Shifting cannelure position?

[OldNewGuy]

G'day, all. Got a "possibly" stupid question.

Has anybody else ever encountered reloading bullets where the cannelure is in a very slightly different position on some bullets vs. others?

I just opened up a new box of Hornady #4300 265grain JFP's, to reload for my 444 Marlin, this morning. Had the 3rd stage die all set up for seating depth and crimping, and punching them out. After each final stage, I have gotten into the habit of checking the crimp by running my fingernail over the finished cartridge. If it is a pretty smooth transition from brass to bullet, I'm good to go. Frankly, I've not encountered any times where I felt concerned before now.

Today, about halfway through a run of 20 pieces, I started to feel my fingernail catch in the transition. Had a look under the magnifier and sure enough the cannelure groove was far more evident than normal, and certainly more of it appearing above the crimped area than in the previous 10 or 11. I started checking the brass length (I'd trimmed them all to 2.215" before starting, but did a double check with the digital calipers) and they were all exactly the same. Then I placed several bullets side-by-side on the bench and looked at the height of the cannelures. Sure enough, there was variation - it seemed that a very few had between 1/2 the width of the groove to 5/8 the width of the groove difference - higher up the bullet towards the flat point.

These were all out of the same new box, and as noted each case was trimmed and checked before starting (after decapping and F/L sizing).

So, anybody else ever encountered this?

Any suggestions on how to handle -with the price of these bullets (depending on place of purchase, up to $55/100, so they ain't cheap) I don't want to just shrug it off, go "oh well" and toss 'em. Or do the hassle of sorting them all to try to get a constant cannelure positon.

Feedback appreciated.

O.N.G.

 

[Kaboomstick]

I'd sort them and see where it gets you. If they were all made on the same machine, then likely only a few are out due to some malfunction of the production equipment.

Then write the manufacturer a letter...try for a free box...lol.

 

[Seeker2]

i have notice the same thing on hornday .22 cal 55r fmj bullets. The cannelure shifts quite significantly from bullet to bullet. I setup the crimp to go as close to the middle of the cannelure as possible and have never had enough variation that the crimp was outside the top or bottom of the cannelure.

On a side note, i've never had much luck with hornady components of any type, in terms of both consistency lot to lot (or same box for that matter) for brass and bullets. I like the lowish price of Hornady bullets but have never had any success getting a tack driving load from them over multiple guns and calibres. The 55r FMJs are great for plinking in an AR, but for any type of precision Sierra seems to have the cost vs accuracy thing down.

 

[Longwalker]

Hornady is typical of the cheapest sort of American manufacturing. Their bullets are made cheaply, just not priced to match. I have had several issues with Hornady quality control, so I only use them for non-critical applications like plinking loads. I have never had problems with Sierra, Nosler or any of the better European bullet brands.

 

[Ganderite]

In the popular calibers, the manufacturer has multiple machines making cases and bullets and multiple machines loading the ammo. As a result there are variation in the bullets and in the cases due to coming from different machines.

Match ammo is made differently.

 

[OldNewGuy]

i have notice the same thing on hornday .22 cal 55r fmj bullets. The cannelure shifts quite significantly from bullet to bullet. I setup the crimp to go as close to the middle of the cannelure as possible and have never had enough variation that the crimp was outside the top or bottom of the cannelure.

On a side note, i've never had much luck with hornady components of any type, in terms of both consistency lot to lot (or same box for that matter) for brass and bullets. I like the lowish price of Hornady bullets but have never had any success getting a tack driving load from them over multiple guns and calibres. The 55r FMJs are great for plinking in an AR, but for any type of precision Sierra seems to have the cost vs accuracy thing down.

Seeker, agree with you on the quality of the Hornady components (although their Lock n Load progressive press does well for me). Unfortunately, they are pretty much the only common source of .430/265 Grain Jacketed Flats that work in my Marlin 444. Their LeverEvolution stuff doesn't work with the Microgroove rifling in my barrel, I've tried the factory LE stuff and it jams on feed with 2 out of 3 round. Gotta say, when the 265 JFP's are made right, they do the job just fine - this is the first time I've run into this problem, and by the sound of it (your information) you've seen it too. At least I know it isn't just my imagination.

You've got me thinking, though, on the 55 Grain. I just picked up some of their Varmint 55Gr rounds for my new 'yote rifle T3 22-250, so I'll have a look through that box too and maybe mike the cannelure depth before I start.

O.N.G.

 

[RonR]

OP, apologies, I don't have anything to offer regarding cannalure variation but second this below...

On a side note, i've never had much luck with hornady components of any type, in terms of both consistency lot to lot (or same box for that matter) for brass and bullets. I like the lowish price of Hornady bullets but have never had any success getting a tack driving load from them over multiple guns and calibres. The 55r FMJs are great for plinking in an AR, but for any type of precision Sierra seems to have the cost vs accuracy thing down.

Hornady is typical of the cheapest sort of American manufacturing. Their bullets are made cheaply, just not priced to match. I have had several issues with Hornady quality control, so I only use them for non-critical applications like plinking loads. I have never had problems with Sierra, Nosler or any of the better European bullet brands.

In the popular calibers, the manufacturer has multiple machines making cases and bullets and multiple machines loading the ammo. As a result there are variation in the bullets and in the cases due to coming from different machines.

Match ammo is made differently.

Ganderite says it best I think. Perhaps we're asking too much of large volume production to have consistent lot to lot? But as above, in my case hornady product has shot remarkably well but won't buy it again, Sierra seems to have it figured out the cost/quality ratio as equal or better for range time. If it's a hunting application, I don't use either.

No disrespect to the SST fans.

Regards
Ronr