Bullets sorted, how to group them?

[Field_2_Fork]

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.

Good thinking. And honestly, my equipment and skills at this point are likely more of a problem than bullet variations.

 

[RegionRat]

Good thinking. And honestly, my equipment and skills at this point are likely more of a problem than bullet variations.

Do your best to try and keep a balance of the issues.

When starting out, it is okay to spend some time exploring what variables are strong effects and which ones are weak.

If the shooter is the weakest link in the system, then make sure the gun and ammo are good enough for feedback and work on the shooter. You will know when it is time to sort components if you are being honest with yourself.

(A decent adult airgun or match rimfire rifle is worth the trouble. It can get you past debugging the fundamentals, if you didn't already have those while growing up.)

 

[Field_2_Fork]

Do your best to try and keep a balance of the issues.

When starting out, it is okay to spend some time exploring what variables are strong effects and which ones are weak.

If the shooter is the weakest link in the system, then make sure the gun and ammo are good enough for feedback and work on the shooter. You will know when it is time to sort components if you are being honest with yourself.

(A decent adult airgun or match rimfire rifle is worth the trouble. It can get you past debugging the fundamentals, if you didn't already have those while growing up.)

Some sage advise. Thank you.

 

[JohnKielly]

Competent handloading is the punishment doled out for being a shooter, so I try not to think of extra steps to take.

Seriously, the best shortcut I found was that the particular Bergers I use have a correlation between base to ogive & overall length. Therefore I don't measure the former any more, just batch my bullets as I meplat trim them in my Wilson rig. That way, I get the point I want for my 1200 yard shooting and with little extra effort can eyeball the bullets into BTO batches.

 

[wkdickinson]

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.

View attachment 1283022

I did a Base to Ogive study on 211 Berger 105 Hybrids from the same lot. Here are my findings:


I was shocked! Yes, 97% were within +/- .002, but what about the 6 that were out by .009 to .025? Those are likely the ones that cause the WTF shots. I've been buying Berger's because I thought they were supposed to be more precise - apparently not.

 

[rwj]

I did a Base to Ogive study on 211 Berger 105 Hybrids from the same lot. Here are my findings:
View attachment 1283187

I was shocked! Yes, 97% were within +/- .002, but what about the 6 that were out by .009 to .025? Those are likely the ones that cause the WTF shots. I've been buying Berger's because I thought they were supposed to be more precise - apparently not.

Would you be so kind as to report back if the outliers group differently on the target?

 

[1885Winman4590]

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

Tyler evil eh!

 

[wkdickinson]

Would you be so kind as to report back if the outliers group differently on the target?

Sorry, but I used them as "fouling" rounds and didn't pay any attention. In retrospect, probably a mistake on my part, missing the opportunity to better understand the effect CBTO has.