What makes custom bullets better.

[Dusty Stevens]

Most do use custom jackets, custom cores and custom lube. Each metal is specified and not just thrown together. Lube is weighed down to less than a grain and applied exact and timed. Custom bullets are made in batches of jacket lots not days of production. Each one is felt when core seated and pointed and culled accordingly- a machine cant feel the difference. Lots fit in jars not dumptrucks.

 

[One Shot One Thrill]

Most do use custom jackets, custom cores and custom lube. Each metal is specified and not just thrown together. Lube is weighed down to less than a grain and applied exact and timed. Custom bullets are made in batches of jacket lots not days of production. Each one is felt when core seated and pointed and culled accordingly- a machine cant feel the difference. Lots fit in jars not dumptrucks.

Where does one purchase custom jackets?

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

When I make bullets, I follow a VERY VERY tedious ritualistic process. For me to make 1000 bullets it takes 5 days min and about 20 man hours of total work (and a couple of over night curing timelines). You most certainly "FEEL" it when it is not right. those go into a cull box, and become 300 black out test bullets. Each batch of core require a different punch, and core seating depth.

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

Where does one purchase custom jackets?

Most bullet makers I know use J4. But other makers are Seirra, Bart and George Ulrich (I think he make jackets as well as dies).

 

[BartsBullets]

Where does one purchase custom jackets?

Well you can write a big check and have a stamping company make you some like I did!


Bart

 

[STS]

It would be interesting to see the wt. variation for the lead slugs. More lead the pointing die makes a longer base to ogive? Is there a relationship lead weight to base to ogive distance?

I read somewhere that the reason short range bench rest bullets are flat base is because it's easier to constently get the same shape and dimensions. Dies are probably made to much better tolerances than they were 20 years ago.

I believe that the major bullet manufacturers dies are better today than they were 20 or 30 years ago but the custom dies were every bit as good then as they are now. I have a set of Rorschach dies that I’ve had for 43 years and they are excellent in every regard.

 

[dcali]

Where does one purchase custom jackets?

That depends entirely on how many you want.

 

[BartsBullets]

I believe that the major bullet manufacturers dies are better today than they were 20 or 30 years ago but the custom dies were every bit as good then as they are now. I have a set of Rorschach dies that I’ve had for 43 years and they are excellent in every regard.

I agree, the Rorschach dies made 40 years ago were excellent! I have 3 sets. But other than Rorschach other die manufacturers were all over the map! It was like playing the lottery and hopefully you got a good one.

Now die manufacturers such as Ulrich and Detsch are so far advanced there is no comparison to what was available 40 years ago. Rorschach was ahead of his time. Ulrich and Detsch are way ahead of Rorschach!

Bart

 

[jim_k]

Hello Paul! The dimensional stability of the bullets was incredible! The only thing we could think of is that the shape of the bullet was not conducive to a 7mm or some such deal. Totally unknown..

I had this problem with JLK 80 gr VLD in .223. I called Swampy, and he told me to jam them 10 thou. I did that, and won my next F/TR match at 600 yds. It makes no sense, but for some reason the different calibers seem to like different jams or jumps. With 6.5 mm bullets, Swampy said to start working on the jump at the same jump that Bergers like. My Bergers liked 30 thou, so that's what I went to. Some of my large-producer bullets like to be at mag length, and that can be 80-105 thou. It took me 8-9 months of frustration before I realized that the factory cartridges were outshooting my custom reloads, and I decided to try factory length, which is mag length. Then there's the simple reality that each rifle/barrel shoots differently than any other at times. I presume you compared the bullet diameter to other bullets that were easier to tune in 7 mm. I know that the Nosler 140 RDF's are slightly smaller in diameter than any of my other bullets in 6.5 mm, and I cannot get them to shoot consistently in my rifles. They do fine in some rifles, so that could possibly be due to the other rifles having tighter bores than mine. You could check for variance in bullet diameter by prepping 10 cases, and loading 5 dummy rounds with the JLK's and 5 with some other bullet that has shot well, possibly a Sierra. Then use an inertial bullet puller and see how many hits it takes to release the two bullets on average. If there is a consistent significant difference, I presume that the bullet diameter being different is the cause.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Where does one purchase custom jackets?

Straight from bart

 

[ShootDots]

I had this problem with JLK 80 gr VLD in .223. I called Swampy, and he told me to jam them 10 thou. I did that, and won my next F/TR match at 600 yds. It makes no sense, but for some reason the different calibers seem to like different jams or jumps. With 6.5 mm bullets, Swampy said to start working on the jump at the same jump that Bergers like. My Bergers liked 30 thou, so that's what I went to. Some of my large-producer bullets like to be at mag length, and that can be 80-105 thou. It took me 8-9 months of frustration before I realized that the factory cartridges were outshooting my custom reloads, and I decided to try factory length, which is mag length. Then there's the simple reality that each rifle/barrel shoots differently than any other at times. I presume you compared the bullet diameter to other bullets that were easier to tune in 7 mm. I know that the Nosler 140 RDF's are slightly smaller in diameter than any of my other bullets in 6.5 mm, and I cannot get them to shoot consistently in my rifles. They do fine in some rifles, so that could possibly be due to the other rifles having tighter bores than mine. You could check for variance in bullet diameter by prepping 10 cases, and loading 5 dummy rounds with the JLK's and 5 with some other bullet that has shot well, possibly a Sierra. Then use an inertial bullet puller and see how many hits it takes to release the two bullets on average. If there is a consistent significant difference, I presume that the bullet diameter being different is the cause.

