How many sort rifle brass by weight?

[esheato]

Since my Cooper should be here soon (I've got my fingers crossed) I am getting prepared. Picked up a bore guide and a new cleaning rod. Collecting brass and buying different propellants to test.

A friend gave me a plastic grocery sack of .223 Remington brass. Range pick-ups mostly, but they were separated by headstamp, Remington every single one of 'em.

I weighed them, one at a time on my calibrated PACT digital scale and I was quite surprised by the amount they varied. Over the course of 315 pieces, a maximum of a five grain difference (90-95 grains) was observed with no outward differences in them.

Here is how they broke down:

91.9 grains or less, 39 pieces for a total of 12%
92.0-92.4 grains, 30 pieces for a total of 9.5%
92.5-92.9 grains, 72 pieces for a total of 23%
93.0-93.4 grains, 110 pieces for a total of 35%
93.5-93.9 grains, 50 pieces for a total of 16%
94.0 grains and up, 13 pieces for a total of 4%

Keep in mind these have been sized/decapped but not trimmed.

I wasn't planning on sorting by weight but after seeing the numbers, I think it would be worthwhile.

Ed

 

[taliv]

esheato, just for kicks, take one of your brass pieces, and weigh it ten times. what's the difference between the max and min values you get? repeat that with 5 to 10 cases and share any insight you gain.

 

[esheato]

Alright.

One piece of brass, at random, on the scale: 89.4 grains.

I removed and replaced this piece of brass 10 times. While the piece was removed, I waited until the scale registered a 0.00 weight and replaced the brass in the middle of the scale.

Oh, the readings?

89.4
89.4
89.4
89.4
89.4
89.4
89.4
89.4 (this one went to 89.5 for a few seconds before returning to 89.4)
89.4
89.4

I only did one case for the time being. The only thing it proves is that my scale is consistent and that I still have to turn off my central heat/air before weighing anything.

Ed

 

[Steve Smith]

How far are you shooting?

 

[esheato]

Steve,

For now, 100 yards. Although later on I'll most likely move further out. At this point, I'm still waiting on the gun.

Ed

 

[Dave P]

How far are you shooting?

Unless my grps were less than 1/2" at 100 yrds, I wouldn't mess with case weight. Also would not weigh the powder charges at that distance.


I do weigh charges for 600 yards, and try to have a matched batch of cases (+/- 2 grains maybe?).

Dave

 

[swifter]

I played with weight sorting for a few years. Finally got to the point of taking 10 cases as close as possible in weight, and 10 random, loading and shooting for group... You guessed it, the random cases were slightly better...
Try it yourself.

Tom

 

[taliv]

esheato, cool

 

[30Cal]

I weigh the ones I use at 600yds, but don't go through the trouble for anything for 200 and 300yds. I don't bother weighing individual charges until 600yds either. My brass is bought new in large volumes, so it isn't all over the place to begin with.

 

[Steve Smith]

Esheato, 100 yards is really short range. You shouldn't have to worry with brass weight at that range. Some folks weigh it at 600, but I don't even do that. I may start, but I also know that I have shot my best scores at 600 with "junk" brass on accident, and I consistently shoot High Master scores (97% and higher) from 600 without weighing brass. Maybe I will start and then I will clean it? We'll see.

 

[esheato]

Interesting comments and I appreciate the insight.

Ed

 

[Fatelvis]

I wouldn`t bother, unless your shooting bench rest.