17 hmr ammo inconsistencies

[GordonsGarage]

Pulled these two out of the same box of hornady 17grn (variation in bullet color).
I'm new to 17hmr, but is this normal for odd variations in the same box of ammo?
Don't even have my 17hmr barrel back from the smith yet to test accuracy but figured I'd ask to know if I need to sort ammo based on any factors.

 

[hlee]

I opened a box of 308 amaxes, and the red tips appeared to be changing color/darkening.

 

[justin amateur]

I actually know what you have there.
During manufacture a lubricant is applied to the brass,
sometimes it can be applied a bit heavy, so after cartridge assembly
and packaging, lubricant will migrate down the brass onto the ballistic tip.
That's the discoloration y'er seeing.

Sorting ammo? Sure.
Look for variations in seating depth and poor crimp tension (loose bullet).
Another problem to watch for is bullets seated at an angle.
Roll the cartridge on a flat surface and watch for tip wobble.
Check for split necks, both CCI and Winchester (the only makers of 17hmr ammo)
still have problems with cracks forming in the neck during bullet seating.

 

[GordonsGarage]

I actually know what you have there.
During manufacture a lubricant is applied to the brass,
sometimes it can be applied a bit heavy, so after cartridge assembly
and packaging, lubricant will migrate down the brass onto the ballistic tip.
That's the discoloration y'er seeing.

Sorting ammo? Sure.
Look for variations in seating depth and poor crimp tension (loose bullet).
Another problem to watch for is bullets seated at an angle.
Roll the cartridge on a flat surface and watch for tip wobble.
Check for split necks, both CCI and Winchester (the only makers of 17hmr ammo)
still have problems with cracks forming in the neck during bullet seating.

Thank you for the knowledge, makes sense that it's just chemical discoloration rather than variations in polymer/supplier.
I'm new to 17hmr, coming from the world of Lapua 22lr where I don't particularly bother sorting rim thickness, weight, etc, or at least not yet.
Would be nice if Lapua or Eley would spit out some 17hmr, I've read about CCI and Winchester's issues with consistency.

 

[justin amateur]

Sorting by weight or rim thickness are exercises in wishful thinking.
Being a bit OCD I've attempted it on multiple occasions with 22lr and 17hmr.
Neither measurements will offer any information regarding crimp tension,
bullet seating, bullet weight, brass weight, primer/powder chemistry or amount.
Results across a chronograph and on target from a full brick of cartridges
offer little improvement for the amount of time spent.