Ive searched for an answer to this question and haven't been able to find one so here goes.
I understand the concept of headspace (thanks to the sticky from Alpo), but what I don't understand is it's relationship to OAL since they're often mentioned together. It seems to me that headspace is only dependent on the length of the case from the mouth to the head (rimless cartridges) and has no real relationship to the OAL, which is determined by the bullet seating depth. A too short OAL could pass the plunk test, chamber and operate the action fine, but the bullet just wouldn't be extending far enough into the barrel (pressure issues aside) and a too long OAL would do the same, but just extend the bullet too far into the barrel. Where I've been puzzled is when someone gives an example of too much or too little headspace and then talks about OAL in the same sentence when it just seems to me like the case is just too long or too short causing the headspace issue.
So, am I looking too deeply into this or am I missing something? I suspect the second, so I'm asking the experts.
I understand the concept of headspace (thanks to the sticky from Alpo), but what I don't understand is it's relationship to OAL since they're often mentioned together. It seems to me that headspace is only dependent on the length of the case from the mouth to the head (rimless cartridges) and has no real relationship to the OAL, which is determined by the bullet seating depth. A too short OAL could pass the plunk test, chamber and operate the action fine, but the bullet just wouldn't be extending far enough into the barrel (pressure issues aside) and a too long OAL would do the same, but just extend the bullet too far into the barrel. Where I've been puzzled is when someone gives an example of too much or too little headspace and then talks about OAL in the same sentence when it just seems to me like the case is just too long or too short causing the headspace issue.
So, am I looking too deeply into this or am I missing something? I suspect the second, so I'm asking the experts.