How to find jam on your barrel. Do this before load development. 

Should make a video for people who are just starting out with reloading. Like setting up basic dies and presses. Your videos are amazingly informative I bet you’d help a lot of new comers!

Clickable outline: 1:15 De-primed Fire-formed brass run thru sizer die and expander mandrel 2:10 Seat bullet 0.050-0.070" long 3:00 Measure Cartridge Base to Ogive Length 3:20 Lube bullet ogive and chamber cartridge 3:35 Jam by closing bolt 4:02 Measure Cartridge Base to Ogive Length after jamming bolt 4:30 Seat bullet 0.020" deeper 5:00 Chamber to confirm bullet not jammed into rifling 5:30 Reason to measure jam is to determine danger point for seating bullet 5:55 Why inconsistent jam length measurements really does not matter 6:30 Take shortest jam measurement - 0.020" and good to go 7:00 Now have max length and work from there until find seating depth node

“If you don’t know, you don’t know” well know I know. Had no idea. Subscribed!

That's amazing, after watching so many videos how to do it so differently (more complicated) than this. Yesterday on my own, I did it exactly this way myself, I thought why not let the "jam point" push the bullet into the case deeper ?? Seemed simple enough and it worked beautifully. Then just today I watched this video today just long enough to discover, this is exactly the same way Erik C. does it !!! I did this on my new Weatherby Vanguard 6.5 PRC for both Barnes 130 TSX BT and 130 Hornady ELDM bullets.

Barrel break-in is primarily an opportunity to "chuck rounds down range"

Appreciate you sharing your experience and knowledge!

great stuff and i like how you always try to help others even while in the middle of a match. great sportsman for sure.

Thanks Erik for sharing your knowledge!

Thanks for posting this. Saw your previous video and this confirmed the way the process works.

Awesome video. Please share more. I want to get into reloading this winter and your videos are a huge help

Thank you Erik, I really appreciate you taking the time to share your extensive knowledge.

Just beginning my path down the reloading and development road. I appreciate all of your knowledge!

Good information and demonstration. Thanks for posting.

Loved the break in procedure

Thank you for the tips and tricks Eric. It is very much appreciated. I know you are a busy man and it means a lot that you take time out of your busy schedule to do these.

Concise and to the point. No nonsense bits of information. 👍👍

Thanks Erik for the sharing, enjoyed it much.

That's exactly as I had envisioned it in my mind's eye. It's nice to see this video to confirm I'm on the same page. Thanks for your time and efforts to keep us straight.

Man you made that simple. Your illustrations are clear and precise. Thank you for the video!

I been reloading since ‘85 and still learning thank you for your time

Getting into the sport again, luv your info helps me alot, cheers

Love this guy's videos. Seriously helping me a ton

Your videos have seriously been helping this newbie immensely! I have already learned so much, and my groups are getting tighter every day.

Really appreciate the videos. They are great!

Really enjoyed the “short to the point” of this video. Having watched many of your videos I get overwhelmed with the amount of information at times. These short videos help me find the one with the single spot I am needing to work on. 👍

Getting into reloading and I really enjoy your way of explaining things. I haven't actually started yet, these videos are really is giving me the confidence for when I press that first bullet. Thank you buddy.

Enjoying your advice .Thank you.

I love this method, thanks for keeping it simple. I've been reloading for twenty years and have learned several things watching this man. Thanks for sharing.

Just did this on my new 223 Bolt action. Watching your video gives me a good feeling I did it right!

Thankyou again. Quick and easy, just the way I like it.

Thank you Erik, I was a little hesitant about jamming a bullet into my rifle but I did it exactly how you described and it worked perfectly! Thank you.

Thanks Erik , Im doing this exact procedure in my new Warner Palma rifle.

I'm a beginner , awesome video's , Thank you sir .

Great vid. I've only been reloading for a year and like most have found millions of vids that help. But I really like your no BS approach. Thanks for all the tips much appreciated 👍 🍺🍻

Thank you Eric! I've been following all your instructional videos and turned in a sub .50 group today working through the seating depth adjustment. Beyond stoked to finally exceed a commercial "Match" load.

You are a wealth of knowledge, thank you for sharing. I was close to falling into the neck sizing only side of things. I now am on the right path! Thank you!

