I’ve noticed with some bulk bullets that weight can vary up to +/- 0.5 grains. Question is does that really matter with rifle accuracy? I would think it probably would have some impact on bullet dispersion for a given rifle load. Wondering if anyone out there has experimented with slight bullet weight differences in a batch of bullets.
Variation in bullet weight
- Thread starter ciwsguy
- Start date
- Status
Atavar
Member
First thing to do is measure the same bullet ten times and make sure that doesn’t vary.
I don’t think .5gr is going to make a noticeable difference unless you are benchrest shooting over 500 yards. I would be more concerned if the .5gr were because of a mold deformity, like protrusions or bumps on the ogive or base.
I don’t think .5gr is going to make a noticeable difference unless you are benchrest shooting over 500 yards. I would be more concerned if the .5gr were because of a mold deformity, like protrusions or bumps on the ogive or base.
AJC1
Member
That's a loaded question as I don't know if we're talking about a 52 smk or 220 smk. A bullet that is well formed with a good base and over 100 grains I'd be good. Less than that I would consider sorting.
GeoDudeFlorida
Member
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2020
- Messages
- 11,266
Hmmm... 0.5gr. is 0.9% of the total weight of a 52gr. bullet. If 0.9% variance is going to make a difference in your POI, then the wobble of the Earth's rotation and formation of magnetic flux ropes during the current solar eruption are really going to mess with you.
redcon1
member
It will make a difference. Whether you'll notice the difference among the myriad of other variables that prevent you from shooting 5 shots hole for hole is unknown. Maybe it would be noticeable to you and your gun but not to someone else. You could segregate your bullets by weight and pretty easily see for yourself just how much it is or isn't contributing to your shot dispersion. Group A would be bullets all within .1 gr of one another and group B would be a mix of bullets with weights varying by up to .5 gr of one another. You would have to make sure that you didn't know which group was which when you were shooting them and it would be nice if you could chronograph your shots in a way that didn't interfere with your POI (i.e. not with a magentospeed hanging off your barrel while you're shooting for accuracy). It sounds entertaining. I may do it myself.
Varminterror
Member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2016
- Messages
- 15,135
Consistency in overall drag coefficient, ogive, jacket thickness, bearing surface length, etc will impact your groups far, far more than weight sorting to within 1/2grn of bullet weight.
If you’re shooting world class groups at 1,000, trimming meplats, pointing bullets, or using lathe turned solids, doing all of the other voodoo that folks chose to do, then great. But I can grab boxes of 105 Hybrids, plunk them into Hornady brass with no prep beyond sizing, no sorting, nothing, and shoot in the 1’s, 2’s, and 3’s with regularity, and hang onto 1/2-1moa steel clear out 500-1200 in PRS matches…
If you’re shooting world class groups at 1,000, trimming meplats, pointing bullets, or using lathe turned solids, doing all of the other voodoo that folks chose to do, then great. But I can grab boxes of 105 Hybrids, plunk them into Hornady brass with no prep beyond sizing, no sorting, nothing, and shoot in the 1’s, 2’s, and 3’s with regularity, and hang onto 1/2-1moa steel clear out 500-1200 in PRS matches…
Skeptic13
Member
If you are buying bulk FMJ bullets there will always be variations in weight as well as dimensions. And yes that will have some effect on accuracy. If your goal is to produce really accurate loads then you probably don't want to buy bulk FMJ bullets. But for general shooting and plinking you should be able to get satisfactory accuracy.
lightman
Member
I have to agree with this.
So the variation I’m seeing is 69 grain .223 BTHP. For giggles, I weighed in some Hornady 73 grain ELDM bullets and saw variation from 72.9 to 73.3. Probably not a big deal, so To experiment, I segregated the Hornady ELDM bullet weight and loaded some test rounds over 20.8 grains of AR Comp. These bullets have shot just over 1/2 MOA in my T/C Compass at 100 yards at an indoor range. I don’t expect to see much difference between weights, but guess I’ll find out. Indoor range removes environmental impact
Last edited:
41 Mag
Member
As mentioned with a totally match rig, and full match brass and load prep possibly. That's to be determined by your own testing and is then subject to your ability.
I buy a lot of bulk and seconds or blems. I mostly just want to have less expensive hunting ammo, and have used them for years to put meat in the freezer. I usually work up a load that hold MOA groups out to around 300yds and I'm good. Most of my shots are within 200yds or less anyway. I've never really seen a need for a premium priced bullet with the deer, hogs, or paper I usually shoot.
I buy a lot of bulk and seconds or blems. I mostly just want to have less expensive hunting ammo, and have used them for years to put meat in the freezer. I usually work up a load that hold MOA groups out to around 300yds and I'm good. Most of my shots are within 200yds or less anyway. I've never really seen a need for a premium priced bullet with the deer, hogs, or paper I usually shoot.
- Status
