Choosing a bullet your rifle likes

[Desert Rat]

Sorry this is a question from a noob and I hope this belongs here. I am choosing a round for my Percision rifle....my question to you all is how do you go through the process.... what do you do to choose that perfect grain weight. Now just to preface this I will be using manufactured ammo most likely from Hornaday or Berger. The process I was going to use is Buying 300 WinMag from different manufacturers. Next process would be to chronograph the rounds comparing speeds extreme spreads And standard deviations. In my third process would be to analyze the groups. My question to you all is is this the correct process or what does everybody else do? Thank you in advance from a new guy.

 

[theLBC]

maybe start by making sure it is spin stable for your barrel length and twist rate.

Twist Rate Stability Calculator

Our newly updated Twist Rate Stability Calculator not only tells you what your SG is, but it also lets you know if you are reaching your optimized BC.

bergerbullets.com

 

[stello1001]

Your title says bullet but your post says buying ammo "from different manufacturers" as well "comparing speeds, ES, & SD" so...

Are you asking about bullets or factory ammo options?

 

[FishDr]

I search/read through the reloading forum and through the range report/exterior ballistics forum to see what others are having success with for the particular barrel twist adn caliber I'm looking at. In general, I try to get a mid-weight to heavy (not the heaviest) bullet for caliber that has a highish BC that can be pushed relatively fast. But I try not to reinvent the wheel. I look for multiple reports in the range report section of guys that have good results, and all about the same area - that gives me a place to look for consistent results.

I try to use high BC bullets, and also try to use something that is jump tolerant so as not to keep tuning the load frequently. I want something that will shoot a long time without a lot of tinkering. For me, those are SMK, Hybrids, ELD-m, those styles. I shoot some others as well, but this is where I look first.

 

[Desert Rat]

Your title says bullet but your post says buying ammo "from different manufacturers" as well "comparing speeds, ES, & SD" so...

Are you asking about bullets or factory ammo options?

Factory ammo options

 

[acudaowner]

grab 5 boxes of different ammo brands and make a board with a target for each different brand shoot at 100 yards use a chronograph its not that expensive you only need a taste of them 20 or so rounds to get an idea of what they and you can do . its fun and easy if you get really good groups maybe that's the round for your gun buy more stretch it out more and repeat

 

[Desert Rat]

grab 5 boxes of different ammo brands and make a board with a target for each different brand shoot at 100 yards use a chronograph its not that expensive you only need a taste of them 20 or so rounds to get an idea of what they and you can do . its fun and easy if you get really good groups maybe that's the round for your gun buy more stretch it out more and repeat

Thanks! That was my plan but I wanted to see what y’all thought. Much appreciated

 

[stello1001]

grab 5 boxes of different ammo brands and make a board with a target for each different brand shoot at 100 yards use a chronograph its not that expensive you only need a taste of them 20 or so rounds to get an idea of what they and you can do . its fun and easy if you get really good groups maybe that's the round for your gun buy more stretch it out more and repeat

The problem with good groups at 100 can be that if there is a high enough ES, it may not always show at 100.

I would try to get groups at 100 and out at distance too..

 

[brianf]

Along with these guys

Buy some federal match 190’s

If you can’t shoot that into at least .5-.75” groups at 100 yards ...work on fundamentals before you toss money at Ammo

Magnums aren’t 308 or 6.5’s.
They find your errors real quick

 

[PinesAndProjectiles]

Factory ammo options

It's been talked about on the forum, and I've experienced it personally, that some ammo types don't like to be shot after other types of ammo.

If you plan on shooting different ammo types, I recommend cleaning the barrel in between different brands.

You don't have to go crazy, but just get some of the copper out.

 

[stello1001]

It's been talked about on the forum, and I've experienced it personally, that some ammo types don't like to be shot after other types of ammo.

If you plan on shooting different ammo types, I recommend cleaning the barrel in between different brands.

You don't have to go crazy, but just get some of the copper out.

Are there significant amounts of shooters backing this up or enough data to legitimize this theory?

I'm not saying you're wrong, but i feel like copper is copper regardless if it fouled the barrel from a BTHP bullet or an OTM bullet etc.

It would be interesting to see some sort of research results if any exist.

 

[brianf]

Copper to copper I’m not sure but coated to copper (had a few different match 308) boxes as gifts years ago.

Needed a good 10 shots for the groups to come back.

Copper to coated
Coated to copper

At the time I was getting pissed then groups would tighten up.

After 2 Ammo changes I finally caught on.

 

[PinesAndProjectiles]

Are there significant amounts of shooters backing this up or enough data to legitimize this theory?

I'm not saying you're wrong, but i feel like copper is copper regardless if it fouled the barrel from a BTHP bullet or an OTM bullet etc.

It would be interesting to see some sort of research results if any exist.

I'm not sure about significant.

There's a thread here somewhere about a guy trying the Prime ammo, then shot some FGMM or something, then back to the Prime and after the FGMM, the Prime wouldn't shoot.

A few guys chimed in with similar experiences.

I

 

[stello1001]

I'm not sure about significant.

There's a thread here somewhere about a guy trying the Prime ammo, then shot some FGMM or something, then back to the Prime and after the FGMM, the Prime wouldn't shoot.

A few guys chimed in with similar experiences.

I

If a few members here are all having similar experiences it might be worth to take that into consideration. It would pretty cool if those with the time, tools, and equipment could even do some testing.

I have a case of FGMM and a case of Prime for my 308...

 

[1moaoff]

Copper is not all the same
Powder residue is not all the same

Mostly it's a non issue. There have been plenty of instances though where it has been proofed out. I would say it's something that should be ruled out if all else fails, it shouldn't be assumed to be the problem.

 

[PinesAndProjectiles]

If a few members here are all having similar experiences it might be worth to take that into consideration. It would pretty cool if those with the time, tools, and equipment could even do some testing.

I have a case of FGMM and a case of Prime for my 308...

You could send them to me and I could test them in my gas gun...