The curved shape of a bullet (called the ogive) is more consistent than the overall length of the bullet.   This is due to the irregular shape of the tip on most bullets.   Therefore, you can verify the consistent length of your handloads more accurately by measuring from the ogive to the base.   Your chamber pressure and accuracy is also affected a great deal more by the ogive than by the actual bullet length.   Most shooters that are experienced at reloading already know this.

      However . . . . there's more to this story.   One day while shooting groups, I started getting a few totally unexplainable flyers.   When I examined my handloads, I discovered that they varied in length - considerably.   This was a mystery at first, because I made all of my handloads on the same press, using the same seating die, with the same depth setting, and I used the same bullets.   So, why did my handloads measure different lengths when I measured them from their ogive to the base?

      That's when I pulled some of my handloads apart and measured the actual bullets.   These were moly coated 69 gr. Sierra HPBT, Match bullets from different lots.   I was not surprised to see their length differ by .005" when measuring them from tip to tip.   However, after measuring these bullets from the ogive to base, some of them actually measured .012" different from the others.   That proves that it is possible to get a serious variation in bullet shape.   Since then, I've even seen this happen with bullets that came from the same box.   This inconsistency can be found by measuring the actual bullets (or completed handloads) from the ogive to the base.

      I'm sure that by now, someone out there is thinking "Wait a minute . . . . if your bullets are seated by contacting the ogive, how can you find different overall cartridge lengths when measuring those handloads from the ogive to the base?"   The answer surprised me at first, but it's simple.   I took the final length measurement from a much lower part of the bullet ogive.   This is the most significant part of the ogive, because this area represents the angle (of the bullet surface) that initially contacts the rifling.   An inconsistent bullet ogive can also affect the distance that your bullet travels to the rifling.   This is an important item to look at when you're trying to shoot tight groups.   After that experience, I added another step to my reloading procedure.   I now measure and compare all my rifle bullets (right out of the box) from the lowest part of the ogive to the base - before loading them.

      If you want to accurately measure your bullets, and you already own an RCBS Case Master, here's an inexpensive effective modification that will help you get it done.   You can improve the RCBS Case Master by drilling a .297" diameter hole (.400" deep) in top of the wide post (for measuring .30 caliber bullets), or you can use a .213" diameter hole (for measuring .22 caliber bullets).   I did this upgrade (and a few others) to my RCBS Case Master.   Read my "other" tech tip that describes upgrading the RCBS Case Master.   There are several improvements that will add extra tools to the RCBS Case Master at little or no cost.

      The handy RCBS Case Master is available for about $75, and it already serves several purposes.   After this simple modification, you'll be able to measure bullets for consistency from the ogive to base before reloading.   By the way . . . . I've found that if this particular reloading problem is affecting your accuracy, this one tech tip can reduce your (5 shot) 100 yard groups by as much as 30%.