base-to-ogive comparisons
Ruger, I like your low pressure approach and it seems to give good results in both your and your grand-daughter's hands.
.005" cartridge variation base to bullet tip is actually quite good. But this is not that important an indicator of round consistency, however base-to-ogive consistency is.
Suggest you measure and compare cartridge base-to-ogive measurements instead. You will likely find your reloads are more consistent than first appears. (The ogive is the curved front part of the bullet, a circular portion of which will upon firing be the first part to engage the leade/rifling.)
Here's how to determine this for yourself:
If you measure those V-max bullets out of the box, you'll see their lengths vary quite a lot. Even match bullets do. On the other hand, their base-to-ogive dimensions will be somewhat more consistent.
Observations: Twenty of my 50gr V-max bullets run .766" to .773" base-to-tip, in a fairly even distribution, with a 6 bullet cluster @ .768" - that's a 6 thou variation but a wide and even distribution. However those same twenty V-max run .372" to .381" base-to-ogive -a 9 thou variation- but with 14 of those clustered within 1 thou of each other, 12 @ .380" and 2 @ .381".
If you want to sort bullets, doing so by base-to-ogive length may be of benefit to you.
I'll generalize and say this reputable manufacturer maintains more consistent base-to-ogive dimensions in a bullet production run...and somewhat less consistent measurements base-to-tip. Similar observations can be made with Nosler's product, and I'll bet with other companies' as well. This is not a problem, so long as the resulting cartridges achieve the internal ballistics goal of consistent engraving...and still fit the magazine.
If you google around, you should find something showing you how to measure base-to-ogive with what you have at hand. If you prefer, Hornady sells a convenient "bullet comparator" accessory for your caliper, that allows consistent bullet and cartridge length measurements.
