Thread: HELP OAL gauge and bullet comparator problem...

So I've started using a Hornady O.A.L gauge and bullet comparator for my Rem700 .243 loading 95gr berger VLD's and 95gr Hornady SST's

Trying to measure accurately my O.A.L and using the bullet comparator to give a consistent measurement to the bullet Ogive instead of the tip of the bullet
running into a couple issues
1st- when measuring the OAL im getting 2 different results...
a- 3.160" with small amount of pressure on the rod and using a dowl down the muzzle to move the bullet back from the lands (berger vld 95gr)
b- 3.345" with same pressure but this time I lift the Gauge rod that holds the case slightly and once again using the dowl to move the bullet on and off the lands a few time before taking the measurement.

this is similar of the hornady SSt rounds as well

So I thought I would check my factory Remington 100gr core-lokt using the bullet comapator
Result = 3.245" to Ogive
So I then removed the core lokt bullet and used it in the OAL gauge once again 2 results
a- 3.290" same method as last (a.) (so thats 0.045" difference)
b. 3.375" using same method as previous (b.)

So whats going on? which method is right? or do I have a problem with my rifle e.g its throated, exceess freebore due to wear or due to a manufacture thing

-My rifle is not new it has fired a fair amount of rounds and last time I had it at the gun smith he said the barrel had done over half its wear life but was fine. and I dont do alot of shooting
-when I use remington 100gr corelokt factory I get irregular results batch to batch some run through 1" @ 100m others 2" @ 100m chrony reads 2650fps
-I was running the berger 95gr using AR2209 41 & 42gr seated at 3.140" (0.02 back from 3.160") in hornady brass necksized had that grouping sub 1" @ 100m @ 2770fps
however shot all over the place at 200m for some reason but that may have been me.
-I was chatting to a local reloading expert (who does load development) and he looked at my Bergers and said they were seated back too far and to recheck my OAL, so thats how I got onto checking if I was taking the right measurement with the OAL gauge thus running into this problem which has me stumped as its a huge difference between the two figures...?

I have included a photo
from far left
1-berger vld 95gr at 3.140"
2- berger vld 95gr at 3.290" (same as factory corelokt just for comparason)
3- Factory rem 100gr corelokt at 3.290"
4- berger 95gr at 3.325 (0.02" back from the 3.345" reading)

all rounds fit in the mag and cycled fine, bolt closed without stiffness or excess pressure (havent fired any of these as I just seated them in empty cases to compare them)
Im sticking with factory for now until I sort this out properly