weight sorting question

[DJ 480]

for those of you that weight sort your projectiles and cases a does it increase accuracy? does it really make a noticable difference?

i loath the idea of sorting thru all my cases and projectiles but like all things with this sport it seems to be the little things that improve the end result.

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

I depends on what you start with. I wouldn't weight sort new Lapua or Norma brass, but I have a bunch of once-fired M118LR brass that I plan to weight sort. I will weight sort new Remington 260Rem brass too. 175SMKs used to be more variable in weight than they are today, and I no longer even consider it. Once you weight sort brass, you can easily keep it segregated into weight groups, even when reloading.

 

[Unknown]

All the articles I have read written by people who sort bullets,and cases by weight (rather than by someone told me), indicates that tactical shooters will not get enough of an improvement to make it worthwhile. Those who shoot bench rest, or 1000 yard slow fire MIGHT notice more of an improvement.

Having said that, I would try to find out how many people who actually compete in and win long range shooting events bother doing all that sorting. I suspect more benefit comes from using the time practicing rather than weight sorting cases and bullets.

I tried it once by weighing cases and bullets. I matched heavy bullets and light cases, and light bullets and heavy cases IIRC. I didn't notice any improvement, nor did I gain any consistency, so I never did it again. I was doing it in a 7.62x51 bolt gun (TRG22).

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

People who actually compete and win long range shooting matches usually start with high quality matched components like Lapua brass and Sierra 175SMKs. Some benchresters go to extreme lengths in every aspect of their competitive shooting, especially hand loading. I shoot long range from the bench and also shoot prone slow-fire to 1kyd, and my goal this year is a mile, but I'm neither a competition shooter or a benchrester. Given the time it takes me to prep and build a single round, including weighing powder loads with a Promethius II, the one-time sorting of M118LR or new R-P 260Rem brass by weight that I will reload multiple times is a small price in time per reload. Tactical shooting competitions are much more than precision rifle shooting, and good ammo and rifle can only take you so far.

 

[JGorski]

Dont waste your time, cuz it's a waste of your time.

 

[Rob01]

Never weighed a case or bullet and don't plan on starting. Only thing I weigh is powder charge. I use quality Hornady bullets and brass so no need. I also shoot factory Creedmoor ammo at matches and noting is weighed in those. Use good bullets and the same headstamp prepped brass and shoot.

 

[DJ 480]

Ok thanks for te good info and opinions I appreciate it!

 

[waste_knot]

What do the differing weights tell about the brass except that there is more brass in the heavy ones. I don't get the point.

 

[Bob 964]

What do the differing weights tell about the brass except that there is more brass in the heavy ones. I don't get the point.

Weight differences between cases suggest that the interior volume is different. Heavier cases will generally have less interior volume, and the interior pressure will be greater than for a case that weighs less and has a larger interior volume. Differential pressures result in variations in velocities and larger long-range groups. At least that's the theory. I weighed a random sample 20 Federal cases and 20 Lapua cases and then filled each case with liquid and measured the weight of the liquid to see if the heavier cases did in fact have less volume. The results for both the Lapua and Federal were so inconclusive that I stopped sorting brass by weight. You'll see a lot of Hide members sort brass by weight and a lot that don't.

 

[waste_knot]

Bob, Thanks for sharing your test conclusions. I suspected that was the case (pun) with weight. I usually measure the case wall and volume of a few every time I load a different brand of brass. I can adjust the charge to keep my MV constant across brass. Managed to get some hand picked LC 09 bras to shoot as well as the Lapua. Here is what I getting for fired and virgin 308 brass.

 

[pawprint2]

for those of you that weight sort your projectiles and cases a does it increase accuracy? does it really make a noticable difference?

i loath the idea of sorting thru all my cases and projectiles but like all things with this sport it seems to be the little things that improve the end result.

The most accurate loads are made with identical cases and projectiles and powder loads and primers, but if you're trying to "get away" with skipping every step you know that will make a better load, one of the best things you can do is measure and sort your projectiles by length, and use a scale for your powder. Having your projectiles sorted by length will give you a consistent jump, therefore; a more consistent pressure curve during the ignition sequence. I don't know how many times I've read on this very board- custom gun makers that guarantee very sub 1/2MOA guns-but all those mfgs always state with 'match grade ammo'. Something is wrong when those buying very well made, very accurate rifles tell you to skip those steps that are necessary to making high grade ammo, even the best guns won't shoot very well with poor ammo. One may get by with only as good as he needs/ but if you want to produce the best ammo you can, extra steps are necessary-it all boils down to how good you want it to be. Don't pay for expensive "less than 1/2Moa" rifles and shoot 2MOA ammo, you'll be wasting you money.

 

[damoncali]

There are benchrest shooters who do very well without weighing bullets, powder charges or brass. That should tell you something.

 

[Tickle]

There are benchrest shooters who do very well without weighing bullets, powder charges or brass. That should tell you something.

I don't bother weighing out my brass, I do sort my bullets though. However not weighing out powder charges....Really?

 

[aloreman]

If you have your load figured out to the center of your accuracy node ther is not one person who can out shoot a decent powder thrower

 

[pawprint2]

There are benchrest shooters who do very well without weighing bullets, powder charges or brass. That should tell you something.

Some only use a few pieces of brass, seat the bullets by hand-long for a "on the lands" seating via the bolt, there have been a few guys that use one piece of brass for an entire match! Usually they are shooting hand made custom bullets, and have spent a lot of time on their brass, neck turning etc. But I'm sure there are those that dump a lot of pieces into a auto press of some kind, pull the handle and head to the matches-I don't know any, but I'm sure there are. just saying.

 

[damoncali]

I don't mean they don't know how much powder is in the case- only that they do not weigh every charge, and instead rely on the powder measure.

 

[Garvey]

Practicing, and fitting your elevation and windage corrections to the environment is far more important than weighing your components (minus powder). A varying wind will cause so much of a challenge that weighing components is a waste of time.

 

[Tickle]

Practicing, and fitting your elevation and windage corrections to the environment is far more important than weighing your components (minus powder). A varying wind will cause so much of a challenge that weighing components is a waste of time.

I figured that's what you were meaning, I use a Redding match grade 3BR thrower myself. I set it up to throw a little low and trickle the last little bit. I still weigh out every charge on my 10-10, then confirm it on my other 10-10. This is time consuming but it works for me and gives me confidence that my loads are accurate.