Make Your Own Length to Lands Gauge for Bullet Position CheckingThis tip is one we share every year, as it’s something that can be very helpful in the reloading procedure. It costs nothing and is easy to do. You can measure the length of lands in your barrel with a simple modification to a fired casing. If you use the right tension, the measurements will be repeatable. You’ve saved $43.93 – the cost of a Hornady C1000 commercial OAL gauge (37.99) plus the Modified Case (5.94). There are multiple cartridge OALs that prove accurate. You must first determine a “zero point” — a reliable and repeatable OAL, where the bullet “just touches” the lands. The tool does require that you use a modified case with each cartridge. While we found that the Hornady OAL gauge is repeatable, getting it right takes some practice.
Here’s a cheaper alternative to the Hornady OAL Tool — a slotted casing. Andris Silins, a forum member, explains how to make a slotted casing to measure the length to your rifle’s lands: “Here’s what i did to find the length to my lands to seat my bullets. I cut four cuts into the neck. Then I lightly pressed the bullet into the gauge and chambered it. As the cartridge chambers the bullet slides into the case, giving you the length to land. It took less than 5 minutes to get the cartridge cut and working. It is helpful to put a little oil in the barrel, just past the chamber, to ensure that the bullet doesn’t get stuck. It is accurate and works well.
I cut the material using a Dremel and a cut-off ring. You can adjust tension in two ways. You can adjust tension in two ways. Longer cuts = less tension. If you only used three cuts instead four, you would get more pressure. It is important to open and close the bolt gently. If you ram it closed, you could wedge the bullet in the lands. It is helpful to have a finger or two nearby to guide the case straight out when you open the bolt because the ejector will try to push it in a sideways direction.
Tags: Modified Case, OAL Gauge, Reloading Tool, Tool Tip, Stoney Point Tool
