Armory Sponsor
Posted: 9/1/2009 7:25:51 PM EDT
| I just started to reload. I was having some issues with COL varing from 2.252 to 2.260 and was trying to figure out why. I started to look at the bullets I was using (Armscor 62 grain) and noticed that there is a slight variation in nose shape and total lenght. When i got the bullets this is about all i could find that was "cheap" bulk (i only got 100). I think my COL issue is related to this. Do all or most "cheap" bulk bullets vary as much as the armscor stuff? What else is there in that is around 62 grains that is good? |
| I had the very same results w/ some 223 that where bulk packaged. I started to question my reloading ability. Wound up seating the bullets 1at a time, which frankly sucked. Like you i only bought 100 to try b4 i bought any larger quantities. I also wonder if these where factory seconds. They where labeled Winchester fmgbt 55 gr. |
|
Quoted:
I just started to reload. I was having some issues with COL varing from 2.252 to 2.260 and was trying to figure out why. I started to look at the bullets I was using (Armscor 62 grain) and noticed that there is a slight variation in nose shape and total lenght. When i got the bullets this is about all i could find that was "cheap" bulk (i only got 100). I think my COL issue is related to this. Do all or most "cheap" bulk bullets vary as much as the armscor stuff? What else is there in that is around 62 grains that is good? It's normal, even for match grade bullets. Most of the errors in bullet making show up in the top 1/3rd of the bullet––its nose. COAL is important for magazines, so you need to watch it, but honestly, you'll eventually want to measure the ogives (OAL) of your seated bullets. Usually, this will be closer in length, than measuring from the tip to the case head. Chris |
| Get a bullet comparator set from Sinclair and measure your OAL from the ogive once seated deep enough to fit your Mag's, the measurement will be much more consistent since the tip of no bullets are consistent enough to get exact OAL measurements unless using a dead length bullet seater that puts the end of every bullet at the same depth(I think that's how they work) but don't recommend seating bullets this way since you will have pressure differences instead of length differences which is way worse of an issue. |
|
Quoted:
I had the very same results w/ some 223 that where bulk packaged. I started to question my reloading ability. Wound up seating the bullets 1at a time, which frankly sucked. Like you i only bought 100 to try b4 i bought any larger quantities. I also wonder if these where factory seconds. They where labeled Winchester fmgbt 55 gr. Length variation is common. The location of the cannelure will move around, too. Seating every bullet to the same COAL is the wrong method. They should all be seated to the same depth in the case. That means the seater die will need to be reset for the longest bullets (if going after a magazine length load), then seating all the shorter bullets with that die setting. If seating to the cannelure, set the die for that, but check the COAL to insure the cartridges will fit in a magazine. The cartridges will be different lengths, but the bullets will be seated to identical depths in the case, and the ogive of the bullets will be identical distances to the start of the rifling in the barrel. Those are more important dimensions than magazine length. In this case, a bullet comparator doesn't solve the problem, it just adds information that we won't use. We already know the bullet seater contacts every bullet on its ogive. That is all that matters after adjustment to accomdate the longest bullets. |
|
Quoted:
check out a box of some ( any ) factory rifle ammo , the col from one to the other is not the same. this is something you have to live with, unless someone knows a cure for this If you want more consistent OAL then you will need to meplat uniform with a uniformer that references off the ogive or close to the ogive. |
|
QC and consider this thought (an old post of mine about "bulk bullets").......
IMHO......you can buy the "bulk" no name stuff........but, you may not be as happy. Frankly, it may even be made in _______ (other than USA).
Buying the "named" brand stuff has the "theory" behind it, that it's first rate. Because, the mfn is willing to place his name on the box. Thus, saying something. FWIW.......I once heard, that bulk bullets were from the beginning and ends of the production runs or when the machine was "adjusted." Or, from different machine production lines just thrown into a large hopper, to be counted out later. The best, middle of the production run bullets, from a single machine were said to be used for the 100 bullet boxes. Then again, there was a time when Match bulk bullets (from a certain mfn) were said to have come off the machine, one after another, only spitting into a larger 500 box package size. How much of it or IF it's true at all........who knows? Then, manufacturers differ on how they do things. So, YMWV. And...........even MATCH bullets might have a problem too............ Flyers...... http://www.larrywillis.com/bullet-shape.html Aloha, Mark |
Armory Sponsor