jwrowland77
Member
Went to the range yesterday to shoot some workups. While at the range, I decided to shoot a runout test.
One group had rounds with runout >.005" (most were around .007"). The other group all had runout of .001" (corrected to .001" with the Hornady Concentricity gauge), with one being .0015". All rounds were shot round robin. Shot runout round (>.005"), then a minimal runout round (.001") then so on and so on.
All rounds were the same as far as powder, case, primer, bullet and ogive measurements. All rounds were shot off of a Caldwell lead sled. I had planned to shoot them 200yd, but since I was shooting workups as well, and had a crosswind, I decided to bring it in to 100yd.
All rounds were just picked up and put in the chamber in no particular way like your avg person might (I know some folks mark the runout and put the runout rounds in the chamber the same way).
As you can see, the rounds with runout landed in no form of a group/pattern. The rounds where runout was reduced using the Hornady tool, were all in a horizontal line (I like this much better than all over the place.). It was fairly windy out with a crosswind w/gusts.
Conclusion: the Hornady Concentricity gauge works, and it DOES help to reduce runout in match ammo, and that when you reduce runout, it does help in accuracy. I believe had this been shot at 200 yards, then the runout group of greater than .005", the pattern would have been worse than what it was at 100yd.
I just figured I'd put this out there so folks can draw their own conclusions. As for me, I'll be checking and correcting any runout I see on my match rounds.
Rounds:
Test Results:
The measurements on the calipers is with the .308 deducted from it already. Shooting .308 Win. 178gr Hornady BTHP Match.
One group had rounds with runout >.005" (most were around .007"). The other group all had runout of .001" (corrected to .001" with the Hornady Concentricity gauge), with one being .0015". All rounds were shot round robin. Shot runout round (>.005"), then a minimal runout round (.001") then so on and so on.
All rounds were the same as far as powder, case, primer, bullet and ogive measurements. All rounds were shot off of a Caldwell lead sled. I had planned to shoot them 200yd, but since I was shooting workups as well, and had a crosswind, I decided to bring it in to 100yd.
All rounds were just picked up and put in the chamber in no particular way like your avg person might (I know some folks mark the runout and put the runout rounds in the chamber the same way).
As you can see, the rounds with runout landed in no form of a group/pattern. The rounds where runout was reduced using the Hornady tool, were all in a horizontal line (I like this much better than all over the place.). It was fairly windy out with a crosswind w/gusts.
Conclusion: the Hornady Concentricity gauge works, and it DOES help to reduce runout in match ammo, and that when you reduce runout, it does help in accuracy. I believe had this been shot at 200 yards, then the runout group of greater than .005", the pattern would have been worse than what it was at 100yd.
I just figured I'd put this out there so folks can draw their own conclusions. As for me, I'll be checking and correcting any runout I see on my match rounds.
Rounds:
Test Results:
The measurements on the calipers is with the .308 deducted from it already. Shooting .308 Win. 178gr Hornady BTHP Match.