Why does this bullet shoot better than that one?

[Link]

Why does this bullet shoot better than that one in my barrel?
They are within 4 grain in weight, just a different manufacturer.
Is it my inability to tune or is it just that way? Should I keep trying?
thanks

 

[grovey]

Yes.

 

[BoydAllen]

When your rifle tells you what it prefers, you should listen and load accordingly.

 

[corsair4360]

Bullets rifles and cartridges are like people in some ways, each has their own preferences, and will let you know what they prefer.

If you have doubts about the results of your tests, get another shooter who you know is a good shooter to try the same loads in your rifle.

 

[dcali]

There is some science behind it but it’s mostly magic. At the end of the day, you just have to test bullets out. I hate to say “listen to your rifle” because it’s not a person and it makes me feel insane, but listen to your rifle.

That said, I almost never fail to find a load that will make a *high quality* bullet shoot. If you’re shooting poor quality (FMJ or mixed-lot match bullets, for example), you’ll probably never get it to shoot.

 

[243winxb]

Lead core spinning/loose in the jacket.
One has a pressure ring, the other doesnt..
A lower cost bullet may have skipped 1 finish forming die.

Let me think, i can make up a few more.

Not all lead cores are the same alloy/hardness.

Someone forgot to treat the copper jackets before inserting the lead core.

Keep trying? No. Bad bullets will never be accurate. Waste of powder & primers.

 

[topclass2017]

When your rifle tells you what it prefers, you should listen and load accordingly.

Just like people...some like chocolate ice cream some vanilla. And some you just can't make happy with anything less than gelato or sorbet.

 

[Twoboxer]

Why does this bullet shoot better than that one in my barrel?
They are within 4 grain in weight, just a different manufacturer.
Is it my inability to tune or is it just that way? Should I keep trying?
thanks

If you've never done it before, keep trying - you'll probably learn something for the future and it gives you practice that may also help.

Otherwise, you found the right bullet - just pay attention to your rifle, nod slowly, and say "Yes, dear".

 

[Ned Ludd]

This bullet is like the baby bear's pudding in the tale of Goldilocks...it's just right. That bullet is like the mama and papa bears' pudding (too cold, too hot).

Sometimes what we observe makes about as much sense as a fairy tale, but you go with what works best, regardless of whether you understand exactly why.

 

[Nightraider]

It's all about tuning.
- powder node
- tuning seating depth at distance

Some bullets will be easier than others due to throat angles/ bullet design/ ect. But all can be made to shoot if you know what you're looking for.

 

[T-shooter]

This looks like a joke but is real. I was working a load in my AR with 75 grain bullets. The AR is a 5.56 chambered Palmetto kit with 16" non-floated barrel. I fired 5 of a different load from a bench (top left) and then the 75's. It looks like a shotgun pattern. Usually each time I dropped the powder charge, it grouped a little better. Below is a 10 shot group shot a different day (with one bad flier) using Sierra 69 grain M/K's and 25.3 grains of Varget.

 

[46and2]

This looks like a joke but is real. I was working a load in my AR with 75 grain bullets. The AR is a 5.56 chambered Palmetto kit with 16" non-floated barrel. I fired 5 of a different load from a bench (top left) and then the 75's. It looks like a shotgun pattern. Usually each time I dropped the powder charge, it grouped a little better. Below is a 10 shot group shot a different day (with one bad flier) using Sierra 69 grain M/K's and 25.3 grains of Varget.

View attachment 1114018
View attachment 1114020

I like it.
Hopefully that is repeatable.

 

[Bbear]

On my 223 rifle, I was bound and determined to shoot the 64gr BSB in my bolt gun. After 6 different powders and a little tweaking of the seating depth, I pulled off this group at 400 yards:

Best thing is it is REPEATABLE!

 

[mike a]

There is some science behind it but it’s mostly magic. At the end of the day, you just have to test bullets out. I hate to say “listen to your rifle” because it’s not a person and it makes me feel insane, but listen to your rifle.

That said, I almost never fail to find a load that will make a *high quality* bullet shoot. If you’re shooting poor quality (FMJ or mixed-lot match bullets, for example), you’ll probably never get it to shoot.

I agree. I've found I can make most any GOOD bullet shoot. When I buy a new barrel I buy 500 good bullets and almost always find a good load well within the first 50. I can't understated people that buy 500, 5 boxes of different bullets. What a pain in the azz. A good bullet with light neck tension, the right charge and seat depth will shoot. Mike.

 

[Jaszq]

I agree. I've found I can make most any GOOD bullet shoot. When I buy a new barrel I buy 500 good bullets and almost always find a good load well within the first 50. I can't understated people that buy 500, 5 boxes of different bullets. What a pain in the azz. A good bullet with light neck tension, the right charge and seat depth will shoot. Mike.

 

[msinc]

Bullets are like women.....if the one you have aint doin' what you want you need to swap her out for the one that does!!!! Life's too short to "hope" what you got will turn into what you want/need.

 

[Jaszq]

This is how: A person buys one box of 100 and tests them. After 50 shots figures out a sweat spot. hunts with another 25, decides to reload another 200 for the next season, goes back to the shop, "sorry, manufacturer stopped making those" (Sierra Spitzer point 180gr 30 CAL).

"But try these, they are just as good..."
Develop another load for those, go back to shop straight after confirming they are good. Shop:
"sorry, COVID , out of stock, but try these they are just as good.....".
So as not to get caught out again the person buys 300 this time. Goes to the range, and the bullets shoot like crap.

Does a Google search and arrives at this thread puzzled as to why, and now realizes he has 260 bullets his rifle is unhappy about and he needs to try sell, plus multiple 1/4 boxes of bullets his gun likes.

Repeat all of the above with powder.

 

[Dwayne Cyr]

True story, 2009 my first 6ppc. Shot 500 custom hand swaged 66 grain BR bullets trying to get it to group. It was horrible. Both the barrel maker and my gunsmith recommended trying a different bullet. Gunsmith sent me 500 68 grain Ultras. Immediately the gun started shooting like 6 ppc. It would agg low .2's at my home range and won some wood. That particular barrel hated the first bullet and loved the second one.
"Barrels have preferences."

 

[mikecr]

Bullets are pretty good investments.
Not like they're hard to sell off when they just don't work as well -for you. They'll work for someone else.

Given this, once I develop a good load, I buy enough in same lot for my expected accurate barrel life (for each barrel).
It's been around~2,000 bullets and enough primers and powder and cases for each barrel.

I'm not a gun hoarder, so once in a while I'll consolidate guns & ammo for a new project.
It's been no problem to sell off when I do.
But with shortages upon us, I've had to stop with that for now...

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Way too many variables trying to figure one out. The gun may not like that bullet or that bullet may not like that powder, gun may not like that powder... see where this is going? Its a vicious circle that never seems to end and soon the barrel is shot out. I have been down that rabbit hole many times and it still frustrates me all the time.