Hello Jim.. I have long since gave those bullets away. Everyone tried from 30 thousandths in, which in reality is going to soft-seat the bullets, to 45 thousandths off>>>nobody and I mean nobody could get them to shoot. I still remember right at that time there several people selling loads of the 180VLD on this site! They may have been a bad batch for all we know.. Whatever it was, it was NOT LIKE the normal super accurate JLKs!

 

[dkhunt14]

I had this problem with JLK 80 gr VLD in .223. I called Swampy, and he told me to jam them 10 thou. I did that, and won my next F/TR match at 600 yds. It makes no sense, but for some reason the different calibers seem to like different jams or jumps. With 6.5 mm bullets, Swampy said to start working on the jump at the same jump that Bergers like. My Bergers liked 30 thou, so that's what I went to. Some of my large-producer bullets like to be at mag length, and that can be 80-105 thou. It took me 8-9 months of frustration before I realized that the factory cartridges were outshooting my custom reloads, and I decided to try factory length, which is mag length. Then there's the simple reality that each rifle/barrel shoots differently than any other at times. I presume you compared the bullet diameter to other bullets that were easier to tune in 7 mm. I know that the Nosler 140 RDF's are slightly smaller in diameter than any of my other bullets in 6.5 mm, and I cannot get them to shoot consistently in my rifles. They do fine in some rifles, so that could possibly be due to the other rifles having tighter bores than mine. You could check for variance in bullet diameter by prepping 10 cases, and loading 5 dummy rounds with the JLK's and 5 with some other bullet that has shot well, possibly a Sierra. Then use an inertial bullet puller and see how many hits it takes to release the two bullets on average. If there is a consistent significant difference, I presume that the bullet diameter being different is the cause.

It is easy to check the diameter by sliding through a die bushing. I use to go to a supplier that had lots of them and woukd slide a bullet through to find different sized bushings. It is also easy to make one bigger inside. Matt

 

[dkhunt14]

It would be tough for the CG to be off if the weight is right. I’d bet there was a problem with the core seating, but who knows.

Could also be bad jackets. I was told from a guy who visited Spencers shop on a frequent basis, that he was known for measuring jackets and if they weren't up to his specs, he would send them back. I was told you can't make good bullets with bad jackets.

I also know a few years ago some of my buddies were making good bullets and winning alot. He told me they sent 100,000 back because they didn't like them. The guy making them, was a really fussy guy. Matt

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

I am not sure why any bullet makers haven't given up the real secret yet....
We all know custom bullets are so much better because...… They are made with love... just like grandma's cookies.

 

[Bc'z]

Off track but not really.
So I've looked into some customs for my 6x45 lite weight stuff in the 62- 69 gr range.
Then it come to the ogive specs.
What does the 6,7,8 ogive and the like mean?

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

Off track but not really.
So I've looked into some customs for my 6x45 lite weight stuff in the 62- 69 gr range.
Then it come to the ogive specs.
What does the 6,7,8 ogive and the like mean?

 

[dolek]

Off track but not really.
So I've looked into some customs for my 6x45 lite weight stuff in the 62- 69 gr range.
Then it come to the ogive specs.
What does the 6,7,8 ogive and the like mean?

Same bullet,w/ different ogive...kinda gives you the idea. I will find a better pic.

 

[Bc'z]

So for my application the 7 looks good. Compared to the 10.
Help me out here.
6x45 ar platform , magazine has been windowed to allow for longer seating depth.
2.375- 2.380 max allowable coal.
What ogive would you choose?
The 10 ogive looks more vld in design and I'm wanting to be closer to lands and not impede on case capacity.

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

I don't shoot 6x45. But IMO, look at what your intensions are (short range varmints, long range competition). I would ask others that shoot that exact discipline, and test their findings. ALWAYS TEST FOR YOURSELF. Never assume that if it works in their barrel, it will work in yours. Also never assume that what they say works.... ALWAYS TEST FOR YOURSELF.
However, for me, I shoot short range benchrest. I test both bullets to see what that barrel likes best, and that is the bullet I choose.

 

[Bc'z]

I don't shoot 6x45. But IMO, look at what your intensions are (short range varmints, long range competition). I would ask others that shoot that exact discipline, and test their findings. ALWAYS TEST FOR YOURSELF. Never assume that if it works in their barrel, it will work in yours. Also never assume that what they say works.... ALWAYS TEST FOR YOURSELF.
However, for me, I shoot short range benchrest. I test both bullets to see what that barrel likes best, and that is the bullet I choose.

Paper n 4 legged furry critters to 300 yards or so.
Did you make the bullets pictured?
If not who's bullets are they, and can I purchase some samples.
Currently running some old school berger 70gr fbhp, nosler 70gr varmigedon.
Both have a more forward ogive design