May 20, 2022 You can easily modify a fired case to determine the length of your rifle barrel’s lands. You can set the tension correctly and the measurements should be repeatable. This will save you $47.66 – the cost of a Hornady OAL gauge ($42.00), and Modified Case ($5.66). There may be multiple cartridge OALs that prove to be accurate. There may be multiple cartridge OALs that are accurate. The tool requires you to use a modified case for each cartridge. We find the Hornady OAL Gauge to be repeatable, but it can take some practice to get it right. Make your own Length-to Lands Gauge with a Dremel
A slotted case is an affordable alternative to the Hornady OAL instrument. Andris Silins, a forum member, explains how to make a slotted case that measures length to the lands of your rifle. “Here’s what i did to find length and lands for seating my bullets. I cut four holes in the neck of the fire-formed brass. I then pressed the bullet in lightly, and chambered it. The bullet will slide back into the case as the cartridge chambers. This will give you the length to land. It took less that five minutes to get the bullet cut and working. The bullet will not get stuck in the lands if there is a little oil just before the barrel. It works great and is very precise.
I used a Dremel and a cut-off tool to make the cuts. There are two ways to adjust tension. You can make the cuts shorter or longer. You will get less tension if you make the cuts longer. You would get more tension if you only used three cuts instead of 4. It is important to be gentle when opening and closing the bolt. You could accidentally ram the bolt shut. It is a good idea to keep a few fingers near you to help guide the case straighten when you open the bolt. The ejector will push it sideways so it is a good idea to keep one or two fingers nearby.
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