Bullet Sorting

[MN50Shooter]

I'm new to the 6 BR scene and have questions about Sorting Bullets. With my 50 BMG I shoot "Turned" solid brass projectiles, so I never have a need to sort BTO. I do, weight sort them into .2 gr groups ie: 799.1-799.2 (one group) 799.3-799.4 (a group) and so on. I realize that given the 799+ gr bullets weight, .1 gr or .5 gr really is small in relation to it's percentage of bullet weight.

I'll be loading and shooting 107 gr SMK for my 6 BR, and as I began sorting by BTO there seems to be a varied range of measurements.

How do you guys separate the differences? Do you separate them by .001" each"

Do you separate by .1"-.2" groups? I hope I'm making sense, if not, please let me know. I'm trying to assure that depending on how I load my rounds, either jammed, or jumped, I'm looking for consistency, round to round.

Lastly, Do you also weight sort , after sorting by BTO,

Before,

or no weight sorting?

 

[johara1]

Base to ogive +- .0005 and bearing surface +- .0005...... jim

 

[WIB3]

BTO-.0005, WT-.002gr, diameter using a bushing.

 

[JFrank]

My tools aren’t as good as Jim’s
I measure.001 BBTO

 

[INShooter]

Question because I don't know. What tool(s) do you use to measure bearing surface on a bullet? Are you talking about diameter or length?

 

[Martin52]

Question because I don't know. What tool(s) do you use to measure bearing surface on a bullet? Are you talking about diameter or length?

Here's an example:

https://www.shootingshed.co.uk/oscom/product_info.php?cPath=27&products_id=56

 

[rwj]

My tools aren’t as good as Jim’s
I measure.001 BBTO

I used to sort in .001” increments... but quit when I couldn’t see the difference on the target with unsorted bullets. The total variation in a lot will vary, but the max I ever recorded was .005” in Berger 105s.

 

[zipollini]

Bryan Litz says -

 

[JMayo]

ogive to bt.
I wind up with 5-6 lines of bullets out of 50.
Berger is pretty consistent.
60,65,70,75,80,85 so I guess to the hundredths. Maybe a straggler on each end.
2 hornady #23 on calipers.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Youre going to need more bullets if you sort sierras

 

[Acsr]

Which brand base to ojive tool works the best for sorting for 600 & 1000 yard shooting?

 

[golong]

Question because I don't know. What tool(s) do you use to measure bearing surface on a bullet? Are you talking about diameter or length?

The least expensive 'accurate' tool that I am aware of is Holland's https://www.hollandguns.com/m7/H-GS-BC--hollands-gold-standard-bullet-comparator.html

I had a shop make bushings for me that make it a bit easier to measure. While I didn't have to pay for the bushings, I could have purchsed a few Holland's for what the Mitutoyo and the stand cost.

 

[Dgd6mm]

A Larry Willis gauge will double for a few tasks.

 

[6BRAckley]

@johara1 @WIB3

Would either or both of you mind sharing what tools you use for bullet measuring.

Thanks
JP

Base to ogive +- .0005 and bearing surface +- .0005...... jim

 

[paulT]

I sort BTO with the Sinclair dial indicator and bullet ogive insert and sort & batch withinn 1 thousands and weigh sort
At 600y with the 107gn pointed Matchkings shot a 1.4in vert 5 shot group with my 24in barrel .243 Blaser rifle those bullets Hammer.

 

[Mulligan]

BTO-.0005, WT-.002gr, diameter using a bushing.

.002gr. WOW!
Your scale didn’t come from the same store as my scale.....just saying.
CW

 

[6MMsteve]

does the bottom bushing capture the bullet to hold it perfectly straight.for the buisness end to set flat on the base.. or the ogive is captured and the bearing surface is held str by the bushing wall

 

[6MMsteve]

I can get that much variance by just turning the bullet 90 degrees. So why bother?

yes I think maybe sometimes the base of the bullet is not str.. maybe

 

[johara1]

Really Jim, 1/2 thousands separation?

Terry, +- is a total of .001...If you think that is too tight go +-.001 then you will have a total of .002... I have two piles with Barts,Roy Hunters and Sierra and few turds. So what is wrong with that? I shoot them all but the same pile for record rounds. It really doesn't matter as long as they are the same for your record rounds.... jim

 

[johara1]

Youre going to need more bullets if you sort sierras

You better rethink that statement, I just sorted 500 of them and they checkout about as good as a custom bullet...... jim