projectile weight variation

[ILVSMOG]

How much variation do you tolerate for projectile weights? I'm working on a .223 load with Barnes 36gr Varmint Grenade bullets. I've got a good load worked up, but I've continued to see some pretty dramatic flyers, on paper. I weighed a recent box of bullets, and I've seen everything from 35.1gr up to 37.0gr. As a percentage, that's a pretty big swing. I've separated out a batch that weighs between 35.8gr and 36.2gr. That's about 60% of the box. Am I being too picky, or not picky enough?

Thanks!

[highpower790]

Probably being to picky.Sierra,Hornady,Berger all have some variance,and the Varmint Grenade is not a match bullet...don't worry.

[ILVSMOG]

Barrel is brand new and seating depth is within .003" I've never weighed projectiles before, so I don't know how good or bad this batch is. Only reason I did it, was that I read somewhere that these particular projectiles can vary pretty wildly.

[JMP]

I weighed a recent box of bullets, and I've seen everything from 35.1gr up to 37.0gr. As a percentage, that's a pretty big swing. I've separated out a batch that weighs between 35.8gr and 36.2gr. That's about 60% of the box. Am I being too picky, or not picky enough?

No, you are not picky enough. A 2gr divergence on a 36gr bullet is unacceptable. I wouldn't use bullets that have a 2gr divergence on a 200gr bullet. The most I'd go is 0.1gr unless it is blasting ammo. That said, the geometric consistency is actually even more important than the weight consistency. For solid bullets, I'd expect within 0.05gr, but I use monolithic bullets rather than just lead free. With monoliths, weight variance guarantees geometric variance.

[bsumoba]

2 gr variation is a lot...but then again, it is not match quality.

On a batch of 180gr hybrids for my 7mm, I would see maybe a 0.4gr spread max, and that is because a few bullets were on the extremes. I just use these as foulers

I would venture to say that if you measured base-to-ogive, that you have some variation as well.

Sort and shoot them in batches, and you will be fine.

[LynnJr]

Send them to Barnes and tell them how poorly they shoot.
They will most likely want those others back for quality control training.

[ILVSMOG]

I was able to find two major groups (by weight) in about 300 projectiles. 35.9-36.1 and 36.3-36.5. 64 out of the 300ish fell outside those two groups, some by a LOT. I'll go through 1 group, then the next. Not sure what to do about the 64 oddballs. I've never weighed my projectiles before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I'm a hunter, not a benchrest guy and I've never had a problem before. Might be time to look for a new lead-free, varmint blaster after I use up the last of these Barnes pieces.

[sghart]

If you are convinced that your scale is accurate (compare side by side with another if possible) I would contact Barnes and let them know. Your flyers are probably not caused by you.

I shoot a Savage Model 12 in 223 with a Hakko 40 power scope. I stopped wasting money on Sierra Match King bullets when the Hornady bulk bullets performed almost as well.

Best of luck.