BFD
Hammer Time Executive member
Tool-less method for finding bullet distance-to-lands (DTL)
1. Clean chamber/throat.
2. Muzzle to sky with buttstock on bench.
3. Load a newly sized brass into the chamber with your pinky finger. Press hard on the back of the case head. It should fall by gravity after release.
- This is a test piece of brass to ensure there are no hang-ups/false reads with the brass to chamber fit.
4. Same piece of clean falling brass, load a bullet longer than usual by .070" over max listed COAL.
5. Slowly insert the round into the chamber pushing very slowly with your pinky.
- Stop pushing when you feel resistance. This is the contact of the bullet with lands. (Turn off the radio, close your eyes, and snail slow to feel this)
- If you stop at the first detection softness, you can free the round with a subtle rap of buttstock on bench. If not, punch out w/rod from muzzle.
6. Seat bullet deeper by .003 and repeat until the round falls freely with gravity when you release your pinky.
- A bullet will stay in the rifling with even .001" into them. So, when it falls free, you are extremely close to the lands. Likely .001-.002"
7. Record that length with a CBTO gauge and record that length for that bullet. You must do this for each different bullet type, weight, brand, etc.
8. You will now know how far your bullet jump is when you load. Most people seat match bullets starting .000-020 from the lands.
- With Hammers, typically loading first or second PDR groove from ogive, it jut reassures us we are not sticking the bullet into the lands.
1. Clean chamber/throat.
2. Muzzle to sky with buttstock on bench.
3. Load a newly sized brass into the chamber with your pinky finger. Press hard on the back of the case head. It should fall by gravity after release.
- This is a test piece of brass to ensure there are no hang-ups/false reads with the brass to chamber fit.
4. Same piece of clean falling brass, load a bullet longer than usual by .070" over max listed COAL.
5. Slowly insert the round into the chamber pushing very slowly with your pinky.
- Stop pushing when you feel resistance. This is the contact of the bullet with lands. (Turn off the radio, close your eyes, and snail slow to feel this)
- If you stop at the first detection softness, you can free the round with a subtle rap of buttstock on bench. If not, punch out w/rod from muzzle.
6. Seat bullet deeper by .003 and repeat until the round falls freely with gravity when you release your pinky.
- A bullet will stay in the rifling with even .001" into them. So, when it falls free, you are extremely close to the lands. Likely .001-.002"
7. Record that length with a CBTO gauge and record that length for that bullet. You must do this for each different bullet type, weight, brand, etc.
8. You will now know how far your bullet jump is when you load. Most people seat match bullets starting .000-020 from the lands.
- With Hammers, typically loading first or second PDR groove from ogive, it jut reassures us we are not sticking the bullet into the lands.
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seems much easier.. 
Thanks guys this place is truly great!!