Bullet Height Issues

[bbqreloader]

40 165gr plated RNFP. Have used same company for the last few orders. Ran into issue 2 months ago where I was under OAL on multiple rounds, so much so that I ended up pulling them. Thought it was my LNL and after phone calls and using same cases of same height, discovered it was the bullet. Hand sorted 1000 or so to proper heights.
So one order the bullet height runs .543 to .545. This current order .536 to .538 (20 bullet sample from various parts of package.)
My main question is, should I expect a consistent product or is it that I SHOULD already be checking each order, no matter who it's from for consistency.
Not slamming anyone, just need to see if I should be doing something in my process that I have not been. Thanks.

 

[horsey300]

40 165gr plated RNFP. Have used same company for the last few orders. Ran into issue 2 months ago where I was under OAL on multiple rounds, so much so that I ended up pulling them. Thought it was my LNL and after phone calls and using same cases of same height, discovered it was the bullet. Hand sorted 1000 or so to proper heights.
So one order the bullet height runs .543 to .545. This current order .536 to .538 (20 bullet sample from various parts of package.)
My main question is, should I expect a consistent product or is it that I SHOULD already be checking each order, no matter who it's from for consistency.
Not slamming anyone, just need to see if I should be doing something in my process that I have not been. Thanks.

I can't speak specifically to the bullets in question, but I always check a sample size of weight/length on every box I open, out of that sample size if there is even one that has a higher variation than previous boxes or even from that box, they all get checked. I can't say that it's required but that's how I like to do it.

 

[rsrocket1]

That is completely up to you. From a safety standpoint, if you aren't at max pressure, a 0.01" variation isn't going to cause a kaboom. From a MV standpoint, it may affect your velocities by about 10 fps so unless you are loading to minimum IPDA power factor, it shouldn't matter and unless you are shooting at 50 yards, the accuracy shouldn't matter. You should plunk test every round in your barrel to ensure that none of the loaded cartridges hang up in your gun while chambering and if you go through a full mix of lengths and they don't cause plunk problems then you are good to go.

If any of these matter to you or you simply don't like the inconsistencies, go with another bullet maker.

 

[Rule3]

I think you may find that a lot of brands of bullets may vary by .001 or more. I do not think it is a major issue to worry about. Heck COL or actually seating depth measurements vary all over the place, depending on what data you look at.

Plated bullets can and do very by as much as you are seeing.

say a COL of 1.125 does 1.124 or 1.126 matter?? Depends on how hard you push on the caliper.

 

[Sunray]

Assuming 'bullet height' means bullet length. 2 thou won't matter. If they were +/- 2 grains, I'd quit using 'em.

 

[bbqreloader]

Thanks for the reply's. Rule 3 there was just a discrepency, see photos. I believe, after looking at diagrams, Saami specs are a max of 1.135, I load to 1.130. Most of the books have min at 1.125. Granted, I load at the bottom for CFE and some mid range. These are just target rounds, no match stuff. Was just concerned because I set my die and expect a .005 +/- swing. Some of the problem rounds I had were at 1.118. Now that being said I did combine different orders(same bullet type) from the SAME company, which led me to the road I just traveled. Lesson learned, check my bullets so I can adopt the correct seating height.

 

[Jim Watson]

Found a similar thing with plated 9mm. In this case they started coming out longer than my spec.
I went through and arranged all bullets on hand by lot number so I will know to check and adjust every 1500-2000.

 

[Snyper]

Thought it was my LNL and after phone calls and using same cases of same height, discovered it was the bullet.

Was just concerned because I set my die and expect a .005 +/- swing. Some of the problem rounds I had were at 1.118

I was under OAL

It sounds like a die or shell holder problem to me.

The fact the bullets are shorter than what you had before wouldn't cause them to seat deeper.
The OAL should remain the same but you would have less bullet in the case.

A tiny bit of debris could cause your symptoms.
I'd give the die and shellholder a good cleaning and see if that doesn't make them more consistent.

 

[Walkalong]

While a .010 swing in bullet length is poor, it doesn't affect OAL at all (Case and bullet overlap). What does affect OAL is seater stem fit, press flex, etc. The fewer operations being done while seating the less spread you'll have. I don't size while loading, I pre-size/prime the cases.

Anytime you change bullets, even just a different box of the same bullet, check OAL and adjust if needed. Unless you are on the thin edge of max don't worry about the slight difference in how deep they are seated in the case.

 

[sbwaters]

Seems to me reloaders have two concerns:
1) How close to the lands (too close risks unsafe pressure increase)
2) How deep in the case is the bottom of the bullet (too deep near max load risks unsafe pressure increase)
OAL deals with the first, but not the latter.

For accuracy, shouldn’t one be more concerned about maintaining consistent depth rather than consistent OAL?

 

[Rule3]

Thanks for the reply's. Rule 3 there was just a discrepency, see photos. I believe, after looking at diagrams, Saami specs are a max of 1.135, I load to 1.130. Most of the books have min at 1.125. Granted, I load at the bottom for CFE and some mid range. These are just target rounds, no match stuff. Was just concerned because I set my die and expect a .005 +/- swing. Some of the problem rounds I had were at 1.118. Now that being said I did combine different orders(same bullet type) from the SAME company, which led me to the road I just traveled. Lesson learned, check my bullets so I can adopt the correct seating height.
View attachment 236701 View attachment 236702

The SAAMI range is 1.085 to 1.135

Whatever you do don't weigh them, you will find variances!

 

[Walkalong]

For accuracy, shouldn’t one be more concerned about maintaining consistent depth rather than consistent OAL?

One gives you the other. There will always be a small variance. No way around it.