jam1e Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 (edited) Hi folks, I'm after a bit of constructive advice. I'm doing a bit of load development using the .224 .52 A-Max bullets. I thought i'd check to see how consistent the bullet weights were. I found an almost equal amount going from 52 grains to 52.5 grains. Is this the norm? I don't recall having such a spread with my V-Max bullets. Should I be concerned, and will it make alot of distance out to 250-300 yards? There should be a picture below... Edited August 27, 2014 by jam1e Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phaedra1106 Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 (edited) Reading the post I would have said yes as you said "going from 52 grains to 55 grains" but looking at the photo I guess you meant 52.0 to 52.5 in which case there'd be very little difference in POI. At 250-300yds there'll be more difference due to your shooting position, grip, release, breathing control etc. etc. Edited August 27, 2014 by phaedra1106 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jam1e Posted August 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 Reading the post I would have said yes as you said "going from 52 grains to 55 grains" but looking at the photo I guess you meant 52.0 to 52.5 in which case there'd be very little difference in POI. At 250-300yds there'll be more difference due to your shooting position, grip, release, breathing control etc. etc. Thanks for the reply. Also, my mistake, you're correct I mean 52.5 grains. Now changed. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 As you're obviously trying to get the best performance you can, it may just pay to do the same exercise with the bullet base to ogive dimension. Please note though that I do not use the A-Max and this is purely a comment on bullets in general. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jam1e Posted August 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 As you're obviously trying to get the best performance you can, it may just pay to do the same exercise with the bullet base to ogive dimension. Please note though that I do not use the A-Max and this is purely a comment on bullets in general. I always measure from the base of the brass to the ogive when seating, but ive never thought of doing it to the bullets alone. Thanks for the tip. Do you not rate Hornady bullets? Cheers Jamie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 Do you not rate Hornady bullets? Cheers Jamie Forgetting about the 243 which I've not had for years, I've only ever used Hornady - the 50gr V-Max in the 223 and the SPSX in the Hornet. The latter is one reason for my comment. The dimensions are all over the place but as I only use it on fox sub 200 yards and the terminal effect is so good at the Hornet velocity, I work around it. Suffice to say, loading to the ogive is essential for consistency. The COL is anybody's guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bewsher500 Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 stop measuring and load em! you won't notice a difference unless you are "bench resting" the rest of your load development and testing technique and even then.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 glad it's not just me , try sierra blitzkings there far more consistent after all they only make heads as far as im aware so they get them right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 And people get overly conserned about supposed jump length Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jam1e Posted August 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 glad it's not just me , try sierra blitzkings there far more consistent after all they only make heads as far as im aware so they get them right Thanks for the replies folks. That's a new one on me Magman, but then I am a novice....:-) Talking of being a novice, what's "Supposed jump length"?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jam1e Posted August 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 stop measuring and load em! you won't notice a difference unless you are "bench resting" the rest of your load development and testing technique and even then.... Thanks for the imput Bewsher. Just to point out that, I enjoy shooting, as much as I enjoy learning everything I can about reloading, so i'm never generally in a hurry just to produce ammo. Hence the question. Cheers Jamie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 Jump length, or seating depth of the bullet into the cases. Its a method used to fine tune your rifle bullet powder combo. Some don't believe it makes a bit of difference, but a very large majority know it does make a difference. Look up seating depth, you will then understand more on the subject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert 888 Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 What powder case's and primers are you using and what length of barrel and twist rate. I'm using the same heads with ppu&hornaday cases cci br primers and Hodgdson blc2 powder. The combo works extremely well with sami spec oal and 24.5g of powder for my 23.5"1/9 cz from 100m-300m. Never weighed the heads,the only mistake I made was trusting the powder througher, I now trickle every charge. Would like to add I'm after bullets trough the same hole,I still haven't achieved this yet but I will.good luck and keep us posted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 28, 2014 Report Share Posted August 28, 2014 Thanks for the replies folks. That's a new one on me Magman, but then I am a novice....:-) Talking of being a novice, what's "Supposed jump length"?? Distance from the curve on the bullet to the start of the rifling. What I am getting at is fine with custom bullets with tight tolerances (and a custom chambered rifle) but as you see this std of manufacture aint the case with run of the mill bullets, heck some even measure the bullet to the tip to check it even with softpoints. Five thousands of an inch is said to make such a difference yet here we have bullets of different weights and it aint unusual for them to be like that either. Thing is now you know about those bullets being different will you shoot them as well? The forgotten factor is always the mental one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amazed Posted August 28, 2014 Report Share Posted August 28, 2014 Just out of interest what scales have you weighed them on ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jam1e Posted August 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2014 Albert 888, i'm using new Lapua .223 brass, and Hornady Bullets. I measured the weight of the bullets via Hornady digital scales and RCBS 505 scales beam scales. Cheers Jamie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pork chop Posted August 28, 2014 Report Share Posted August 28, 2014 load em,put your boots on and go out and have some fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted August 28, 2014 Report Share Posted August 28, 2014 Personally for optimum accuracy I always weigh and batch each box of bullets then load all the same weight as a batch. The spread of weights you have there are normal for VMax. Match bullets from Berger and Barts are better. I once had 200 of the new at the time Berger 50 grain 20 cal bullets. All 200 were 50.0 or 50.1, that is very unusual and I expect as a small batch bullet was only run on two machines. In practise I have seen competition shots just loading bullets straight out of a box between relays and winning, got no idea of they were previously sorted though. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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