Thread: AOL gauges? Worth it?

Not quite sure if you are talking about finding your max OAL or accuratly measuring your loaded rounds? To find the oal of the chamber I use the no tools method as Crazyman said but then Ill build a dummy round at that length then seat the bullet deeper in 5 thou steps untill the rifeling leaves no visible marks on the bullet, checking with a magnifier of some sort and polishing off the marks each time.This gives me a startiing length around the just touch point.If that length is to long for the mag and single shot isnt an option then ill start at mag length and go from there. To measure you really need a comparator and callipers.Measuring your loaded round base to ogive is the best option as bullets may vary ogive to tip.How much youll gain will depend on the individual, the set up and what your trying to achieve.