I would like for you guys to double check me on some measurements I took this afternoon. I was wanting to load 143g Hornady ELD-X bullets today.

Rifle: Thompson Center Compass
Cartridge: 6.5 Creedmoor

Base of 143g ELX-X bullet to O-Give Measurements at 0.828" (using the Sinclair bullet hex comparator)
I measured the total length of the 143g ELD-X bullet at 1.434".

Using the Sinclair bullet seating depth tool, I measured from base of brass to the base of the bullet, an average distance of 1.520". This measurement based on brass shot in my rifle.

For my rifle, I either measured:
- 2.348" from base of the brass to the ELD-X bullet touching the lands (using the base of bullet to o-give measurement)
- 2.954" from base of the brass to the tip of the ELD-X bullet when touching the lands (using the total length of bullet measurement)
- 2.993" maximum opening of the magazine with my rifle

I am perturbed with the SAAMI drawing indicating a COAL of 2.825" and the Hornady manual indicating a COL of 2.800" for the ELD-X bullet. Both of these seem shorter than what I measured in my rifle. I recently shot Hornady Precision rifle ammo where the COAL ~2.8135".

My thought was to seat bullets either 0.020" or 0.040" off the landing for starting loads. Based on the measurements of my rifle that would 2.934" (0.020") or 2.914 "(0.040"), does this reasonable?