Last January I decided I needed to take up handloading if I was ever going to shoot my S&W Model 29. So I spent some time in the learning process, and eventually got a Lee Classic Turret press and die set, RCBS Uniflow powder measure and a case length gauge, scale, and various and sundry other tools and accessories. I want a scaled-back target load for my .44; I chose Berry's 220-gr. plated flatpoint bullets, 9 gr. Winchester 231, CCI large pistol primers, in new Winchester brass. I'm looking for ~1000 fps with that projectile.
Berry's recommended seating those bullets to OAL of 1.560 - 1.565; data.hodgdon.com puts OAL at 1.610. My first batch gauged as follows:
Max OAL: 1.6099
Min OAL: 1.5959
Max-min: 0.014
Avg OAL: 1.6066
Median OAL: 1.6067
Consistency (rounded to nearest 1000th)
O.A.L. Number of cartridges
1.5959 1
1.601 3
1.603 4
1.604 1
1.605 5
1.606 13
1.607 7
1.608 8
1.609 12
As I am new to this, I don't know if that is good consistency or all over the map. It looks pretty uneven to me. Obviously, each cartridge should be identical to every other, but how much variance is acceptable? What should I do to achieve better consistency? Thanks in advance for any and all help!
Berry's recommended seating those bullets to OAL of 1.560 - 1.565; data.hodgdon.com puts OAL at 1.610. My first batch gauged as follows:
Max OAL: 1.6099
Min OAL: 1.5959
Max-min: 0.014
Avg OAL: 1.6066
Median OAL: 1.6067
Consistency (rounded to nearest 1000th)
O.A.L. Number of cartridges
1.5959 1
1.601 3
1.603 4
1.604 1
1.605 5
1.606 13
1.607 7
1.608 8
1.609 12
As I am new to this, I don't know if that is good consistency or all over the map. It looks pretty uneven to me. Obviously, each cartridge should be identical to every other, but how much variance is acceptable? What should I do to achieve better consistency? Thanks in advance for any and all help!
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