Bullet length inconsistancy. Normal?

[FORESTBARBER]

Still a newbie.

So, got my 1000 SMK .250 gr .338 bullets and preparing to start loading.

Measuring distance to land with Hornady gauge. C.O.A.L. length is as much as 0.010" - 0.014" different among ten bullets.

I have had very consistent results with Lapua projectiles, and best with Hornady - usually within 0.002-3" From that I measure the ogive length and then know where I am.

Is this typical for Sierra bullets? Should I send them back for another lot? What to do? Please don't tell me I need to measure them all and sort into lots. Please.

Forest

 

[Swan]

Re: Bullet length inconsistancy. Normal?

Yes thats normal. All bullets are different lengths regardless who made em.

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: Bullet length inconsistancy. Normal?

.010 to .015" is pretty normal. When hollow point bullets are made the length of the jacket when it's formed is what makes that difference. There are 10 to 20 stamping stations in a progressive stamping die. Each station has, probably, a few thousandths of an inch in the drawing / stamping stages. For a jacket an inch long, anything .010" or less is good to go. That scale goes up with the length of the jacket. Less than an inch there is still going to have close to that.