Sorted my bullets by weight

44marty · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 2:41 am Post subject: Re: Sorted my bullets by weight

ElyBoy wrote:

I seem to remember my Dad telling me about benchrest shooters weighing each bullet.
Last winter, on a boring day, I started weighing my different types of cast bullets that I reload for pistol shooting. I couldn't believe the disparity from one bullet to the next.
I stopped weighing so I wouldn't start going goofy on my reloading. Shocked

Without hijacking this thread, am I correct that benchrest shooters weigh their bullets??

Eric

The (few) benchrest shooters I have known don't weigh bullets and they use thrown powder charges (not individually weighed). They do use premium bullets and extra-fancy pricey powder measures.
What they are extremely fussy about is their brass. Most turn the necks. Many sort for case capacity by carefully measuring the amount of water each case holds.

slimjim · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 7:36 am Post subject: Re: Sorted my bullets by weight

marty, that is what I've seen of bench rest shooters also. Fussy on brass. Premium bullets are precision made. I had to correct my prior post as i left off a zero. My 150gr Berger VLD bullets are within +-0.05 grains and are very consistent.

chambered221 · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 7:09 pm Post subject: Re: Sorted my bullets by weight

To my understanding only the long range shooters weigh bullets !!! (1000+ yards)

The bullets that are used in short range (300 yards and under) are held to very strict standards........no need to weigh them.

There are bullet spinners on the market that some swear by.............others swear at them !!!

ElyBoy · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 10:35 pm Post subject: Re: Sorted my bullets by weight

A couple of years ago, some guys at my Gun Shop had me thinking of shooting benchrest.
Then, I checked out how much it would cost to get even minimally started, and that bright idea when out the window real fast.
It sure would be fun though.

Eric

44marty · Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 7:10 am Post subject: Re: Sorted my bullets by weight

ElyBoy wrote:

A couple of years ago, some guys at my Gun Shop had me thinking of shooting benchrest.
Then, I checked out how much it would cost to get even minimally started, and that bright idea when out the window real fast.
It sure would be fun though.

Eric

Wouldn't it be even more fun to be somewhat competitive with a stock rifle and minimal equipment? Practice reading the wind and give it a go. As long as you are having fun, let the ribbing from the few elitist equipment geeks roll off. Most are actually pretty good guys.
Pay attention to your brass, learn to read the wind well and you'll be in the ballpark with a good rifle (at least that's what I'm told). Of course, the guy who told me this considers plinking to be shooting eggs at 400 yds.

Dawgdad · Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:57 am Post subject: Re: Sorted my bullets by weight

chambered221 wrote:

To my understanding only the long range shooters weigh bullets !!! (1000+ yards)

The bullets that are used in short range (300 yards and under) are held to very strict standards........no need to weigh them.

There are bullet spinners on the market that some swear by.............others swear at them !!!

Depends on the size of your 10 ring but for the most part - the accuracy gained by sorting and weighing and special brass care is not significant until you reach 500 yards. Spend more time shooting and less time loading and your scores will go up faster.

chambered221 · Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 10:43 am Post subject: Re: Sorted my bullets by weight

Your assuming score shooting........a group shooter will go to extremes to eek out another thousandth or two !!!

I defiantly agree on more trigger time..........some guys just can't admit it's them and not their equipment. (that's a general statement and not directed at anyone here)

ElyBoy · Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 7:55 pm Post subject: Re: Sorted my bullets by weight

How many times have all of seen guys blame their shotguns, rifles, pistols, etc. on poor shooting, when the real problem lies with the owner of that gun Very Happy

Eric

chambered221 · Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 12:18 pm Post subject: Re: Sorted my bullets by weight

It seems as if I just heard that somewhere !!! Poke

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 1:33 pm Post subject: Re: Sorted my bullets by weight

I've had one gun that I could shoot better than it could. A .22 LR auto that would shoot groups 0.5" wide... and 6" high! Nothing I tried, or the factory tried, fixed it so it got traded off. Everything else I've got shoots well beyond my ability.

I have seen so many that thought if they bought another, more expensive, gun that they'd suddenly become better shooters. So far I haven't seen any that actually accomplished that.

Vince · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 6:10 am Post subject: Re: Sorted my bullets by weight

chambered221 wrote:

Your assuming score shooting........a group shooter will go to extremes to eek out another thousandth or two !!!

I defiantly agree on more trigger time..........some guys just can't admit it's them and not their equipment. (that's a general statement and not directed at anyone here)

Ain't that the truth Chambered. Generally when a loose nut is found on a rifle, it's the one behind the butt.

Nothing beats time spent actually shooting to improve the skills. Its even better if you spend that shooting time with a buddy who can watch what you are doing as you shoot. He will usually see problems that you never knew existed because you can't actually see yourself shooting.

I remember very early on in my life of shooting, and old guy said to me, "time what's not spent shooting is time wasted". You can look at this two ways...and either way is true.

Cheers, Vince

slimjim · Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 12:53 pm Post subject: Re: Sorted my bullets by weight

Well, I finally got back out to the 500 yards range to shoot the bullets I loaded back on 18 January. Wow, been away too long from the longer ranges. Even a light wind fickled me today.

As expected Chambers was correct. I could determine no POI shift between the different weight extremes with my .270 shooting 130gr GMX, e.g., 129.1gr, 130.0gr, and 130.9gr.

Load and be happy!