North Texan

Thanks for the info, Bigcountry and Reb. I have taken my ammo and rolled it along a table to look for slight wobbles, but I haven't really given it much thought.

bigcountry

You can't see .003", so your good. But you can easily see .006" or greater.

Rebel Hog

Tex, you have 3 things to consider when reloading, the case, the neck and the bullet. IMO, when you use the table to roll them, it just tells you that you are way off. You can see the cartridge wobble, but are just guessing on how much it's off.
The case could have the banana affect, the neck could be off centeror the bullet could have to much run-out. To be as perfect as one can, like BC and myself and I'm sure like many on this board, you need a Sinclair or aNeco dail run-out indicator. Then you can go back to your dies and reset as indicated. I use a Neco dial indicator,Redding competition bench dies and Neil Jonespowder measure.I've had all the other makes, but in the long run, these will save you a lot of time. I didnt mention a goodcase neck trimmer and powder scale which is a must, like an Ohaus to check your powder measure. I know, I know guys, the other makes load them too, but not as precise as these I mentioned.
Tex, the rifling does not straighten the bullet, the way the bullet goes in, is the way it's going to print when itcontacts the rifling.

James B

I guess you ned to read my post again where I said its a step that I choose not to take. However I also said that if I ran into a problem with lack of accuracy, thats a thing that I then would check as a possible problem. The fact that the loads that I turn out are far better than mediocre shows be that whatever I am doing is working. Now its true that if I don't need a load that shoots 1/2 inch or less, then I won't spend as much time on that load as I would if I did. I have a lot of hobbies and need to spend time at all of them. My loading for accuracy now is primarily Black Powder load that I just seat with my fingers. The methods I have used for years, produce good results but like I said, checking runout would be a step to take if a problem occured. Sorry if my opinion got in your way.

bigcountry

Good for you. Happy for ya.

BigBob .30-06

James,

I think any handloader might find any step that may improve accuracy to be of interest. However it may not apply to those who load for minute of elephant at fifty yards. Minute of prairie dog at 400 yards demands a little finer accuracy. Then again a prairie dog can't stomp you into a grease spot, so I could be wrong. My experience has shown that ammo with too much runout results in fliers, as much as 2" at 100 yards. If your punching out of round holes in paper, or said prairie dogs, that can turn the air blue faster than anything else I know of. One of the bad side effects not often mentioned is that thin necks may result in a case that doesn't hold a bullet as securely as an unturned neck. A definite no-no in case of the whomper stompers. It may be necessary to get one of the bushing type sizing dies, which gets into some money. Nice visiting with you.

James B

You are absolutely right. If you have a problem with bullet runout, your accauacy will suffer. By keeping my dies squared up. cases trimed and lubed properly, measure every powder charge and sorting my bullets by weight, I find my minute of prairie dog pretty good. As a SD guy, I have been a dog shooter forever. If I have a load that for some reason does not meet my standards, I would start lookinmg for the reason. I certainly would not discourage others from doing anything that improves their loads.

While shooting steel silhouettes I found that for me, sorting my bullets by weight and weighing the water caapcity of the brass and sorting them into lots and marking them, seemed to pay the best dividends for my match loads. Its a little messy and time consuming the first time around, one the cases were sorted and marked, the job went pretty well.

For average hunting loads I don't bother with some of the stuff I do for target loads.

bigcountry

Hmm, thats not the way you portrayed it in this post James. Oh well

So your saying you wasn't trying to help but tootin your own horn?

James B

I don't know where you would get that idea. If the things I do appeal to other loaders then I hope it helps their quest for good loads. Maybe I just don't know how to get my point accross. Well anyway I give up if it isn't clear by now. I always try to help others by what I have learned. Same thing you are trying to do I would say. I will stay out of any further posting on this topic.