Bigger influence on accuracy?

[kyotekiller25]

Was just thinking this morning what has the bigger influence on accuracy in a given rifle, the powder or bullet? Can you make it shoot with what you want by changing 1 or the other? Or do you have to try 5 different powders and 5 different bullets to see what your rifle shoots best? Which got me thinking to the original point of which had the bigger influence, powder or bullet?

 

[C.E.Smith043]

Bullet

 

[bozo699]

Was just thinking this morning what has the bigger influence on accuracy in a given rifle, the powder or bullet? Can you make it shoot with what you want by changing 1 or the other? Or do you have to try 5 different powders and 5 different bullets to see what your rifle shoots best? Which got me thinking to the original point of which had the bigger influence, powder or bullet?

I think it’s a loaded question, no pun intended. You will get a 100 different answers. IMHO a
“Accurate “ rifle will shoot any acceptable combination well with of course some better than others. First you need a burn rate of powder conducive to the cartridge and a bullet conducive to your twist rate. A inaccurate rifle you need to try many combinations to find the optimal recipe.
Wayne

 

[Bronsin]

Bullet. Good bullets will shoot with a variety of powders. Bad bullets won't shoot no matter what you fill the case with. From a Benchrest perspective, would you rather have a 5 year supply of Superman bullets? Or a 5 year supply of powder? Yeah. Bullets .

 

[jds holler]

I think it’s a loaded question, no pun intended. You will get a 100 different answers.

Heck Bozo, he's only giving two options. Are we so crazy around here that we're gonna give him a hundred different answers??
Come to think-- you're prolly right.

I'm saying bullet. If it's a fit it will likely work with several different powders. The right powder ain't gonna make the wrong bullet a good one. jd

 

[CF Junkie]

Every barrel has its own preferences for bullets and powder.
I would say that the bullet probably has a slight edge.
Lots of inaccuracy comes from stock rigidity, and fit to the shooter.
But the biggest source of inaccuracy is the shooter's inability to set up the same way every time.
You see that every time you have 4 shots in a 5-round group together and one out. Some can't even get 4 together every group.
Hardly anyone every blames their lack of performance on themselves, but I believe it is the greatest source of inaccuracy.

But all my barrels have one thing that gets them in their accuracy zone sp I can find the bullet and powder combinations that work best, Optimum bullet time.
OBT is based upon barrel steel reflection speed and barrel length, and selecting the appropriate OBT is intended to minimize the vibration harmonics that cause barrel tip movement and get the barrel into its best performance area.
It can make a 0.090 to 0.100 difference in group size from one end of the spectrum to the other.
When you get the OBT right, the reloader can really see what the barrel can really do and pick the best powder and bullet for best performance.

 

[bozo699]

I think it’s a loaded question, no pun intended. You will get a 100 different answers.

Heck Bozo, he's only giving two options. Are we so crazy around here that we're gonna give him a hundred different answers??
Come to think-- you're prolly right.

I'm saying bullet. If it's a fit it will likely work with several different powders. The right powder ain't gonna make the wrong bullet a good one. jd

Haha yeah I know only two questions, should be one of two answers right?….. look at the comment after yours…… I would agree bullets probably no. 1 but…..getting a bag of popcorn…..
Wayne

 

[K22]

In my experience, it's the bullet.

However, like most things in this sport and in life, there are always exceptions.

 

[bozo699]

In my experience, it's the bullet.

However, like most things in this sport and in life, there are always exceptions.

Good answer buddy , agree
Wayne

 

[Doom]

No powder will fix a bad bullet. Powder depends. There are wrong powders that can ruin a good bullet.

 

[DShortt]

No powder will fix a bad bullet. Powder depends. There are wrong powders that can ruin a good bullet.

^^^^^^^

The OP is attempting to over-simplify a complex question.

There is no 1 powder that will shoot well with any bullet.

There is no 1 bullet that will shoot well with any powder.

Period.

Pick a proven bullet. Pick a proven powder. Both matched to the cartridge and barrel.

Best as it gets and that's still not a guarantee.

 

[bozo699]

^^^^^^^

The OP is attempting to over-simplify a complex question.

There is no 1 powder that will shoot well with any bullet.

There is no 1 bullet that will shoot well with any powder.

Period.

Pick a proven bullet. Pick a proven powder. Both matched to the cartridge and barrel.

Best as it gets and that's still not a guarantee.

^^^^^^^^
Wayne

 

[jds holler]

"what has the bigger influence on accuracy in a given rifle, the powder or bullet?"

Neither. It's all in the primer!!

 

[DShortt]

"what has the bigger influence on accuracy in a given rifle, the powder or bullet?"

Neither. It's all in the primer!!

Right.


I've a bridge to sell. Any one interested?

 

[RegionRat]

No powder will fix a bad bullet. Powder depends. There are wrong powders that can ruin a good bullet.

+1 agree with this, there are bad bullets that no powder will fix.

 

[GetReal]

Hhhhmmm...

In my experience... which Im sure someone will disagree.... the bullet is very important.... but going at the right velocity, to match the barrel harmonics, which is often a bi- product of the amount and burn rate of the powder.


So... yeah.....

 

[kyotekiller25]

This question came about mainly in part due to my new to me 6 BRA.

Using H4895 and 108g ELDMs I've experienced mediocre results. I have 3 other bullets on hand to try, 103g Daggers, 105g Hybrids, and 107g SMKs. I also have a few other powders, IMR4895, IMR8208XBR, N540, and H4350 I could try.

I am using CCI 450s also at the moment. Which also seem to be "the" go to primer for the BRA. But I do also have BR-4s and Rem 7.5s. However primers are not as important as the bullets/powder in my opinion.

I'd like to stick with H4895 in it since I just bought a keg and its not temp sensitive. Seems like H4895 or Varget are the best 2 powders for the BRA. So that leads me to believe that my rifle just might not care so much for the 108g ELDMs...It's shooting around 5/8 MOA at 100 yards for 10 shot groups. I know the cartridge is capable of doing twice as good as that from most of what I see and read however.

 

[jelenko]

What size groups? What rifle?

 

[kyotekiller25]

It's a Kelbly Atlas Tactical, 26" BRUX HV 8 twist, MPA BA/Hybrid chassy, TT Diamond set at 6 oz. Valdada Recon G2 5-30x56.

Hovers right around .3xx" for 3 shot groups and .7xx" for 10 shot groups at 100 yards with H4895 and 108g ELDMs from a bipod/rear bag. Shot 2 5 shot groups at 500 yards and they were around 3-3.5"

 

[jelenko]

To go from .3 MOA 5 shot groups to .7 10 shot groups seems like a lot. There's a lot of elevation in the 10 shot group and, to me, the top three and bottom one look like head position/pressure on the stock.