This is the most informative reloading information I have seen in a very long time. Your comparative chart was a real eye-opener, thanks for taking the time and effort to gather that info.

I have watched nearly all your videos. After handloading for 18 years, I was unaware of the precision that can be applied. I just got a new browning hells canyon speed in 270 WSM. I am going to follow your tips and advice and become a better hand loader. Thanks for all the info.

I've been reloading for years, almost exclusively to COAL, and never completely pleased with my groups. I will now religiously load to CBTO to eliminate the variable jump to lands. CBTO is altogether essential for each bullet type and I will be noting the CBTO in my loading manuals for each bullet I load going forward. Thanks for the evidence and advice!

Thanks, Sam for all of your videos, and articles on your website. You've helped solve several problems I was dealing with.... and more importantly pointed out a couple of issues I didn't realize I had! Much appreciated.

pretty straightforward and easy to understand explanation. Been reloading for years but now seeking further knowledge and precision. Keep em coming.

I just started reloading and this is EXACTLY what i was thinking when reading posts on loads. With different bullet shapes ...coal doesn't tell me anything. I noticed that rounds that were within a certain range of measurement from the lands gave the me best groups. I started seating my bullets based on distance from mouth to ogive (from an empty case to seated bullet ogive).... WRONG ! I was close but you just clarified what i actually need to do. Base to ogive of a seated bullet ! Thanks.

Listening to a man with a full beard and a good plaid flannel is a great prerequisite, aside from his knowledge and practical experience. You are the man Sam. Your vids are second to none. And you aren’t trying to be anything you aren’t, just a pure craftsman, and an outdoorsman. You stand out to the nasily noobs jumping on some bandwagon.... way to be cool and relevant without forcing it like most out there.

That was the best example of why to use CBTO I have seen. Thanks for making it easier to understand.

Very well done video sir! Although I knew this info previously your presentation of it has improved my comprehension of it. Keep up the good work!

Great stuff. I'm enjoying this series.

Why does your son give you a thumbs down on every video? Just kidding, your videos are an inspiration to those of us trying to learn how to reload well, thanks for your time and efforts, it is much appreciated.

Good, practical, useful information. Keep it coming. Thank you.

FYI *Need to check CBTO on every bullet/cartrige you shoot. *Write data down and don't mixed between bullets. Another Great Video by Panhandler Precision My groups have improved 110% just by watching , and following your procedures when reloading.. Thanks you & keep up the good work

Thanks for sharing. After ten days of preparing my shop and setting up equipment, I loaded my First-Ever reloads. Frustrated with my inability to get consistent cartridge OAL, I purchased a comparator to check my work using BTO. I found I was doing a better job. Good know my Newby discovery was typical.

Couldn’t agree more. When I first started out I was unaware of CBTO and now it’s all I go by as it’s the most important measurement. As you say, only use COAL for magazine length, it your loading rounds into a mag. Otherwise, forget about it. One of the most important tools when reloading is a ogive gauge for each different calibre being loaded.

Great info learning a lot keep them going .

Thanks so much, you have lite the light bulbs, now I understand. Makes so much sense.

Excellent Sam!

Very insightful, thanks.

Thanks for the info! I have been dealing with the coal and using my comparitor wondering why the coal where all over the place.

Hi Sam. As you no doubt know, the Hornady device measures from the case shoulder to the bullet ogive; Which if done correctly guarantees that you will never be able to jam the bullet on the lands. But for consistency of jump distance (and correct measurement), shouldn’t one be measuring from the cartridge base to the bullet ogive? As this is the measurement that results when seating the bullet on the press, because the press is pushing from the base of the case (which results in consistent seating depth, but probably not the same jump distance one is looking for as measured by the Hornady device). Whilst I use the Hornady device myself, this dilemma has always played on my mind and I was wondering what your thoughts would be on this? Or to put it another way. The Hornady device doesn’t seem to allow for variation in case lengths. So if a long case is used, it will give a different result, than if a short case were used.

Worked great.....was shooting vmax....got 500 free 55sp on rebate....sp's were hitting all over the place.....set the cbto to original vmax spec, now they group tightly just high of vmax....thx

When doing your load development how do you determen where you want to start your CBTO and in what increments do you make the changes for accuracy

Thanks Sam good info👌

My problem with this concept is that I get very different CBTO@lands readings for different bullets. If you take your Stoney Point gauge and do CBTO readings for all 8 bullets, do they come out the same? When I've tried a test like that I get numbers all over the place. I've always assumed a test like you did with CBTO @ 2.040" would still have a wide range of distances to the lands. I assumed that the diameter of my bullet comparator insert does not match my rifling perfectly and causes varying readings depending on the ogive shape. I feel like I'm definitely missing something because a lot of people rely on CBTO a lot more than I do.

Can you go into more detail on the differences in using fire formed size brass versus full length resized brass.

Hello Sam. Great video's and I've picked up some good tips from you vids on reloading; really good stuff your doing. My question is when looking for accuracy, have you noticed or do you find with loading all those different bullets for your 260 or some of the other guns you shoot that the jump to the lands seem to be about the same for other bullets when loading up different brands of bullets that have the same shape/design. Something like the 142 SMK compared to the 140 Berger?

