Bullet weight

[singleshot54]

I’ve been reloading rifle cartridges for pert near 40 years. In that time I have read many articles on the subject of developing the best load for any given caliber that will yield the tightest groups with the maximum velocity at extreme long ranges. Most of these articles cover all the basic steps that need to be taken to develop this mythical load. Things like concentric necks, uniform flash holes, precise powder weight, and the list goes on. However, there is one element of the load that I’ve not read anything about and that is bullet weight. I preformed an experiment I bought 100 Sierra bullets in .243, .308, and .284 (7mm) and weighed each bullet. I was amazed at the variance of the bullet weights, as much as 3 grs in some cases. Does anyone have a references that would outline the effects bullet weight variance has on accuracy?

 

[alinwa]

My informal testing has shown bullet weight variance to be lost in the noise....down in the dirt as an accuracy variable. I've many times shot groups with bullets of different weights/brands/lots and had them go in the same hole. NO I'm not advocating mixing of any sort but IMO bullet weight variance is not much of a factor in the accuracy equation.

al

 

[JeffVN]

My experience this year has reflected that bearing length or as a default, base to ogive, is more important then weight between and among a group of bullets from teh same lot, e.g. 7mm Berger 180s, at least at the 600 and 1,000 yardlines in my 7WSM.

I perviously sorted by weight and then after reading a discussion hear and on another forum, decided to try sorting by base to ogive . (I didn't try sorting by both weight and then bearing surface but think that would be even more valuable if I had nothing but time to weigh and sort bullets). I found that the base to ogive sorted group of bullets gave me less vertical dispursion then did the weight only sorted group of bullets.

JeffVN