O.a.l. ?
 

Going to start reloading the new 300wsm.
What are your best ways to determine proper overall length for the cartridge ?

oal
 

Same as any other cartrige, read your loading manual, Nosler has good step by step for aquiring oal measurement for your rifle. Changes for different bullet types. (different ogives)

Oal
 

At least a couple of thou less than the magazine

Don't have the Nosler book. My Hornady book doesn't get into that detail.
I've done the cleaning rod method..... and have read about cutting a notch in the case neck , put a bullet in and then chamber then measure.
I'm thinking that method , unless there's a ''better'' way.

Thanks.

I usually take a case that hasn't been sized yet, put a small dent in the neck, and stuff a bullet that you will be loading partway into neck. Then take a black felt marker and color up bullet and chamber. Remove case and bullet should be marked up to where it was seated, then shorten up preferred amount.

Pardon my ignorance , but what is the purpose of the ink ? Wouldn't the bullet be seated at the lands using this method , then back it off from where it stops ?

Thanks.

When the bullet seats, the marker ink will be scraped off, allowing you to see where the bullet seated when it touched the lands. Measure it at that, then seat it a bit deeper, up to you how much. Make sure loaded cartridge fits in magazine. Of course if you are loading for a weatherby, it is probably free bored, so usually seat the bullets just so they fit in the magazine.

oal
 

the marker method is the best, you need to mark the bullet up with the marker, sometimes when ejecting the test case the bullet will move a bit, the marker will show where it touched the lands, do this 3 times and take the average, as stated be sure the length functions through the clip if your gun takes a clip

Sorry guys.. my brain's farting.
So.. if I'm understanding this correctly , the reason for the ink would be to determine if the bullet moved when the test case was ejected.
If the bullet was pulled out slightly at ejection then the marking would indicate that the bullet moved.
Putting the bullet back where the mark showed would indicate where the bullet was when it was in the chamber ,then back it off slightly from that position to get it just off the lands.

oal
 

Exactly!

Hallalula !!

Thanks guys.