I finally purchased a Concentricity gauge from Sinclair. I was both pleasantly and unpleasantly surprised by my initial examination of my reloads. All measurements were taken from loaded rounds. I measured a random sample.
308 the same seater was used. Lee seater was new.
308 Nosler 168 grn Custom Comps - Lee neck size collet die - neck runout < 1 thou and bullet runout = 2 thou max.
308 Nosler 168 grn Custom Comps - Lee full Length die - neck runout < 2 thou and bullet runout 2 thou max.
This is too good and I started to think the Chinese clock that came with the gauge must be suspect. My old Tool Making mentors would be turning over.
Anyways onwards and upwards. So I start measuring my 223 loaded rounds. Again same seater was used. Redding seater was cleaned.
223 Sierra 69 grain SMKs- redding neck die - neck runout around 4 to 5 thou. Bullet runnout = easy 8 thou.
223 Nosler 52 grain boat tail - Lee full length die - perhaps a thou or so improvement on the Redding die.
I'm not sure if 8 thou runnout should mean much to a guy shooting cheap savage rifles but the 308 results showed me I should be able to get a lot better.
I believe I am correct in saying I have to start measuring concentricity at each stage, from the fired formed brass onwards, but I would welcome any insight comments, good, bad and indifferent that might help me improve my grouping consistency.
308 the same seater was used. Lee seater was new.
308 Nosler 168 grn Custom Comps - Lee neck size collet die - neck runout < 1 thou and bullet runout = 2 thou max.
308 Nosler 168 grn Custom Comps - Lee full Length die - neck runout < 2 thou and bullet runout 2 thou max.
This is too good and I started to think the Chinese clock that came with the gauge must be suspect. My old Tool Making mentors would be turning over.
Anyways onwards and upwards. So I start measuring my 223 loaded rounds. Again same seater was used. Redding seater was cleaned.
223 Sierra 69 grain SMKs- redding neck die - neck runout around 4 to 5 thou. Bullet runnout = easy 8 thou.
223 Nosler 52 grain boat tail - Lee full length die - perhaps a thou or so improvement on the Redding die.
I'm not sure if 8 thou runnout should mean much to a guy shooting cheap savage rifles but the 308 results showed me I should be able to get a lot better.
I believe I am correct in saying I have to start measuring concentricity at each stage, from the fired formed brass onwards, but I would welcome any insight comments, good, bad and indifferent that might help me improve my grouping consistency.
