.22 bullet accuracy

R

Robertra

Guest
have being doing some testing on eley match rim thickness wieght is has now being brought to my attention the idea of air bubbles in the lead could cause the bullet to become unstable thus affecting accuracy is this true if so has anyone got ideas as how to check for this
 
shoot it, if it's in the x ring it was free of air bubbles. outside the x ring contact eley and complain.
 
thats not the good advice and coment ive come to know and love but thanks anyway
 
.22 bullet accuracy (air in the bullet)

Robertra,
The idea of any bullet having air in it, is possible, and if significant, could cause the bullet to rotate erratically. BTW: My guess is Martin may have meant "it is not likely, and especially in premium grade ammo," with which I would concur.
Testing, without some fancy lab equipment for air pockets in a lead projectile is difficult at best. I could only suggest, if you very carefully sliced some bullets (in a way which does do not deform the lead), you could then inspect them under a magnifying glass for air pockets.
Many years ago, I did exactly that with good Eley ammo (Benchrest GOLD), and found nothing I could see, even under a magnifying glass.
Bullets out of round might be a more likely source of errant trajectories. But my guess is that in the very best ammo today from Lapua and Eley, you will find the bullets have been cast, pressed, and coated into extremely uniform shapes. Then again, you have probably read and seen that all ammo has some 'flyers', and no one knows why, unless the shell burst or had a faulty load of powder, which can be heard. Was it the shooter, the barrel, the firing pin, the ammo, the rest, the wind, the scope, or what?
Sorry that I can give you no definitive way to test your theory. But maybe others have found ways, and will offer positive suggestions. Doug Miller
 
Thanks for your reply doug i only ask the question as it was mentioned to me, i dont have faith in this theory as i reckon that any bubbles in the lead would be burnt off or pressed out durring manufactur,but i didnt want to dismiss the idea alltogether
regards

robbie
 
Robertra,

It certainly is a valid question. Let's face it, Center Fire Shooters have always paid a premium for bullets which are "perfectly cast, shaped, and balanced." In the rimfire business, we have to hunt for ammo, and find out which brand and lots shoot in each of our guns. The best benchrest . 22 guns are so well made today, that once a good lot is found, and the gun is tuned to it, the shooters will rapidly buy what they need for the season (or more, if they are ammo hounds).
This is only a guess, but I personally doubt air pockets are a problem in premium rimfire ammo. In the same vane, you may have read many threads or questions about weighing ammo, and measuring rim thickness. For those of us who did that many years ago, (I believe) we virtually all found it was a waste of time, when performed on the premium grade ammo available in the past 10 to 15 years.

Then again, no ammo lots, nor any bullets, are perfect.

All questions are valid to ask and to follow up with, using any testing one can imagine. This forum is a great place to find people who have done most of the leg work. Never done. That is why new guns, ammo, stocks, rests, tuners, etc. present themselves every day.

As they say, there are no bad questions, only bad answers. Best wishes, and kindly advise if you do find anything about a lack of quality in premium grade ammo bullets. Doug Miller
 
I don't know for a fact but I would expect that 22 lead is swaged and not cast.

Al Kunard
 
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