Spinning my wheels - again!

[ALO]

OK, all of you who are nutso crazy about accuracy, do you actually measure the bullet length using a comparator. The reason I asked is that I just got a box of 105 grain 6mm Berger Hybrid bullets and started to measure their length at the start of their ogive using the little Sinclair hexagon comparator. All of the lengths are 1.617 to 1.619. And I'm not sure if even that is accurate because of you use even a little bit of pressure the comparator digs a little into the copper jacket given an untrue reading. Is this just another way of going crazy or do any of you shooters feel that it does make a difference?

 

[prwhite]

ALO,
I pick my Bergers out of the yellow box and place them on the case and pull the press handle. The range conditions and wind will play more havoc than a little bullet difference. My 2 cents.
Pete

 

[Immike]

You can sort if you want the title bad enough but it is work for the obsessed individual and the difference is only seen by such a person. Unfortunately I am one of them and spend a great deal of time with details.

 

[K22]

I agree with "prwhite" plus I'll add another element, your marksmanship skills. This is suppose to be fun, don't make it into something stress filled.

Not saying you're one of these, but when I shot competitive pistol I saw so many guys in equipment races trying to improve their performance when if they would spent more time concentrating on mastering the fundamentals of good marksmanship they would be so much better off. True you need an accurate firearm and accurate ammo but the most accurate firearm and ammo will not overcome poor marksmanship.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

"This is ACCURATE shooter"

If your shooting Benchrest sort your bullets by bearing surface or base to ogive. The reason your having trouble with that comparator is because its cut with a taper and the harder you push the deeper the bullet goes. Find a comparator with a dual diameter, they have a ring inside the bullet stops on and is very positive. I use the one on my Hoover trimmer. Also trimming and pointing will reduce your vertical at long range. At the very least sort by oal as well if you dont trim.

If your shooting High power, f-class, gongs, ext. I agree with the above

 

[watercam]

I, too, agree with prwhite - I am more worried about the .00025-.0005" difference in bullet diameter in my .308 Bergers than base-to-ogive. Even then, unless I am seeing major elevation issues (that are not caused by me) I don't worry about that either. I have tried trimming and pointing and continue because I have the time but if I did not I would not do it. In short, as a sling shooter, Sierra's and Berger's work great for me and my level of shooting out of the box to 1000 yards. Many of my fellow competitor's (many of them U.S. Palma Team vets) feel the same as of the last time I asked.

 

[artbosco]

OK, all of you who are nutso crazy about accuracy, do you actually measure the bullet length using a comparator. The reason I asked is that I just got a box of 105 grain 6mm Berger Hybrid bullets and started to measure their length at the start of their ogive using the little Sinclair hexagon comparator. All of the lengths are 1.617 to 1.619. And I'm not sure if even that is accurate because of you use even a little bit of pressure the comparator digs a little into the copper jacket given an untrue reading. Is this just another way of going crazy or do any of you shooters feel that it does make a difference?

It's all about attempting to make every cartridge identical ... down to the Nth Degree. The idea is that if they're all identical, they'll all shoot the same. Accuracy is all about consistency, consistency, and consistency.

Don't forget to purchase a sonogram [the instrument]. That way you can visually analyze jacket thickness and evenness on all sides. The ones with small voids get tossed into the fouling bullets bin. Truly, some folks really do that.

Some also count grains of powder, but to me, that's going a little too far.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Things I have tested at 1000 yards and my opinions.
Matters,
Exact powder charge to .02gn
Consistent seating depth
Consistent neck tension
Identical bullets, every way they can be measured and uniformed.

Doesn't Matter
Concentricity
Case sorting

And most important is a perfect tune, not a "good enough, time to learn to read the wind tune."

 

[ShootDots]

Things I have tested at 1000 yards and my opinions.
Matters,
Exact powder charge to .02gn
Consistent seating depth
Consistent neck tension
Identical bullets, every way they can be measured and uniformed.

Doesn't Matter
Concentricity
Case sorting

And most important is a perfect tune, not a "good enough, time to learn to read the wind tune."

I think ZFast is right on the money!

 

[savagedasher]

I have a hard time at 100 and 200 yds. With the wind and mirage using 5 wind flags and mirage board. What do I need to get to help me with 22' of bullet drop. Or am I spinning my wheels.
Night all Larry

 

[ALO]

Thanks to all who expressed their opinions. I guess to a certain degree, we are all spinning our wheels. Maybe it is just time to reflect, go pump the neighbor's dog, and go to sleep, or let me go measure some more bullets!

Remember the Thought of the day! Women are like Bacon - they look good, smell good, taste good and slowly kill men!