Thanks professor!

Sam,What is your recommendation for me to be able to use the start getting the equipment in order to check CBTO rather than the COAL in my 6.5/300 weatherby since the factory case does not appear to be available to purchase in this caliber to do so?ThanksChad

I was reloading 130gr nosler partition last night. I had a few left in one box of 50 and when they were gone realized a 10 thousands difference to a new box. Never changed my seating die. Is this common?

A question Sam; the CBTO with a modified cartridge and a range of 140gr bullets from different maker varies almost .020”. Loaded rounds would then be variable, ogive to lands, by that .020” and could affect accuracy also. Has this been your experience also?

Thank you.

Loading rounds for my 204 ruger and load Berger 35 and 40 grain no problem but then started trying to load 55 grain and because of the bullet being so much longer in can’t get the bullet to COAL with the bullet dropping in the case i threaded down the seater a turn more and it crimping the edge is the ok but still have to be gentle or round will fall in cause it’s on the ojive

Hey Sam, great channel, learned a lot from u, here is my question, shooting a Howa chassis rifle in 6.5, when I measure my CBTO, using 123 gr Hornady BTW, even backed off 20 thou it puts me way over the listed COAL of 2.825..... am safe to creep out past that number??

Sam, Do you have a Hornady ogive insert for 6.5 or .264 Creedmoor, my old one took a hike some place and want to turn on on my lathe to replace it. Is it .257 ? On the old one that disappeared was marked 5-26 Thanks so much if you can help. Just want to make sure the I.D. is correct to get the ogive correct have the main base but not the insert.

How would you load a Tikka 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser that when checked with an oal gauge on a Sierra 120 gr. HPBT literally has the bullet fall out of the case when touching the lands? Much appreciate your video's and information!

when developing a new load, do you adjust powder to account for a change in seating depth over the load data depth?

May I ask which Ogive length CBTO do we use when we take 10 measurements and they are all different?

I have Redding comp dies in 6.5. Does the seating stem contact the ogive of the bullet with high precision such that the jump is very consistent regardless of COAL?

Could you add a link in the description to the video on how you measure CBTO. Thanks Paul

Thinking it could also be the amount of different pressure applied when seating the bullet in case. So if I push the handle down hard on one round an not all the way on another round. Even when seating primers I try an use same amount of pressure to seat primer all evenly.

By using cbto, can an AR platform be treated like a bolt gun if magazine permit going beyond lets say 2.260? Magazine must be modified, that I know. Can it be beneficial to the AR platform?

I was measuring my CBTO with 2 different bullets (175 gr Barnes LRX and 175 gr federal Edge TLR)and the measurement between the two was about .010” difference. I would have thought they would be the same, am I measuring slightly wrong?

When changing CBTO, would this not affect internal pressure, thereby affecting velocity ?

seems that the most important length would be shoulder to ogive to standardize. i have cases that have slightly variable cartridge base to shoulder and will ultimately affect CBTO.....

I keep getting as much as .008 difference in my reloads with c b t o. I'm using hornady match grade dies. Could it be my press? Its a Lee. Was thinking about getting the lyman turret press when it gets released. Thoughts on it. Thanks. I do try to use the exact same pressure on my Lee press.

Measuring base to ogive effectiveness. Is that measurement effective? If i understand the measurement, it is to help understand the amount of each bullet as it sits inside the case? To help determine the pressure changes from the different lengths inside the case? The seating depth (ogive measurement in relation to the lands) has a bigger impact than the pressure change from .002 .003 length difference when measuring bullet measurement base to ogive??

I have the same press and Redding die set up that you have, and for some reason when I seat a batch of bullets and I measure them, they all show the same but every now and then I have to bring in the micrometer on the die to get the same measurement , and when I’m done with the batch and remeasure the first ones the are different, what am I doing wrong here? Or is it the cheap Hornady Calibers and Hornady Comparator body?

Unfortunately, CBTO is somewhat irrelevant if you are using the factory Pmags with the Ruger Precision rifle. You can’t actually load to the factory COAL with 6.5 CM or the noses won’t reliably clear the mag wall. In that case the hard limit is the the mag limited COAL, in that case 2.810 to 2.815 depending on how comfortable you are with the nose on/at the mag wall.

I get what you are saying but I have a question for you - doesn´t the seatingdie set the bullet from the bullettip?? Or does it set the bullet from the CBTO??

so from what I understand , you would only use CBTO for precision shooting and the measured CBTO would be restricted to 1 rifle, even if you had 2 precision rifles of the same calibre , therefore you would require 2 different CBTO loads to suit each rifle.

Wouldn't it been better to find the cbot for each of those nine bullets

I really wish you would have posted up "your" Max CBTO with your Lot of Bullets so we could see the variance in those numbers. I just did this with a couple of my 7MM Remington Magnums and various Bullets using Mitutoyo Calipers, Short Action Customs SS Comparator's, the same Lock-N-Load Straight O.A.L. Gauge. Results still have me scratching my head a bit. kzfaq.infoZbAMkE740SU?si=oAH7FhiN41Za7zfn