Bullet seating depth question

[pufftuffly]

For years I've been using a Stoney Point OAL gauge with a fired in my rifle modified cartridge that I made to determine the COAL where the bullet hits the lands. For $h!ts and giggles I tried the method where you take a fired cartridge with a snug neck and chamber the round with a bullet in it. There is a .020" difference between the two methods.

Which method do you think is more accurate to use as a starting point to start experimenting with seating depths?

 

[Cahunter805]

The Stoney point or Hornady OAL gauge is the way to go.
The fired case with snug neck method is ok but your probably jammed into the lands a bit.
Another method is to trim your neck way down and use a caliber specific plug to measure your lands.

 

[pufftuffly]

Thanks for your input.