Is hornady lock and load oal guage worth buying

Whatever readings you get using that gauge will actually be less in your rifle's chamber. That's because the gauge uses the case head as the rear reference. As your loaded cases will have a couple to a few thousandths inch less length from head to shoulder than the chamber does, that amount will be subtracted from the gauge measurement. If there's a .003" spread in that measurement on your loaded cases (typically called case headspace), that'll cause a .003: spread in how far the bullet has to jump from its seated position to the rifling.
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That's if you use one of Hornady's modified cases . You can send Hornady a fire formed case from your rifle and they will make it a modified case that fits there OAL gage . :cool: I believe it cost under $20 to do so . You can also make your own from a fire formed case but the gage has an odd thread (forget what that is ) and It's harder to find the tap for it .
 
Whatever readings you get using that gauge will actually be less in your rifle's chamber. That's because the gauge uses the case head as the rear reference. As your loaded cases will have a couple to a few thousandths inch less length from head to shoulder than the chamber does, that amount will be subtracted from the gauge measurement. If there's a .003" spread in that measurement on your loaded cases (typically called case headspace), that'll cause a .003: spread in how far the bullet has to jump from its seated position to the rifling.

That's if you use one of Hornady's modified cases . You can send Hornady a fire formed case from your rifle and they will make it a modified case that fits there OAL gage
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I drill the flash hole/primer pocket, I can use a formed case and or a fired case or a new case. I am not the fan of the new case because I want all the bullet hold I can get. with bullet hold I do not need the OAL gage, I use the test case to adjust the seating die. It is not necessary to seat a little and measure and continue to seat and check, seat and check etc.. I adjust once, secure the lock nuts and continue on. AND! I save the test case.

F. Guffey
 
06shooter, yes the lands start at a larger diameter. SAAMI specs lists the .30-06 freebore diameter at .3106" but it starts right at the chamber mouth, so its freebore is zero length. Then it angles down at an angle of 1 degree 22 minutes to the .300" bore diameter about .220" from the chamber mouth. That's the length of the throat.

That allows for SAAMI spec bullet diameters from .306" to .309" to be used safely and reliably.

http://saami.org/PubResources/CC_Drawings/Rifle/30-06 Springfield.pdf
 
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Thank you Mr. Bart ,
I was wondering why I was getting two different readings with my oal length gauge.
I would push the bullet and let it just touch and that would be one reading .
Tap a little and then have a larger number.
 
I like the modified case tool and the comparators. Both are easy to use for me.

You have to measure the difference between a modified case and a fired case from your chamber, but that's easy to figure out. The comparator gives a good solid datum measurement for that particular projectile so you can seat your rounds more consistently.

I'm sure there are more precise ways of doing things, but one need sot determine what is good enough versus the amount of time and effort required.
 
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