Custom bullets lot to lot variation

[Leadfarmer]

So before my 30BR was built I received 2 brands of 1,000 custom bullets. I pretty much flipped a coin and picked one. Both shoot amazingly well. Before my hip surgery in the fall I went to the range and burned through probably 400 of one brand. Now that I'm somewhat recovered from the surgery I'm going back to the range, and realize that I'm going to run out soon.

I understand that other variables come into play and I'll have to test it myself, but for the most part, with custom bullets do you find yourself having to tweak your load from lot to lot or are you good to go with little to no tweaking?

 

[RegionRat]

Are we discussing short range BR shooting, or some other kind?
In short range BR, the load can change from morning to lunch, to afternoon.

 

[Leadfarmer]

Are we discussing short range BR shooting, or some other kind?
In short range BR, the load can change from morning to lunch, to afternoon.

Short range BR, but I'm not competing other than against myself. However, I am shooting for smallest groups possible, and in my case I'd have to disagree. I've been at 34.7gr N130, .002 neck tension, and jammed .020, using Lapua brass and since finishing load development, I haven't touched anything and it shoots the same every outing. Mid .1s to low .2s with the occasional. 0s in between.

 

[Andy Work]

Mid .1s to low .2s with the occasional. 0s in between

Sounds like you don't need to change a thing with results like that.

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

But he is about to change bullet lots. Measure your current lot of bullets. Then measure the new lot. And test, you may get lucky.

Frank

 

[AlNyhus]

As long as the new lot of bullets come from the same point up die as your originals....you won't need to change a thing. There may be a few thou. difference in base-to-ogive but that won't alter your currently set seating depth.

Your bullet supplier can provide you with that info when you place your order.

Good shootin' -Al

 

[RegionRat]

Short range BR, but I'm not competing other than against myself. However, I am shooting for smallest groups possible, and in my case I'd have to disagree. I've been at 34.7gr N130, .002 neck tension, and jammed .020, using Lapua brass and since finishing load development, I haven't touched anything and it shoots the same every outing. Mid .1s to low .2s with the occasional. 0s in between.

With some luck, the next batch will run very close and you may or may not need to change a thing. A rig that can deliver in the ones and twos with any reliability, especially regardless of the conditions, should throw it's hat in the ring.... Not every barrel can do this, so why not try and compete?

What sends folks to the podiums and gets them into the BR Hall of Fame, is their ability to tune for conditions, and then stay in tune as those conditions change throughout the day. There are folks that are really good in wind, and then there are folks who are really good in calm, and then there are folks who can do it all. If your rig and recipe is "condition proof", then hang on tight cause that makes it exceptional.

 

[Ranger188]

I asked Bart S. this very question.
I had some bullets left from a batch and ordered some more
of the same bullet but a year+ later.
I asked if I could just put the 2 together, he said I wouldn't.
Could there be a slight difference, maybe, would it be enough to matter?
Test and verify.

 

[Northridge]

Nope, even if statically the same I would not is my finding… though I suppose it depends on what your goals are…

Shawn Williams

 

[RegionRat]

Not many folks have had to get their hands dirty making things from metals. Even fewer have had to participate in standards committees where material and ammo specifications get hammered out.

Keeping things "the same" is really difficult even if you control everything all the way back to the foundries, recyclers, or mines that dig up the raw materials.

When you order raw materials, or when you order jackets and lead wire, you only get so much control within the specifications. Dies and machines wear out and need to be replaced and maintained.

We put lots of effort into trying to maintain standards, but even then folks need to keep a perspective on real world tolerances and those raw materials.

So... There are many reasons a bullet can have batch to batch variations that are beyond the controls of the bullet makers, especially the cottage industry ones who rely upon the quality controls of their vendors.

I can state with confidence that there is no commercial bullet or custom bullet made, that is immune to the potential for a variation that can affect us.

The only thing keeping the variations minimized is the discipline of those folks who hold the lines, and the ethics of the companies or individuals who decide what ships and what doesn't.

When you see cheap bullets, or when you see expensive ones, there can be real reasons for those differences, or it can be greed. Even those very expensive ones are vulnerable to variations if the ethics of the producers are not high. Caveat Emptor

 

[steve210]

I always find a new jam number when i start a new lot of bullets, if nothing else it usually time to see if the throat has moved!

 

[jackieschmidt]

they Might vary a little in bas3 too give length, but in my experience, they will shoot just as before.

Before I started making my own 30’s, I used both BIB and Barts for years. I never had to change much of anything when going from one order to the next.

Kerp in mind, they make their bullets on the same dies all the time. Granted, if they have to remove the die from the press, or change something, there might be a slight variation in the base to ogive length, but it will essentially be the same bullet.

But, as others have said, do not mix lots just to be on the safe side.

 

[JMayo]

30br is easy. I shot straight through the season going through one bucket/bag to the next and never changed anything but maybe the ezell tuner a finger nail width.
I shoot 108's
(I've never shot any other)

 

[Link]

Al says it aint easy making the donughts. ;]