to your rifling. Hope it helps, Echo.
Great video and sound advise!
very nice video .. great info as well
I really like your video on this, I use the stony point gage all the time. But I never gave it a thought about the case that comes with the gage verses the military brass that I use for prairie dog hunting. But how or what kind of a gage can you use to measure the head space difference between the two. It would be nice if you can point us in that direction. I would like to thank you so much for showing this method on how to measure properly, and bring this to everyones attention. Thanks so much, I think that this will shock most serious reloaders. In other words guy's really pay attention to this guy, and watch it twice if you don't understand, because remember, SAFTY ALWAYS COMES FIRST !!
0.007 thousands is the SAAMI head space for that cartridge - proves why this tool is worth the money without all the complications. A Go No-Go Gauge is 0.004 - SAAMI Spec is 0.007.
WOOOW - nice one!!!
Good insights. You didn't address the issue of the cartridge fitting in the magazine. Some will get an extended magazine or have to load cartridge by hand if it is larger. I am not a seasoned reloader and appreciate your take on advanced techniques. Thanks.
Good video, the distance reference from the "running start" is commonly refered to as the "jump" by most reloaders.
+Earle BuBar Hi Earle, yup, I probably should have mentioned that in the video. I tend to use terminology that a novice can relate to and sometimes forget to follow up with the correct or common terms. 99% of my videos are not scripted, I usually just turn on the camera and start talking so sometimes I do forget to include some things. Thanks!
I did learn something, Thanks!
Aside from the headspace issue which is relevant and important, using a smaller bushing than the bore size place the measurement at some 'random' point on the ogive. Using the correct bushing (ie. .30 bushing for a .308 projectile) at least tells you where your rifling starts.
Great video. I am just getting into loading pistol ammo, 9mm, and am hoping you will do a video on reloading a rimless pistol cartridge in the near future. Really enjoy your videos.
+robert austin Hi Robert, I'll put that on the queue. I have 4 videos that I'm working on right now but doing a pistol load would be a good idea. I've been concentrating on rifle loads and pistol would be a nice change of pace. Pistol loads are done slightly different as well so it would be a good topic to cover. Thanks!
Great job!
All gunsmiths I've talked with say DO NOT USE a cleaning rod to remove the bullet. They say best way is to take the rifle and put it upright and lightly bang the butt on the work bench and the bullet falls right out.
good info. Thanx
Very informative!
i enjoy listening to H L speak He is speaking from experience I can't buy THAT at Brownells
I started reloading about three months ago. Presently, I only do .308 Winchester. It seems like the more I learn, the more I find out there is more I need to learn. I just gauged my Remington 700 with 175 gr. Sierra Match Kings and, my numbers were quite different. My True OAL, after subtracting the 0.030", was 2.312", which seems pretty long but, I measured everything at least three times. I wouldn't have thought the 178 gr. A-Max would be that different. I tried again with 168 gr. Sierra Tipped Match Kings and, my result was a True OAL of 2.285", not that far off the 175 SMK. This video was VERY informative and, I learned a lot from it. Now, I have to ask, do you crimp your rounds at all? It doesn't seem like there is much bullet inside the neck.
Great video HornadyLoader. I found your video after I purchased a Hornady overall length gauge and a Hornady bullet comparator. I have used a caliber specific Wilson headspace gauge for many moons, so I dropped in a fire formed 30-06 case that had not been sized. It dropped right into the "sweet spot" on the Wilson gauge. Hornady's modified '06 case was visibly higher in the Wilson gauge, meaning to me as you said, there is slight measurement disparity between the two cases in the headspace area.I just ordered a set of Hornady headspace gauges to work with the body housing that came with my Hornady comparator kit. I'll be able to read a fire formed case form my '06 and compare it to the modified case made by Hornady. From there I can do the math and work out the difference on my final seating depth. At least this is my intention....so please let me know if I am thinking this out correctly??? Thanks for a great video!!!
One of the best videos I've seen. How did you do the graphics? That really helped me understand. Thanks
I head he has pass away. Hope he is at peace.
Great info!
Thank you for the lesson sir
Is .799 a standard variable for all cases? I realize from your outstanding video that my head space will be different and must be factored in. The illustrated glossary in the Hornady manual defines the head space as "The fit of a cartridge in a chamber measured as the distance from breech face to that part of the chamber which stops the case's forward movement." With that being said (STUPID QUESTION ALERT) is a .223 a rimmed or rimless case? It appears and measures to be rimless.
I assume the OD of the red tube is 5/16", but what is the ID or how thick is the tube wall?
Mcmaster Carr offers that tube (.313 OD) in steel with an ID of .183, or .215, and even .243.
Making the red tube should be easy, and as for the case, chuck the case in your drill press and clamp the drill bit /tap in your vice and it will drill like it's in a lathe.
Vary complete explanation
I wonder, Would it be better to have a case that is a once fired in the gun we are loading for ? i.e use a once fired case that has been drilled and tapped for the wonderful Hornady gauge. I am loading for a 7.62x51 but using .308 fired brass...the cases are a bit diff.
I just bought the Hornady equipment so thanks very much indeed for explaining how it works. I have lots of fired shells and when I measured them it appears there are differences in length upto 0.09 milimeters. This consequently means that if one wants the overall lenght to be the same the bullet will be either deeper or not as deep pushed into the shell when reloading ... I wonder, how does this affect the accuracy or doesn't it ? By the way, very best wishes for a prosperous and healthy 2019.
When you measure from the cartridge base to the ogive, you aren't measuring the OAL of the round. And zeroing out the caliper with the body and bushing length won't give you OAL either. If I'm not mistaken, you never really get OAL with this device inspite of the name. The key here is the word "comparator". You are only establishing the comparative distant between a bullet seated to the lands and one that you have backed off from the lands.
Among other discrepancies in this video that are just wrong.
this is a great video..
I bought the O.A.L., HEAD COMPARATOR, and BULLET COMPARATOR GAUGES not knowing different die types existed until a about a month ago. I bought a fixed 30-06 and it looks like I can't use any of these tools because I've been looking for a match grade set for a month here and there and can't get my hands on one.
I'm going to get one when I find one, but say I only reloaded to SAMMI spec's, will this mess my rifle up over time? I've been under impression to make rifle last longer, need to follow all these steps in video.
Could you resize the modified case in your press to get the same shoulder length as your own resized cases? I know you need to open the neck back up to allow the bullet to move easily in the tool. But I would think this would give you the same headspace. Just curious if you’ve tried that, the math works as well to make sure you fall in the Hornady recommend .020 to .040 off the lands.