Benchrest shooters- bullet weights

[callgood]

I would appreciate any information from those of you who reload for competition or with accuracy as a primary concern.

I have reloaded for several years, starting with pistol. I have a Bushmaster, 24" 1x9 barrel and recently started loading 69 grain SMKs with good results. I read some good reports on Hornady 75 grain HPBTs and decided to give them a try. I wondered how uniform they are in weight so I got out my PACT digital scale, calibrated it and weighed 100.

47= 75.0 grains
36= 75.1 grains
7= 74.9 grains
A couple were either 75.2 or 74.8 and the rest (6 or 7)were <> .2 grains off of 75.0.

I will probably never shoot > 400 yards, more likely 200 at a range I have just joined. To date the range I have been using is 100 yards.

If you were loading for 400 yards, do you bother segregating the 74.9, 75.0, and 75.1 bullets? Would 75.2 or 74.8s mixed in have any effect on your group size, everything else being equal?

I know the weekend warriors might just stuff em in and go, but you serious guys, how about you?

Thanks for reading my post
callgood

 

[Jim Watson]

Since you have them sorted, why don't you run the experiment and report back?

I doubt you will see any difference but why not, the hard part is done.

 

[USSR]

callgood,

Save the greater than +.1 and -.1gr bullets for foulers and shoot the rest. I shoot bigger bore rifles at much longer distance, and I have found measuring from bullet ogive to bullet base to be more productive for LR accuracy than weighing bullets. However, at just a couple hundred yards, you are not likely to see much difference.

Don

 

[mc223]

Ditto USSR, Unless you will be shooting at much greater distances, there will be very little noticable difference. I also shoot the "heavies" in a Bushy 1 in 9. I have not found a satisfactory loading for the 75 Hornadys. weight uniformity is about the same as you have found. They will shoot sub MOA. But 1-3/4 @ 200 was not what i was looking for.
Have had excellant results with the 75 A-Max and Berger 75 VLDs. Each of these will easily perform better than the 75 hpbt. neither can be loaded to magazine length. Grouping under .5 at 200 yds if I do my part.

 

[redneck2]

Grouping under .5 at 200 yds if I do my part.

I used to think this was total BS. Then I got my Bushie and started reloading
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e283/Indianaoutdoorsman/Gunpix-1.jpg
Bushmaster Varminter 1-9 twist. 6.5x20 Leo scope. 2 consecutive 3 shot groups, 268 yards lasered. 50 gr Nosler BT's to mag length, 26.0 Varget, Fed Match primers, WW cases

 

[callgood]

callgood,

Save the greater than +.1 and -.1gr bullets for foulers and shoot the rest. I shoot bigger bore rifles at much longer distance, and I have found measuring from bullet ogive to bullet base to be more productive for LR accuracy than weighing bullets. However, at just a couple hundred yards, you are not likely to see much difference.

Don

That's what I was hoping. Biggest pile is +-.1.

Quote:
Grouping under .5 at 200 yds if I do my part.

I used to think this was total BS. Then I got my Bushie and started reloading
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...n/Gunpix-1.jpg
Bushmaster Varminter 1-9 twist. 6.5x20 Leo scope. 2 consecutive 3 shot groups, 268 yards lasered. 50 gr Nosler BT's to mag length, 26.0 Varget, Fed Match primers, WW cases

I have the Varmint Special. Similar. I'll make a note of this. I've used Noslers reloading 10mm and found them to be very uniform, give great groups.

 

[mc223]

redneck2 thats what I'm talking about. I have some 60g V-Max doing the same with Varget.

callgoood, The big bullet makers all produce high quality Bullets. Most may use up to 5 different dies for a given style and weight. The dies are close but not exactly the same. The materials used have thier own tolerances. If they would separate product from each die and material lot, the slight variances you found would likely not be as pronounced. I doubt the mfgs will ever take such action. So guys like us will sort to the best yield possible, and hope all the pieces fall together.
And just a heads up, my rifle will not shoot Sierra 77 very well. You might give them a try. all barrels do not have the same preferences. Mine will handle anything between the better quality 55s to the 75s very accuratly.
Good Shootin.

 

[callgood]

redneck2 thats what I'm talking about. I have some 60g V-Max doing the same with Varget.

callgoood, The big bullet makers all produce high quality Bullets. Most may use up to 5 different dies for a given style and weight. The dies are close but not exactly the same. The materials used have thier own tolerances. If they would separate product from each die and material lot, the slight variances you found would likely not be as pronounced. I doubt the mfgs will ever take such action. So guys like us will sort to the best yield possible, and hope all the pieces fall together.
And just a heads up, my rifle will not shoot Sierra 77 very well. You might give them a try. all barrels do not have the same preferences. Mine will handle anything between the better quality 55s to the 75s very accuratly.
Good Shootin.

Or shell out the $ for the Lapuas, etc.! I'm going to load them tonight and take them to the range tomorrow (hear that boss, I'm LAYING OUT ). I'd like to have some heavier bullets for use when the wind picks up- like to compare them to my Sierra 69 grain load.

 

[Bullet]

This is a quote from Vince Bottomley 1000 yard UK record holder (5 shots @ 1000 yards - 2.670) -

I've sorted and tweaked bullets many different ways in the past--measured bearing-surface length, weighed 'em, checked diameters, trimmed meplats. But this time, I thought I would see how the Bergers performed right out of the box.

http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek071.html

Looks like shooting right out of the box worked for him.