Bullet sorting for LR consistency?

[esshup]

I'm going to sit down and sort some bulllets that I have for LR shooting. I was wondering what weight increments I should group them into, and what bearing surface groups.

Or is it a waste of time if they are within "X" weight and "X" bearing surface?

 

[royinidaho]

The whole sorting thing is revealing.

First ya sort 'em by weight and learn how many fall into a given weight.

Then ya scratch the ol noggin and group some of the weights together.

Then ya say, hmmmmm, the outliers will be for pressure testing.

Then ya learn that bearing surface length is proportional to weight. Hmmmmmmm, need a better/faster/easier bearing surface length gizmo.

The next experience is lets shoot some groups. Hmmmm all weight groups shoot pretty well. Hmmmmmm

What next, ...........lets shoot one from each weight group. Hmmmmm, didn't shoot too bad. Good enough for yotes way out there.

Hmmmmm, if I skip all of this sorting stuff, groups open maybe as much as a half MOA at any distance which makes the worst groups under 3/4 MOA.

Hmmmmm, I bagged all of that effort and load for very low ESs....... Works for me so far.

But, I'm about to start shooting a mile which may change my thinking. Maybe quite a bit......

 

[Boss Hoss]

I do not weigh pills for competition or sporters but I DO CHECK bearing surface.

 

[CRNA]

I do not weigh pills for competition or sporters but I DO CHECK bearing surface.

Boss Hoss,
How is that done?

To the OP-- (Not to hijack the thread, I hope the answer to this question will augment the information).

I did notice when I was reloading some 168gr SMKs for my 7mmRM the other day that the length of the bullets varied quite a bit. Can't remember by how much to quote it, but it was noticeable.

 

[esshup]

Not considered one! Mark King Rifles

JB bullet ogive comparator

I believe it looks like this:
DavidTubb.com.html

 

[Boss Hoss]

I use the tool made by John Buhay which is one and the same as the Tubb Unit......

 

[CRNA]

But what are you actually measuring?

 

[Boss Hoss]

The Actual Bearing Surface of the bullet which is what determines the pressure curve.

 

[esshup]

The bearing surface is the part of the bullet that actually contacts the bore of the rifle.

 

[esshup]

Boss Hoss:

What bearing surface tolerance do you sort your bullet groups into?

 

[Boss Hoss]

0.002 for competition------on a dedicated sporter sometimes 0.003

 

[esshup]

Thanks. That should be the last tool that I have to buy. I'm not saying that I don't have some that could be upgraded, but I think that tool is the last piece of the puzzle that's not in the toolbox.