I am relatively new to reloading and have noticed that the bullets I have purchased ( hornady sst and v-max ) have different grain weights. For the most part they are close. I am weighing them on a hornady beam scale and have the scale zeroed. The bullets seem to be between 6 and 9 tenths light. How much if any will this affect the accuracy of the loads I've made? Any feed back would be greatly appreciated. And while I have your attention which bullet manufacturer do you fell makes the most consistent bullet?
How weight will affect accuracy
- Thread starter spitfire6
- Start date
Re: How weight will affect accuracy
What bullet weights and how much of a % variation is it? For example, for a 175 grain bullet; .9 is .5%, for a 55 grain it's 1.6%. Another way to look at it is a difference of .3 grains from high to low in a 175 is .17% variation. Shoot them and see how they work.
As for consistancy, depends, a box of bullets may be within a half grain of printed weight and vary anywhere from + or - .1 grain to + or - .5 depending on quality and purpose.
What bullet weights and how much of a % variation is it? For example, for a 175 grain bullet; .9 is .5%, for a 55 grain it's 1.6%. Another way to look at it is a difference of .3 grains from high to low in a 175 is .17% variation. Shoot them and see how they work.
As for consistancy, depends, a box of bullets may be within a half grain of printed weight and vary anywhere from + or - .1 grain to + or - .5 depending on quality and purpose.
Re: How weight will affect accuracy
Those weight variances are the consequnce of quality control standards. In reality, they are very low down on the list of priorities a handloader needs to concern themselves about.
The best thing a handloader can do about such things is to accept that they exist, that their consequences are negligible, and that the important thing is how the handloader puts those components to use.
In reality, they could be tighter to standard, but they don't really need to be, and doing so would increase costs to where the products would not be economically feasible to use.
Using care and diligence, getting the best consistency out of your components and equipment, will form the foundation supporting good ammunition production. Even at its most basic, the handloading process, done with due diligence, will produce ammunition that will serve the shooters' needs in a manner that all but the very most accomplished and demanding bench rest shooter would find highly adequate.
It's how you employ the components and the resulting ammunition that will make the real difference in your scores.
Less skullwork, more actual shooting; that's the ticket.
Greg
Those weight variances are the consequnce of quality control standards. In reality, they are very low down on the list of priorities a handloader needs to concern themselves about.
The best thing a handloader can do about such things is to accept that they exist, that their consequences are negligible, and that the important thing is how the handloader puts those components to use.
In reality, they could be tighter to standard, but they don't really need to be, and doing so would increase costs to where the products would not be economically feasible to use.
Using care and diligence, getting the best consistency out of your components and equipment, will form the foundation supporting good ammunition production. Even at its most basic, the handloading process, done with due diligence, will produce ammunition that will serve the shooters' needs in a manner that all but the very most accomplished and demanding bench rest shooter would find highly adequate.
It's how you employ the components and the resulting ammunition that will make the real difference in your scores.
Less skullwork, more actual shooting; that's the ticket.
Greg
Re: How weight will affect accuracy
Thanks for all your input. I was hoping that it wasnt that big of a deal. The loads I shoot seem to be pretty consistent with the occasional flyer which also seems to be something everybody deals with. Again thanx guys and have fun at the range
Thanks for all your input. I was hoping that it wasnt that big of a deal. The loads I shoot seem to be pretty consistent with the occasional flyer which also seems to be something everybody deals with. Again thanx guys and have fun at the range
Re: How weight will affect accuracy
with the shit scale your using i wouldn't even bother weigh sorting bullets. Your group size isnt going to change very much. Trust me , dont worry about bullet weight until you get a better scale. ( like a lab scale)
with the shit scale your using i wouldn't even bother weigh sorting bullets. Your group size isnt going to change very much. Trust me , dont worry about bullet weight until you get a better scale. ( like a lab scale)
Re: How weight will affect accuracy
The amount of bearing surface difference will most likely have more effect than weight differences. If u want to sort your bullets try sorting based on those values.
The amount of bearing surface difference will most likely have more effect than weight differences. If u want to sort your bullets try sorting based on those values.
