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I am sighting in my new 243 rifle, shooting cast bullets.
I am casting 95 grain lyman bullet. I gas check them. Then I powder coat them.
I am getting a weight range from 101.01 grains to 101.9 grains with the finished bullet.
Question is... how critical is it to keep the bullets within a certain range plus or minus a tenth of a grain?
I will only be shooting at 100 yds.
Thanks to everyone answering.
I would worry about that, just enjoy shooting them
Yup!Quote:
Originally Posted by sfcairborne
If you're not loading near max, 6-7 grains off the intended weight won't hurt and if the finished weight variation is only +/- 1 grain you're doing fine.
It's just like a lot of things. It all depends on how picky YOU want to be. Yeah, I'm sure they will shoot just fine, but the more you can make each round the same, the better they will likely shoot.
If you were shooting 600 yards, then id be a little more picky. At 100, you wont notice much for the amount of work you would put into them. My .243 will shoot 1/2 MOA with Sierra jacketed. Good for a groundhog at 300 plus. I Keep tolerances tight on those. My 45-70 will shoot into a paper plate with my cast loads at 100 with semi buckhorn and front bead sights.. Good enough for me (especially with my fading eyesight), considering its intended use. Could I work those down to 2 or 3 inches at 100? Probably. See no reason to do it. It does everything i need it to do.
Is the range of weight difference before or after PCing?
I doubt less than 1% range difference makes any difference.
If I'm developing a load I try to get them close to the same weight per 5 shot group.
YMMV
Slim
Easy enough to figure out. Cast a lot then segregate and shoot by weight.
The thing to remember is: 1 grain is 1 7000th of a pound. It's not much at all. Getting into 10ths of a grain is for really really serious target shooting.
YMMV.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Digital Dan
Why? Less than 1 grain difference twixt bullets after powder coating. Load 'em and shoot 'em.
And, he ain't gonna do that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Digital Dan
he will when he gets 2-3 over here and 2-3 over there.
I'd bet it's the powder coat throwing the weights off and wouldn't get too worked up about it unless I seen the scattered shots.
Quote:
Originally Posted by runfiverun
Fine and dandy if the PC is causing it. It won't be the weight.
Sounds like, and correct me if I have misread: The OP has not even shot these yet. He has no idea if they are accurate or not under ANY circumstance.
I don't think he has shot them yet either.
he is just concerned about the weight variance causing a problem.
I don't even weight sort most of my stuff, [heck I don't even know what most of my boolits really weigh form the mold] my model 94 really won't notice the difference.
the stuff I do weight sort for are the rifles that will show it, and for the rifles I'm pushing hard.
Sounds like the OP has an interest in shooting accurately.
Segregating boolits into smaller, weight matched batches will yield much better accuracy. The more accurately you want to shoot, the tighter the weight tolerances in your weight sorted batches.
Generally speaking, the larger the caliber, the larger the weight differences in a batch can be and still shoot accurately.
At the very least, I'll throw the heaviest and lightest boolits back in the pot.
If weight variance is from heat changes or casting tempo, you will not see a thing.
But casting voids in boolits will show up.
I believe good casting procedures will prevent voids and a little off on weight is not worth sorting.
Here's another thread on the subject...
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...a-bag-of-chips