Bullet sorting??

So, a secondary question.....

If we sort all the bullets base to ogive, and they're all within .001, can we trust our seaters to make our cartridge base to ogive length to be uniform, or should I still be calipering every single one after seating???
 
Gunneegoogoo said:
So, a secondary question.....

If we sort all the bullets base to ogive, and they're all within .001, can we trust our seaters to make our cartridge base to ogive length to be uniform, or should I still be calipering every single one after seating???
Click to expand...

I just read a thread about this question. A guy tested 2 different bullets with .020 difference in base to ogive. He seated them with the same seating die and their base to ogive length was the same even though the bullets weren't the same length. The explanation was the variable is the amount of bullet held in the case neck. Hope that makes sense.
 
Gunneegoogoo said:
So, a secondary question.....

If we sort all the bullets base to ogive, and they're all within .001, can we trust our seaters to make our cartridge base to ogive length to be uniform, or should I still be calipering every single one after seating???
Click to expand...

There's another video that explains base to ogive seating well but I'll start with this. I have to find the other one.

Once you sort your bullets. Seat the bullets accordingly. Seat the first lot at your desired length. With the lot that you have at +0.001( longer base to ogive) dial the seater down -0.001 that way all you cartridges will be at the same seating depth.

That being said 0.001 is very insignificant IMO.

 
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Gunneegoogoo said:
So, a secondary question.....

If we sort all the bullets base to ogive, and they're all within .001, can we trust our seaters to make our cartridge base to ogive length to be uniform, or should I still be calipering every single one after seating???
Click to expand...

This is why proper neck prep is so important... if the neck tension is the same, bullets the same, seater working properly, the end result will be too close to worry about.

Seating pressure or the "feel" of seating the bullet is a great indicator if any rd is going to have a problem with OAL.

As mentioned before, some bullets are very touchy about distance to the lands. others care more about powder charge.

Seaters push somewhere other then the tip.... if they are functioning properly.

Jerry
 
Is there no standard for where they push?? If their isn't, and the ogive is different from bullet to bullet there won't be consistency....yes/no???
 
Use quality bullets and this is not as big a problem as you can imagine.

I would put more energy in your powder weight control then seating depth if using proper brass prep, dies and bullets.

Again, we can fixate on one spec and worry to death. If you feel you have a problem, test to prove what is necessary to remedy.

There really is no one answer for every possible bullet used in current competition. In fact, there are some new bullets no one has shot enough to know how to set up.

Start with 1 set of ingredients and learn what it will or will not do....Vary one parameter at a time... see the result, if any.

I know you want an all inclusive answer.... for every "fact", there will be an exception. All that matters is YOUR set up works for your rifle and from the looks of those groups, you have things well in hand.

Just to be even more interesting, as you experiment you will find the same result with two different approaches to load tuning.... fun fun fun.

Jerry
 
It feels overwhelming right now but give it a few years when you have leaned a great deal, thats when you will begin to realize how much more there is to learn ... Enjoy the journey and don't expect to learn it all at once, and people like ?Jerry and other are amazing sources of help ... As are searching through a lot of old threads - I have learned a great deal that way
 
i've been pleased with my first sorting attempt of .223 smk. just sorted all into .1 increments, lowest to highest. and shoot them in that order. most accurate i've ever managed in a slightly modded rem 700 xcr/tlr, is about .6 moa when i do my part. my thinking was that creating boxed of identical ammo is fine for competition, but for casual shootimg for groups as long as the chanes are gradual, you've practically eliminated any meaningful variance of poi.

my friends call it the "Laser". .002 jump off the lands, turned necks of win brass to .011, Cfe223 w/cci magnum primers.
 
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