COAL-Just load to magazine length?

[giannid]

Most of my reloading experience has been with precision bolt guns. With that type of loading, I've always checked my distance to the lands and have tested various OAL before moving to ladder testing with powders. This was with Berger bullets and is described in there literature online. Is it even worth checking distance to the lands with a 6.5 grendel? Seems like all the bullet reloading data is showing a coal of 2.25 and generally magazine length is 2.26. I've got 3 different bullets I'm trying.

[glk45]

With my build i load out to 2.285. Which just fits in the mag. At that seating depth i'm still .060 off the lands, but i finally found a load that is a consistant 3/4 MOA. I'm like you. It's hard to get that one ragged hole mentality out of your head.

[Bigs28]

Last trip to the range i made the same loads at 2.230 and 2.240 and found the 2.240 was more accurate across the board. So i personally would not just load to magazine length. Experiment and have fun.

[FW Conch]

Can't gas gunners buy barrel blanks or short chambered barrels, and give the smith a dummy round to chamber from. That's what serious bolt gunners do. With all the money that is spent on other cute gadgets, it seems like skimping on the barrel, the critical part, is pound foolish and penny wise ?

But what do I know ? :-))

[JASmith]

Last trip to the range i made the same loads at 2.230 and 2.240 and found the 2.240 was more accurate across the board. So i personally would not just load to magazine length. Experiment and have fun.

Most of my reloading experience has been with precision bolt guns. With that type of loading, I've always checked my distance to the lands and have tested various OAL before moving to ladder testing with powders. This was with Berger bullets and is described in there literature online. Is it even worth checking distance to the lands with a 6.5 grendel? Seems like all the bullet reloading data is showing a coal of 2.25 and generally magazine length is 2.26. I've got 3 different bullets I'm trying.

[giannid]

I haven’t read the Grendel specific manual but have looked at the reloading data. The coal on the bullets of my choice is 2.25 which gives you a little room of adjustment barely. I’ve found it the past that the billeted can be a little long or short from batch to batch. It’s always best to leave a little wiggle room in something that has to fit in a magazine. I’ve had that problem with my ar when Sierra decided to make the newer bullets I’ve been using for years pointy. Had to adjust for it and change my coal as they would just fit in the magazine before the change.

Barrel is a Lilja a319 btw.

[1Shot]

I have run into a few different flies in the ointment as to seating depth of bullets. First off it depends on the magazine you are using as to what COAL you can use. Rounds loaded in Elander magazines have to be loaded shorter than rounds that can be used in ASC/AR-Stoner magazines to function. To get a consistent to the lands jump of a bullet always measure using a comparator and measure from base of case to ogive of the bullet because tips do vary in length. I have played with COAL and found some bullets do respond to as little as five thousands change in COAL. The big one is no two barrels are exactly the same. What might do best in my barrel will not be what your barrel of the same maker may want to shoot well. Don't you just love an adventure?

[A5BLASTER]

Get you a cpd 10 rounder window it and bam you can load to just a smidge over 2.300 of an inch.

That puts you much closer to lands with a smidge more powder space.

[grayfox]

I haven’t read the Grendel specific manual but have looked at the reloading data. The coal on the bullets of my choice is 2.25 which gives you a little room of adjustment barely. I’ve found it the past that the billeted can be a little long or short from batch to batch. It’s always best to leave a little wiggle room in something that has to fit in a magazine. I’ve had that problem with my ar when Sierra decided to make the newer bullets I’ve been using for years pointy. Had to adjust for it and change my coal as they would just fit in the magazine before the change.

Barrel is a Lilja a319 btw.

Doing an AR chamber, Grendel, best to start with Saami, then you know what you're getting.
Several variables as others (combined) have stated.
First off, in talking and tweaking Coal's, I suggest you get down to the 0.001" dimensions as a minimum. 2.250 can differ from 2.255, or 2.248 (rounded to 2.25).
Sierra bullets have had, for me, up to +/- 0.005", so up to 0.010" delta round to round. The SMK's, confess I haven't used them as much but would expect maybe up to +/- 0.004, which means coal differences up to 0.008" cartridge to cartridge.
Eldm's and Nos Accubonds have varied for me up to about +/- 0.003", which have been the tightest tolerances I have seen.
SST's seem to like more jump rather than less, Berger's jump, well, goes without saying... so even the bullet mfr can introduce new variables.

So combine that with mags, throats, etc, there is room to play with on coal.
Find a sound load for your pipe then play with coal by +/- 0.010 like JAS wrote, and you'll find what the barrel likes the best.

Chasing accuracy is as much about the journey as it is the destination. Stay safe.

[giannid]

I’m using elander mags for reliability so I’m going to have to stick with what they let me load max. Will be doing a lot of night hunting for coyotes and hogs so reliability is a must. Hopefully I can find something that shoots well and fits in the mag. Will be loading 110 grain Lehigh, 120 grain elx max and 120 grain nosler ballistic tips all with 8208.

[giannid]

Just got an email from Larue stating the elanders are on backorder. I take it the cpd mags are c products? Are they as reliable as the elanders?

[A5BLASTER]

Just got an email from Larue stating the elanders are on backorder. I take it the cpd mags are c products? Are they as reliable as the elanders?

Yes and yes.

[Londerko]

[giannid]

I’m going to try the c products mag first. Just got one off of eBay for $20 shipped. I think the extra length can only help. Has anyone actually ever found a bullet that actually shot better farther off than the lands or shorter coal in a 6.5 Grendel? Thinking I may just start with the longest coal that will fit in the mag and do my ladder test with powder.

[Randy99CL]

Is it even worth checking distance to the lands with a 6.5 grendel?

There have been a couple of barrel makers who have had QA trouble by releasing barrels with very short throats. Some have been dangerously short even with factory ammo.

It's best not to just guess at a number, you need to check it to be sure.

Edit: These are the COALs I got with 4 bullets in my first Grrr barrel.
2.187", 2.162", 2.143", 2.217"