Bullet weight tolerance

[alanwk]

I am re-starting reloading after many years. I received the bullets I ordered today. I ordered 40 S&W 180g. I weighed a few and all were over but not by much i.e. 183, 185,186 etc. How much tolerance is normal? Thanks.

 

[santacruzdave]

FYI, Here are some 9mm projectiles I weighed.

Acme 135 - 133.3+134.1+133.3+134.2+134.7+133.7+134.5+133.8+133.2+134
Brazos 135 - 138.7+138.5+138.1+137.7+137.7+137.8+137.4+137.4+137.6+138.2
Precision Bullets Coated - 125.4+125.4+125.7+125.7+125.4+125.8+125.7+126.6+125.8+125.8

Not a lot of variation from one bullet to another within a run from a specific manufacturer.
Apologize for the format, it's copied from a worksheet.

 

[bullseye308]

For pistol I wouldn’t worry too much about 5 grains. If they were match quality I’d like to see less than 2.

 

[Riomouse911]

They do bounce around. Some loaders will weigh and separate their bullets and cases (same brand) into lots by weight. They’ll then load and shoot by lot to keep their ammo variances to a minimum.

Personally I don’t shoot well enough to make all that worth the effort, so I load them as they come in the box.

Stay safe.

 

[lightman]

I have weighed Sierra Match Kings and found the majority to fall into about 3 weights separated by 10ths. Like 50.1, 50.2, 50.3. My cast bullets are usually as close and I was happy to find that out! I would say 2 or 3 grains would be ok.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Personally I don’t shoot well enough to make all that worth the effort, so I load them as they come in the box.

Stay safe.

Me too. I just load them up and shoot at the paper. If all the bullets hit the paper, I'm happy.

Even name brand "quality" lead bullets will have up to 5 or 6 grains of variation. Swaged tend to have less total variance lot-to-lot than cast, in my experience.

 

[troy fairweather]

Not one bit with what your using, so long your not loaded to the max.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

My home cast rifle bullets I sort into +/- .5 gn.

I recently cast 15 pounds of a 210 gn bullet, and sorted to 2 groups: 210 gn and 211 gn.

I had 4 bullets left over, at 209 gn.

I then spent some time patting myself on the back for casting quality boolits.

My home-cast handgun bullets I just load and shoot.

 

[FROGO207]

Commercial cast bullets come off the line with multiple cavity molds and they will weigh differently. Home cast tend to be closer in weight as most have single or two hole molds made with the same cherry. For a handgun I have not seen a difference in POI with as much as 5 grains difference. Some difference can be attributed to lube weight as well.

 

[41 Mag]

I've been casting around a decade now and in the beginning paid close attention to finished weights.

What I found is, like others mentioned, a small amount of variation probably won't show in casual target shooting. My solution was to separate a handful of the heavier ones into a pile and test loads using those. If all is well then the others should pose no issues.

With my handgun hunting loads I do however want all to be within a half grain simply to put out of my mind anything that I could have done better.

Other than that I've found awesome loads in the lower quarter of most data for most of my calibers. Using those type loads there really isn't an issue with bullet weights being varied by a grain or two.

 

[lordpaxman]

I ordered 40 S&W 180g.

You didn’t mention the type of bullets you ordered, were they cast, coated, FMJ? I’m not looking to call out a supplier, but typically I see the pistol coated cast bullets have a +/- few grain variation but the FMJ’s are usually a lot tighter tolerance, within a few tenths of a grain. I do believe the more consistent every component and reloading process is, the better the ammunition produced, but there’s a dollar and time cost associated with how far you take that. The intended usage will most likely dictate that trade off. Coincidentally, I’m just starting to develop my .40 180gr USPSA limited loads and for local matches a few grain variation isn’t a factor. Good luck.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I’m not looking to call out a supplier, but typically I see the pistol coated cast bullets have a +/- few grain variation but the FMJ’s are usually a lot tighter tolerance

I also get the most variation with coated bullets, I'm thinking the coating thickness is the cause as the usual weight is a bit heavy. Much more consistency with Blue Bullets than SNS...and fewer flyers at 15-20 yards

The most consistency I've weigh, with 124gr 9mm bullets, has been RMR jacketed bullets, especially their Matchwinners, with variations in weight on the order of two tenths of a grain (0.2gr)

 

[merlynski]

I have weighed some of my own as-cast bullets, when casting with a new mold and a new lot of scrap WW, to see how they came out. There were a few that were quite a bit lighter, that must have had a void in them. They went back in the pot. Most of the time I just size/lube and shoot them.