Thank you for making this so easy for me!! Awesome information

Thank Erik again for another great video. CMONNN guys get those like up!

Have played around a lot to find my Rifles happy spot . Great way to explain your process. Was amazed by how far jam was for my 300WM Bergara B14 using berger 168s

Solid comments on how to avoid bullets getting stuck. This is a common happening especially with newbies however, a good refresher for the old timers as well. I learned to choose the shortest and it has worked for me ever since I adopted it. Really appreciate your videos.

Amazing content, I just got done doing my powder charge test Jam-20 found a charge with single digit SD and ES. Tomorrow I will be doing the seating depth to fine tune. Thank you for the advice sir!!!

Thanks, I’m one of the guys who learn by “seeing something” once or twice or having to read an explanation 7 or 8 times.. I’m a visual learner, thanks for the video..

Cheers Eric. Nice explanation.

Many thanks again Erik for these videos, which are highly instructive. I now understand barrel jam point theory and how to apply it to my hand loading. Valuable information indeed. Also, thanks for clearing the dense fog and all the hype about barrel break in. Many of us sweated over all the techniques on proper break in, only left with the gnawing thought: "is there another way that would have ensured better accuracy?" Now I need not wrestle those thoughts again. All the best to you.

Thank you Erik, really simple, no nonsense and very practical advice, you just saved me the cost of a COAL Gauge.

Thank you Eric, this is very helpful. I am just getting my feet wet with 6.5 creedmoor and your videos are a godsend. Most people would never share their recipe for success on anything. Here you are helping even people who may one day meet you on the competition field. Thanks again.

Hi Eric, Thanks for the great videos. Wish they had been around in the late 70's when I first started reloading. Particular thanks for your videos on finding JAM and NOT Chasing the lands as they made getting back into reloading simple to understand.

........ OMG just followed your instructions . So easy . Cant wait to shoot in few days . You make reloading so easy

Been away for to long when..you define what's been missing. Bringing back the fun..30 yrs later.

Great info as always man!

You, sir, are a breath of fresh air.

Another great video! Much easier than all the other ways!

After your first video I tried this method on a brand new 6.5 creedmoor xbolt. What a time and component saver. After less than 20 rounds and I found the sweet spot. She shooting a solid 3/4 MOA, plenty good for hogs and deer. I've been reloading for years and was chasing lands before. Thank you

Great tip! Thank you!

Another useful and informative video.

That is awesome pal. Thank you

This is very similar to the method I have used. Took a couple years of sorting through the BS from various sources until I developed my own experience and confidence to do what made sense, backed up by results. (Also for my custom barrels I came to the conclusion just load and Go!. They all shoot quarter to three eights) Keep the vids coming when you can sir, thank you.

love the videos Erik ...

Thank you very much for sharing this information with us! This is a privilege to (virtual) apprentice with you.

Helpful, thanks!

Nice Video!!! Now knowing your a Bruce Lee fan, you have just graduated to the next level of awesome in my book!!! As always, Love your vids!!! Keep it up!!!

Great Video Erik!

Just bought that chassis. love it

This is a perfect refresher lesson/course. For any type of shooter/reloader, pro or amateur. Thank you Mr. Cortina.

There is finally a person who knows what he is talking about, amazing! Where have you been?

30 years ago I did a similar thing as you demonstrated. I coated the bullet with White Out and progressively made the OAL longer until I saw rifling marks on the White Out. Then backed off the OAL by .015. It was significantly longer than factory ammunition. It turned 2” 100 yard groups with factory ammo to sub MOA groups with my reloads.

Trying this method again tonight, only way I've been able to find my lands accurately. Tried everything else an it was inconclusive. This method atleast gave me some info to go off. I know my maximum length atleast. Time to go test loads now. Thankyou

awesome demo Eric. I did it the way you showed us.....got it my shot group down to .312" at 100 yrds with my .308 on the first set. Thanks for the tip

Eric... now what the hell am I going to do with all the time you saved me with this??? Have been banging my head with the inconsistent results from Hornady's OAL Gauge, this method you showed here is consistent, every time! Thank you so much!

