So I'm an newer rifle reloader. Is it normal to see a 0.035" difference lot to lot on the same model bullet? Caliper zeroed on the bullet on the left and measurement show on the box on the right. Both boxes are Hornady 123g ELD match #26176. Lot numbers shown as well. Is this normal? Do you guys measure your camber with every new lot of bullets or just do the math? Thanks!
Bullet Ogive length differences lot to lot
- Thread starter achalmersman
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Depending on the bullets, it is not uncommon to see that much difference in a single box. If you go far enough down the rabbit hole you will wind up sorting every box of bullets you buy. Depending on the type of shooting you plan to do, that step may never be needed.
So if you're shooting for a specific jump distance will this difference matter since the seater seats on the ogive or do you have to measure chamber with each box since I don't know where the difference is. Thanks for the help!
I had a box of 100 hornady bullets 6.5 that measured .017” difference. Have had better luck with Sierra and Berger.
I would measure the chamber with at least a few bullets that measure different. Mine were obviously off two machines. And because of this my die would cause the bullets to seat different lengths off the lands. Had a box of 300 gr Sierra do the same thing but only about a .005” difference. Still made the bullets sit closer to the lands. And unfortunately the gun is depth sensitive when you approach the lands. Just seated the first measured bullets as normal and adjusted the die .005” deeper for the others.
Where the die was contacting the bullet was not the same as where the hornady tool contacted it. Therefore the slight difference in the bullet did not allow the die to seat it the same off the lands as the previously measured bullets
I would measure the chamber with at least a few bullets that measure different. Mine were obviously off two machines. And because of this my die would cause the bullets to seat different lengths off the lands. Had a box of 300 gr Sierra do the same thing but only about a .005” difference. Still made the bullets sit closer to the lands. And unfortunately the gun is depth sensitive when you approach the lands. Just seated the first measured bullets as normal and adjusted the die .005” deeper for the others.
Where the die was contacting the bullet was not the same as where the hornady tool contacted it. Therefore the slight difference in the bullet did not allow the die to seat it the same off the lands as the previously measured bullets
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If I measure that much difference in a box of bullets, I find a different bullet. Sierra and Bergers have been good.
So I went ahead and measured both bullets in the camber and even though the base to ogive length is 0.035" different, measuring the chamber with each bullet shows only a 0.004" difference.
I will note that mine showed similar results. It was .017” difference in the bullets but similar results to yours when measured in the chamber. My rifle shot good .015-.020” off the lands best. Started to open up if you went in to .010”. So the bullets that were off simply got closer to the .010” mark.
Try measuring out a few of each and run them through your seater die and see if they come out at a different measurement when compared to each other on your hornady comparator.
I cleaned my die several times during my loading process thinking that was causing it. Now I separate the bullets. Or if it’s for hunting I will load with the shorter of the two and set the die for those to seat properly. I will load all bullets from the box without separating and Then put the ones that seat longer to the side and simply adjust the die down whatever I need to make those the same Legth.
I’d rather chance the bullet taking a bit more Case capacity then seat it closer to the lands for risk of pressure and loss of accuracy.
I do the above for my 338 with the Sierra bullets. My hornady 6.5 bullets went back to hornady.
Yea I'm using a Forster Ultra micrometer die in a Forster Co-ax press and all the bullets from the same box seat exactly the same case to ogive length. For this batch of 100 I have them at 2.232" which puts them 0.015" off the lands
Then you may not have any issues. I shot my 260 with the 6.5 bullets after I realized they were seating at two difference Legths off the lands. The group that measured a bit longer shot a worse group but also shot 3/4 MOA ish higher. Due to the distance off the lands I assume
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