Bullet companies

mountaineer magic · 08-30-2011, 02:09 PM

What makes some bullets better than others?
Accuracy and terminal performance are 2 factors.what makes some bullet companies better. Then others? Well I think one factor is the weight tolerances of the bullet. I was bored today so I weighed a bunch of bullets. Everything from no excuse conicals to some old buffalo bullets to barnes ,shockwaves lehighs and many others. I even had a basket of leftover bullets including Dead Center powerbelts etc. I noticed that some of my favorite and most accurate bullets were consistent to within a grains with many within .1 (1/10) grain But one of the bullets that I don't much like varied as much as 10 grains Since I don't much like that brand I won't mention the name lest you think I am picking on them. My conclusion was that the companies that make some of the better bullets seem to make them consistent weight wise. Maybe it's a bigger factor than we think.I know in my experiments with round ball it made a whole lot of difference. What do you guys think? Even if it doesnt matter much I like the ideas that if the package says 250 gr that I am shooting 250 gr or very close instead of 240 gr or so

mountaineer magic · 08-30-2011, 02:15 PM

Oh for those interested the top 3 most consistent weight wise were lehighs,Barnes and shockwave

flounder33 · 08-30-2011, 02:24 PM

I need to get a scale. I agree that consistency in weight and dimension is what would make one companies bullets better. Just out of curiosity how much did the no excuses vary?

mountaineer magic · 08-30-2011, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flounder33

I need to get a scale. I agree that consistency in weight and dimension is what would make one companies bullets better. Just out of curiosity how much did the no excuses vary?

I weighed about 20 no excuses and the difference was 3 gr but I didn't count count how many were within a grain or less.

mountaineer magic · 08-30-2011, 02:31 PM

I was amazed at how many lehighs were right on the nose. 250 gr exactly

Semisane · 08-30-2011, 02:33 PM

I've always figured a variable is a variable, and the fewer you have the better your results are likely to be. Some may be more important than others though.

An 85 grain powder charge is over 12% heavier than an 80 grain charge. So if you're not consistent throwing charges you could see a real difference. But a 255 grain bullet is only 2% heavier than a 250 grainer. But it's still a variable.

mountaineer magic · 08-30-2011, 02:45 PM

I had some bullets that were 10 gr difference that might not be much of a percentage from a 245 gr bullet but 10 gr sure sounds like a lot to me when considering the technology we have .we aren't talking hand cast lead.

bronko22000 · 08-30-2011, 02:58 PM

I would have to agree that bullet consistancy is probably the bigges factor in accuracy.
Not sure how much a difference a couple grains of BP +/- would make. I know the so called experts say that 1 or 2 grains don't make a difference with rifle powders. But I know for a fact that that just isn't true. Time and time again I've found that a grain or two difference in charges can consitantly reduce group size all else being equal.
I think I have an opportunity for experimentation.
Next time out, I will weigh out 10 charges and throw 10 charges and see what the difference in accuracy is. I will use my .54 GM 1:70 for the test.

mountaineer magic · 08-30-2011, 03:12 PM

I agree bronco . Daves recent test showed how much a difference 5 gr of powder can make. I think the more consistent everything is the better so if I pay a buck for a bullet it should weigh very close to what they say. I don't think that is to much to expect is it?

hometheaterman · 08-30-2011, 03:41 PM

Did you way any Speer Deep Curls or Hornady XTP's? How did they do?

I'm also very curious to see which company varied 10 grains? If you don't want to post it, could you pm me?