Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
Articles
Latest reviews
Author list
Classifieds
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Reloading
Do you really need a runout gauge??
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Buckys" data-source="post: 1643812" data-attributes="member: 107750"><p>I agree that monitoring runout is a good tool towards improving your reloading process.</p><p></p><p>I will offer some different perspective.</p><p></p><p>I live and do most of my hunting in Texas where 95% of my shots are 200yds or less and 99% are 300 or less. As such, I often use factory ammo.</p><p></p><p>I have certainly found that a 20 round box of ammo that has 5 thous or less runout shoots a lot better than boxes with much greater variation.</p><p></p><p>There are obviously other variables that need to be considered and my analysis has been far from scientific but I definitely sense a correlation between runout and accuracy as well as just generally good process control and accuracy.</p><p></p><p>For what it's worth, my Hornady Superperformance factory ammunition has generally been the best in low variability with respect to runout. Federal Fusion surprisingly is also pretty good. Before I started measuring runout, I would have said that those were some of the more accurate factory ammo that I have found.</p><p></p><p>On the other hand, I have been most disappointed with Federal Premium ammo in the past. Lo and behold, when I started measuring runout I found that this ammo had some of the worst variability especially for the relative price point. That being said, I have a hunch that I might also find more variability in other aspects of this ammo than just runout ... but that manufacturers, and their ammo brands as well as lots with better process control shoot better than those that are lacking.</p><p></p><p>Obviously, the outcome of that conclusion is not eye-opening but the point that runout is one measure to assess overall process control, either for custom or factory loading, is a good thing.</p><p></p><p>P.S. I'm still not sold on the Hornady runout gauge's ability to correct runout. I have tried it and sometimes that ammo shoots well and other times not so much. And I have run into cases where trying to fix a round with more than 10 thous runout caused the neck to loosen. I have not seen much difference in results when measuring with my Hornady vs. RCBS concentricity gauges and the latter may be the better buy given its ability to measure loaded ammo as well as just brass concentricity.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Buckys, post: 1643812, member: 107750"] I agree that monitoring runout is a good tool towards improving your reloading process. I will offer some different perspective. I live and do most of my hunting in Texas where 95% of my shots are 200yds or less and 99% are 300 or less. As such, I often use factory ammo. I have certainly found that a 20 round box of ammo that has 5 thous or less runout shoots a lot better than boxes with much greater variation. There are obviously other variables that need to be considered and my analysis has been far from scientific but I definitely sense a correlation between runout and accuracy as well as just generally good process control and accuracy. For what it's worth, my Hornady Superperformance factory ammunition has generally been the best in low variability with respect to runout. Federal Fusion surprisingly is also pretty good. Before I started measuring runout, I would have said that those were some of the more accurate factory ammo that I have found. On the other hand, I have been most disappointed with Federal Premium ammo in the past. Lo and behold, when I started measuring runout I found that this ammo had some of the worst variability especially for the relative price point. That being said, I have a hunch that I might also find more variability in other aspects of this ammo than just runout ... but that manufacturers, and their ammo brands as well as lots with better process control shoot better than those that are lacking. Obviously, the outcome of that conclusion is not eye-opening but the point that runout is one measure to assess overall process control, either for custom or factory loading, is a good thing. P.S. I'm still not sold on the Hornady runout gauge's ability to correct runout. I have tried it and sometimes that ammo shoots well and other times not so much. And I have run into cases where trying to fix a round with more than 10 thous runout caused the neck to loosen. I have not seen much difference in results when measuring with my Hornady vs. RCBS concentricity gauges and the latter may be the better buy given its ability to measure loaded ammo as well as just brass concentricity. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Reloading
Do you really need a runout gauge??
Top