Sorting Bullets by weight?

[xswanted]

I just sorted some Bergers by weight...

Got a bunch at 105, a bunch at 105.1 and four at 104.9

Shooting these out of a Dasher at 600 yards how much is this going to make a difference in POI or consistency??

Any?

 

[Roarke]

Case volume variance, powder charge variance, primer ignition variance, neck tension variance - all of these will most likely have significantly more effect on muzzle velocity than your 0.06% variance in bullet mass. For comparison, a 0.06% change in muzzle velocity from a nominal speed of 2800fps equates to 1.68fps.

Another answer to your question: Because of all of the other variables which are also involved in the muzzle velocity issue, which is really what you're asking, I don't think you resolve the difference due to the bullet weight variation.

 

[xswanted]

Thats kind of what I was thinking. I've heard of guys doing it but for the little bit of variance in weight it doesn't seem like that big of deal.

 

[Erik Cortina]

The reason to sort bullets by weight is not to make things more consistent, but to find the one bullet that is way off.

 

[memilanuk]

yep... most of the guys I know that weigh bullets aren't doing it to 'batch' them, but to catch the outliers. Save those for foulers, etc. Otherwise... 104.9-105.0-105.1 you'll probably never be able to tell the difference. If you find a rogue that is more like 106... that might be a different story.

 

[d.id]

I only do it to "hunting" bullets because they tend to stray quite a bit more. Bergers and Sierras do not stray enough in weight to matter.

 

[bozo699]

The reason to sort bullets by weight is not to make things more consistent, but to find the one bullet that is way off.

Spot on Erik, it's why I weigh and why I measure.
Wayne.

 

[Scott Harris]

The reason to sort bullets by weight is not to make things more consistent, but to find the one bullet that is way off.

So, Erik, I have not weighed a lot of bullets. How often do you find big outliers? Berger, Hornady, Sierra?

 

[Steve Wilson]

I have weight sorted about a 1000 Berger 105 Hybrids, 100 at a time. The results have always been the same; around 45 will weigh 105.0, 45 will weigh 105.1, a few will be 104.9 and the other few will be 105.2.

For what it's worth.

 

[40X Guy]

I was sorting bullets by weight but have quit weighing the 105 Hybrids. They are all within + or - .1of 105 grains. I only sort the Hybrids by bearing surface going on the assumption that they will kind of even out weight wise by sorting bearing surfaces.

I still sort Sierra MK's by weight and then sort by bearing surface. You will have some way out of whack in a batch of Sierras. I have seen differences of up to .009 in bearing surface from the norm and also up to .6 grain in weight. A certain flyer on your target.

Frank

 

[Shynloco]

The reason to sort bullets by weight is not to make things more consistent, but to find the one bullet that is way off.

So, Erik, I have not weighed a lot of bullets. How often do you find big outliers? Berger, Hornady, Sierra?

If I might add, I've personally encountered situations where a bullet was not off by .01 -.03, its been where a bullet of a higher or lower weight somehow found it's way into a package box - i.e.box of 168 gr having a 165 gr bullet, a box of 52 gr bullet having a 69 gr bullet, etc. Hasn't happened but a very few times, but if you don't catch it right away, you could be a candidate for the infamous flier. Thats why when I'm seating bullets, each bullet I pull out of the box finds it's way first to my electronic scale and then to the neck of the powder loaded casing for seating. And if you are REALLY anal like me, you try and group your bullets together by pure weight and shooting them in weight order...ie. 142 gr bullet...142.0, 142.1, 142.2, 142.3...think you get the picture.

 

[CaptainMal]

I do not sort my 105 Bergers. Did check and agree there is a variation but it is quite small.

Yesterday I was in a 600 yard gong shoot, doing perfect and then missed, hitting the gong stem high. Guys near me said things did not sound right. I heard no difference but did see the high hit. Something was different on that one shot.

Let's see - primer, powder, case or bullet???

Can't hurt to check if you have the time. My thought is it's not worth the time but each of us is different.

 

[xswanted]

Thank you gentlemen!