Any Bullet Weight Weenies Here

[grant22]

I'm trying my hand at precision .223 rounds and am going for consisency and accuracy (good groups). I'm not trying to win any matches, but that may come later.

While measuring out 100 Hornandy 75gr FMJBT bullets, I'm seeing the following weight spread: 74.8, 74.9, 75, 75.1, 75.2, 75.3, and 75.4

Most are in the 74.9 - 75.2 range.

My questions are:

How finely do you guys seperate these? All the way to the tenth grain? Or is seperating 74.9, 75, and 75.1 together going to yield decent results?

Also, do SMK's have less a discrepancy in weight? THX

[kmca]

What scale are you weighing them on? Most scales used by reloaders, both digital and balance, are only accurate to +/- .1 grain.

[kurac]

It depends on what distance you plan on shooting them at, at 100-200 yards its probably a waste of time to segregate match projectiles by weight, at longer distances, it may have more of an effect.

[grant22]

@KMCA: It's on my RCBS Chargemaster.....and yes, accurate to within +/- .1 gr. That's why I was thinking the 75 plus or minus a tenth would be adequate.

@Kurac: 100 yards for now but up to 300 yards later.

[kmca]

I'd say, just load them up and shoot for groups. Have you used those bullets before?

[grant22]

Yes, I've used them, but with inconsistent powder charges. I was getting about 3/4 moa with an occasional flyer.

Now with the chargemaster combo, the powder charges are very consistent and I'm hoping for no flyers.

[Gunsrruss]

Sorry

there will always be a flyer in there. I have used those bullets a long time. I never did weigh them. There good enough as is to get you to NRA Master

[kmca]

Find the right powder and cases and you might be able to cut those groups in half, depending on the rifle

[Ahhnother8]

I'm trying my hand at precision .223 rounds and am going for consisency and accuracy (good groups). I'm not trying to win any matches, but that may come later.

While measuring out 100 Hornandy 75gr FMJBT bullets, I'm seeing the following weight spread: 74.8, 74.9, 75, 75.1, 75.2, 75.3, and 75.4

Most are in the 74.9 - 75.2 range.

My questions are:

How finely do you guys seperate these? All the way to the tenth grain? Or is seperating 74.9, 75, and 75.1 together going to yield decent results?

Also, do SMK's have less a discrepancy in weight? THX

That weight spread will have zero effect on group size at short range. But once you have sorted them into batches, there is no reason not to load and shoot them by weight.

FMJ bullets are not built for accuracy. At the very least start with a good bullet. And for short range, a flat base bullet is better than a boat tail.

No, SMK's do not have a smaller weight spread. Berger has the most consistent bullet weights.

[grant22]

Thanks all for the replies.....very informative!

[damndave]

I world sort them by +/-.1

I was bored 1 day and sorted my 178gr A-Max bullets. they ranged from 177.6-178.2. The bulk of them were +/-.1 of 178gr though.

[Ahhnother8]

I was bored 1 day and sorted my 178gr A-Max bullets. they ranged from 177.6-178.2. The bulk of them were +/-.1 of 178gr though.

That is exceptional for any box of bullets. In a 500 round box, I typically see a 1 1/2+- grain spread in weight. Most are within 1/2 grain, but there are always a few oddballs out there. They are the ones I am looking to get rid of. Although I have fired them at the 1,000 and they go into the same group as the others. It's likely just a mental thing...

[30Cal]

That is a fodder bullet, so I wouldn't spend gobs of time trying to make it into a silk purse. Anything under a minute with fodder is pretty darned good, especially if you don't have to spend any real effort to get it.

I have a zillion of the old 173gr FMJBT "match" bullets in .308. The weights on those span a good 2.5grs. Sorting by weight did zilch. Sorting by how the base looks worked OK, but was way too much work to get results that still couldn't hold a candle to a Sierra Matchking.

If you want better results, I'd say start with better bullets.


Once you start into weighing components, I've always believed it's a waste of time if you're not shooting with wind flags.

[problemchild]

What matters more is the brass weight. Meaning the chamber size internally is smaller or larger which will give you higher or lower velocities. Weigh the brass and throw consistent charges that are the same and use BR primers.

[grant22]

@PC, I'll be looking into both of those. THX