Bullet Measurements?
- Thread starter RustyPin
- Start date
I realize your concern but why not try the bullets that you want to use even though some may be a little crowding.
If I don't have a compressed situation plus do have a good twist I go for it.
Ned Ludd
Silver $$ Contributor
Berger is one of the few (if not the only) company that provides such detailed dimensional and ballistic information on their products. I guess they must want shooters to buy and use them. Without such details, it is often difficult to determine whether a new bullet will work well in a barrel with a specific twist rate and/or chamber dimensions (i.e. freebore).
Perhaps one of the most useful resources I own is Bryan Litz's "Ballistic Performance of Rifle Bullets" (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079YY7DLV/?tag=accuratescom-20), which contains independent measurements for bullets from a large number of different manufacturers. The downside is that such a book will rarely contain information about the very latest bullet offerings. I recently purchased the 3rd Ed. to replace my previous copy and Berger has already released several new bullets that are not listed in it. Fortunately, Berger already supplies users with that information.
Perhaps one of the most useful resources I own is Bryan Litz's "Ballistic Performance of Rifle Bullets" (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079YY7DLV/?tag=accuratescom-20), which contains independent measurements for bullets from a large number of different manufacturers. The downside is that such a book will rarely contain information about the very latest bullet offerings. I recently purchased the 3rd Ed. to replace my previous copy and Berger has already released several new bullets that are not listed in it. Fortunately, Berger already supplies users with that information.
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RussellJ
Gold $$ Contributor
+1 on Bryan Lutz book Ballistic Performance of Rifle Bullets. I believe the 2nd edition is the latest book.
What bullet are you looking for specifically and I will post the measurements on it
No I have the third volume
DaveTooley
Gold $$ Contributor
Bullets are not like oil filters. The same bullet will vary some during the course of a production run.
DaveTooley
Gold $$ Contributor
With each set of new dies all the bullets will be as designed. Or at least within a few millionths. But as the dies age the bullets change slightly. So there are no two bullets exactly the same.
dcali
Bullet Maker
The differences in the Litz book vs Berger's data sheet are not slight manufacturing tolerance differences.
For example - the Berger Juggernaut.
Length
Berger: 1.344
Litz:1.351
Bearing Surface
Berger: .336
Litz: .403
Boattail Length
Berger: .221
Litz: .194
Nose Length
Berger: .787
Litz: .736
Berger describes the Juggernaut as a hybrid ogive. Litz lists it as a secant.
Those are two totally different bullets to my eyes.
I believe that the earlier numbers in the Litz book were hand measured. They may have switched to an optical comparator at some point (I can't recall), but it would explain some of the differences. In any case, neither source should be considered definitive in my view.
Edit: I just noticed that Berger's website has a third set of numbers, different from their own quick reference guide. These do look more like manufacturing differences (relative to the QRG):
OAL
1.355
Nose Length
0.789
Bearing Surface
0.343
Boat Tail Length
0.223
For example - the Berger Juggernaut.
Length
Berger: 1.344
Litz:1.351
Bearing Surface
Berger: .336
Litz: .403
Boattail Length
Berger: .221
Litz: .194
Nose Length
Berger: .787
Litz: .736
Berger describes the Juggernaut as a hybrid ogive. Litz lists it as a secant.
Those are two totally different bullets to my eyes.
I believe that the earlier numbers in the Litz book were hand measured. They may have switched to an optical comparator at some point (I can't recall), but it would explain some of the differences. In any case, neither source should be considered definitive in my view.
Edit: I just noticed that Berger's website has a third set of numbers, different from their own quick reference guide. These do look more like manufacturing differences (relative to the QRG):
OAL
1.355
Nose Length
0.789
Bearing Surface
0.343
Boat Tail Length
0.223
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I’m curious as to the uniformity of the tools used to measure with.
DaveTooley
Gold $$ Contributor
I have faith that the bullet manufactures can and do monitor production tolerances. They have to. There are plus and minus tolerances like anything else. The acid test is in the tunnel. How do they shoot. What I've seen the tools are simple and durable. Take for example boat tail punches. The cavity in the punch is cut and freshened up with form cutter which is ground tool steel. Very easy to duplicate. I've seen score cards attached to a bullet press where the goal was 3 million bullets. There are a lot of changes during a run that large. Dies, punches, even the lots of jackets used will vary slightly and then require slight changes on the press. The core seating die will get bigger. The point up die will change size and shape to a point where it's taken out of service. Your box of 100 or 500 will all be the same but 200,000 bullets later there will be a slight differences between them.
If you're in the area after this Covid thing passes schedule a visit with either Sierra or Hornady and see for yourself. It's well orchestrated chaos.
Here's a bit of propaganda from Sierra. Not much detail but you can see how the jacket and core are made.
If you're in the area after this Covid thing passes schedule a visit with either Sierra or Hornady and see for yourself. It's well orchestrated chaos.
Here's a bit of propaganda from Sierra. Not much detail but you can see how the jacket and core are made.
DaveTooley
Gold $$ Contributor
This from the company that makes most of the presses used in the industry. Some good videos.
http://www.waterburyfarrel.com/company/video-gallery#BulletAssemblyMachine
http://www.waterburyfarrel.com/company/video-gallery#BulletAssemblyMachine
Hand swaged bullets, will vary FAR less, both within a LOT, and from Lot-to-Lot, than will mass produced fodder - it's very unlikely that the maker of hand-made bullets will wear out a set of carbide dies in a full life-time . . . now, ruining a die is a different topic . . . 
RG
RGSimilar threads
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