I do like the way all of this is kept fairly simple, and a lot of this is useful in a hunting rifle/ammo situation. If found that, when loading, some projectiles just refuse to give a consistent overall length. I’ve got my lengths set (dummies for each caliber), and I put the callipers on most rounds. If it’s short, there’s nothing I can do about it, and, if it’s a little bit long, I try and get it right, but I refuse to chase 0.02mm. They all fit in the rifle and they all shoot with no noticeable difference in performance.It sounds like you’ve heard all the armchair experts a million times before. Keep up the good work and keep the vids coming. Cheers.

Great video. I like the use of on screen numbers. Seeing is believing.

Thanks for these videos!

Yup, finding Jam was the easy part. Worked great. Thanks. Oh, and the Neck Size Tshirt showed up today. Love it.

I had questions about how to find jam from watching your other videos and SHAZAM here it is. I guess the only real difference in doing it this way as opposed to using a OAL gauge is your measuring from the bolt face and a OAL gauge would measure from the shoulder.

Thank you for this !

I came back to watch this video again always learning

I am a totally newb to accuracy-loading so am trying everything for the first time. I took one of my once-fired rounds and drilled/tapped the primer pocket for using in the Hornady LnL OAL gage. The once-fired round has good enough neck tension to hold the bullet. It is handy for helping set the jump when trying a new bullet. If I'd seen this and your prior video, I'd probably still have bought the OAL gage but this gives a really good view of just exactly WHAT is happening where the ogive meets the lands and ALSO shows me that all my worrying about whether my "jump" is 0.010 or 0.012 isn't worth worrying about! As always, good learning videos.

Erik one small note to you. Next time show what the bullet looks like after it was inserted into the lands so others just starting out can get an idea what it really looks like for future referance. You video's are well done and highly educational. One other note how much neck tension is required when finding jam. I usually load between .0025 to .003 so I have a .0015 neck tension. Now if a newby uses say rcbs dies which have twice the tension you couldnt close the bolt with a hammer so to speak. Keep up the great work because what you do is very important to everyone who is wanting to better themselves behind a rifle.

Good to know, Erik thanks

You are the MAAAN!!! There's too much nuance in reloading. And you are helping the entire community to realize they're over thinking it as far as I have noticed with your last few videos. Reloading is SAFE guys. Reloading is easy! If you spend 10x as much time at your bench than you do shooting then you're never going to get anywhere!!! Lol. Cheers Guys.

I never seriously considered reloading but having seen Erik’s approach to it, I can’t wait to get started. First, combustion, then seating depth (work your way out from jam minus 20/1000”, 3/1000” at a time to sample node positions, and finally if groups are inconsistent across distances, look at the BC if the bullet. Right?

Very helpful I thank you

Finally someone said it out loud, publicly, someone with the experience to know; barrel break-in shenanigans are a stupid old wives tale that cause more new shooters to chase their butts than just about any other "precision shooter" practice. Shoot your dang barrel; clean accordingly, move on with life...and use good ammo, unless there are zombies. Then, whatever.

Man I wish we were neighbors because we be hanging out all the time. Always great schooling

great video. I believe this is what the Lock-N-Load O.A.L. Gauge does, however you need various modified cases to work. Relatively consistent too, I use for multiple calibers / rifles. Happy shooting

Thank You this method is so stupid simple even I can do this! thanks again.

Gotta love dillon, they make great presses

Thanks for the video bud.

Never seen this or heard other reloader talk about it. COOL

Erik u are the best ever...

Hey I just started subscribing to you great videos great Content keep it coming really appreciate it

Thanks for the info I have just subscribe to your channel keep things coming always looking for new things to do when I reload for my Rifle 👍🏻

Thanks Man!!!

Great video sir

Thank you.

lol that meat grinder is a beast. lol Started watching you on your building channel. Great to see you in a shooting scene. Your home building care and concern in building makes this a breeze for you. Doing it right, that is what I see.

Yeah, it didn't come across as obvious last video. Maybe because we Swedes have a tendency to be very ironic, so the last sentence "well at least I didn't have to break in my barrel" I took it as an ironic "I really should have chosen the other door". Thanks for clarifying! Love the content and tongue in cheek delivery!

Awesome video,

My 56 year old .300 Win Mag has a "jam" point 0.241" beyond my max magazine length. I shoot 180g Barnes TTSX for hunting and routinely get 1 MOA or better. Amazing the bullet jump is at least 1/4 inch yet it still shoots fine for hunting!

“See, no primers” ... yep :( That action on your competition rifle sounds as smooth as glass. Nice!