Bullets sorted, how to group them?

[Field_2_Fork]

While watching tv over the past few nights I sorted almost 800 bullets - 87gr Berger VLDH, base to ogive. The bullets were 3 different lots, so I figured sorting them out might help.

The measurements spanned about 10 thou, I'm trying to decide how to divide these up.

My thoughts are to break it up into 4 groups:
- the 1st and 4th group are the outliers totalling 49 bullets, these would be used as foulers
- the 2nd group (0.491 - 0.493) totals 415 rounds
- the 3rd group (0.494 - 0.496) makes up the remaining 274

Does a 3 thou variance seem like a good way to bundle these bullets? They will be shot from my Tikka M55 .243 for short range BR, 100 - 300 yards.

 

[Falfan2017]

Id just keep groups 5, 6 and 7 as record rounds and everything else as sighter/ fouler

 

[TylerFromMS]

I'd mix them back up and re-sort to make sure the ratios stayed the same.

 

[JFrank]

In your opinion what is the best TV program while bullet sorting ?
For myself an old western seems to help.

 

[JEFFPPC]

To me, 170 bullets out of 500 that don't fall with in plus or minus .001 of the mean number is why I no longer shoot Bergers. So SPJ I guess you can't be talked into weighing primers , lol.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Spend a couple of winter afternoons weighing primers and you will wish for one of those Indians to put you out of your misery.

 

[GLShooter]

In your opinion what is the best TV program while bullet sorting ?
For myself an old western seems to help.

I watch Bullitt..lol The original Fast and Furious.

Greg

 

[Phys86]

I didn't realize there was that much variance in Bergers. How does Sierra match king compare?

 

[Field_2_Fork]

In your opinion what is the best TV program while bullet sorting ?
For myself an old western seems to help.

This week it was largely Big Brother, thank goodness it's finally over. Now my wife is on the hunt for something else...

 

[Field_2_Fork]

I didn't realize there was that much variance in Bergers. How does Sierra match king compare?

To be fair, these are VLD hunt, not match bullets. I imagine that plays a role. I'm new to BR and bought what I could find.

 

[Field_2_Fork]

Id just keep groups 5, 6 and 7 as record rounds and everything else as sighter/ fouler

Would you shoot them as separate groups (5,6,7) or dump them all together. Seems silly now that I've typed that, keep them separate I'm sure.

 

[Falfan2017]

Would you shoot them as separate groups (5,6,7) or dump them all together. Seems silly now that I've typed that, keep them separate I'm sure.

I don’t do short range so I don’t know maybe you could see the difference in shortrange but I wouldn’t worry about segregating them by 1 thousandths and just shoot ‘em all together.
I stopped sorting my f class bullets all together and haven’t noticed any ill effects.

Also as you get deeper into benchrest custom bullets might make sense. Good customs should be a whole lot more consistent than those that you’re measuring.

 

[Fuj]

I usually have tunes playing in the back ground, Favorite
is a Canadian Station playing underground from the early
70's. TV is too distracting.

 

[Field_2_Fork]

I don’t do short range so I don’t know maybe you could see the difference in shortrange but I wouldn’t worry about segregating them by 1 thousandths and just shoot ‘em all together.
I stopped sorting my f class bullets all together and haven’t noticed any ill effects.

Also as you get deeper into benchrest custom bullets might make sense. Good customs should be a whole lot more consistent than those that you’re measuring.

Thanks. Yes, I just bought 250 custom bullets I also measured them to compare, I don't remember the exact count but they were all the same BTO except for about 5 were .001 different. I was very impressed with that.

I'll shoot those in my Rem 600 6x47, accurate little rifle got me a 725/800 15X this year.

 

[Jennb]

Never mix different lots

 

[rwj]

To me, 170 bullets out of 500 that don't fall with in plus or minus .001 of the mean number is why I no longer shoot Bergers.

As I’ve not yet ventured into the custom bullet world…

• Whose bullets are you using?
• What is their BTO lot variation?
• Cost relative to Berger/Sierra for similar weight/profile?

 

[CharlieNC]

Shoot several each of the lightest and heaviest against those in the middle to find out it the point of impact changes.

 

[JEFFPPC]

As I’ve not yet ventured into the custom bullet world…

• Whose bullets are you using?
• What is their BTO lot variation?
• Cost relative to Berger/Sierra for similar weight/profile?ty

I have found certain bullets in a given brand measure better than others and of course vary by lot. Picke a bullet you think might work fo you, buy a 100 and sort. If they suit try to buy more of the same lot. If your not shooting competition it might all be a mute point. What is your interest and what is your equipment?

 

[wbm]

I have always put the pointy ends up.

 

[RegionRat]

If you took the 15 from each tail on that sort, and shot them round robin into two groups, and found a difference, then you would have to decide how much further to keep testing.

If you shot that test and didn't find a difference, then you still know something for the trouble.

In for the range report.