Sorting "custom " projectiles?

[TommyD11730]

Perhaps custom is the wrong term? Im talking about bullets that don't come in a yellow, green or red box.

So do you sort your say BIBs, Barts etc?

Thanks

 

[Straightshooter1]

Trust, but verify.

 

[jelenko]

If you have to sort, then why not pay less for a Berger and sort those?

As mentioned, even with 'custom' bullets, always good to verify via a sample

 

[TommyD11730]

Trust, but verify.

Love this!

 

[TommyD11730]

If you have to sort, then why not pay less for a Berger and sort those?

As mentioned, even with 'custom' bullets, always good to verify via a sample

Last lot of Bergers was .020 on avg shorter than the last lot. Yes I sort my yellow boxes.

The 500 Barts I just purchased were only Pennies more than the Bergers.

Im asking this question because there are far more experienced shooters/handloaders than I. So im interested in what others are doing/seeing. Sadly there are No local shooters I can talk with.

 

[Bill Norris]

Last lot of Bergers was .020 on avg shorter than the last lot. Yes I sort my yellow boxes.

The 500 Barts I just purchased were only Pennies more than the Bergers.

Im asking this question because there are far more experienced shooters/handloaders than I. So im interested in what others are doing/seeing. Sadly there are No local shooters I can talk with.

I checked Bart's 6mm 103 & 105 gr. Hammers recently only to find minor variances in base to tip and the base to ogive was spot on for both of those. In the past I checked the 68 gr. Bart's both F B and B T when I was shooting the 6PPC and found basically the same. With sorting the yellow, green, and red box I have found the Bergers to come in 1st place, Sierra 2nd place, and Hornady last with consistent lengths except the 25 cal. 134 gr. ELD-M base to ogive was really much better than anything I've measured in the past from Hornady but the base to ogive was not so good.

 

[quest450]

I sort custom bullets by OAL before trimming and pointing

 

[Alex Wheeler]

You really should not be able to sort bearing surface or base to ogive on a custom bullet. OAL will vary because not every jacket will point up exactly the same. Longer bullets flow up into the die more which makes a smaller meplat. So when you sort by oal your really sorting meplat size. If you want to sort, then do oal. I never have sorted a custom bullet though.

 

[ridgeway]

I don't sort before trimming. I trim and measure oal each one after I trim it quickly with calipers. I will then point. I usually have 2 piles in the end, each +/- a thou. I use a power trimmer and the comparator body fits a little loose and shavings can collect. It can throw out one partially trimmed now amd then. You can usually feel when that happens. Been meaning to come up with a more solid setup, but haven't yet to do so...it works, haha. Can you shoot the difference?, highly doubtful!

 

[quest450]

If you can't "shoot the difference" I wouldn't waste my time and effort

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Trust, but verify.

Reminds me of an old saying in cow country.
“Trust your Neighbors, Brand your Calves.”

 

[waverly]

I usually randomly pick 25 or so out of the box and measure, and if there are any anomalies then I sort them all by bearing length.

I used to sort with my Juenke, but sorting Bibs, Barts, old Bergers, JLK, Vapor Trail, etc. on a Juenke machine is like waiting on new paint to start peeling . I do use my Juenke on brass after its fire formed.

Waverly

 

[jackieschmidt]

If you call the custom bullet maker and order 3000 bullets, he will be sure that they were all made at the same time, with the same lot of jackets, and with the same lot of cores. I would bet my last 250 25x match that sorting them would be a waste of time.

However, if you see that same bullet for sale a a major retailer, you have no way of knowing. So…….

 

[Webster]

I sort custom bullets by OAL before trimming and pointing

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How many dimensions do you need to measure to sort them? Which dimensions are critical? There are probably at least 5 thinks you could measure.

 

[quest450]

How many dimensions do you need to measure to sort them? Which dimensions are critical? There are probably at least 5 thinks you could measure.

ppl sort them by BTO, bearing surface or OAL, according to custom bullet makers I talked to you do not need to measure them but if you insist measure and sort by OAL, the reason I sort by OAL is to keep them uniform-ish after I trim and point them, I shoot 600yd and 1K and I think it does make a difference on target

 

[Bottom Fodder]

I take them out of the green box, load them and shoot, them. cause I cant shoot the difference. But there again I’m one of those Rebels that chase the lands