bullet weight

[beekeeper]

I was wondering if anyone has ever done any weight studies on cast bullets?
I know , sounds stupid.
I am always trying to better my shots at 300-465 yards.
Up until now I have simply loaded my cast bullets and shot them.
Get good accuracy but am always wanting to improve so was considering weighing each cast bullet and select the ones that are closest to exactly the same.
Or what weight variance should I use?

Any one have any ideas or ways to simplify the process?


beekeeper

[akuser47]

I do this with my brass n bullets in my .308 long range plan. I seperate all bullets and brass into there average weights. Never studied the gain, but to me consistancy is key. I think shooting anything 500 yards or further can gain accuracy by being thorough like this. I do it simply by setting out butter containers with pot its on them. start weighing and recording average weights and sort that way. Bullets n brass. Keep us posted.

[RBHarter]

I believe 3-5% is accepted for hunting 2% is accepted for general target work unless you feel the need to get completely anal and demand a gr or less in 200gr. I read of guys shooting 400+gr 45s w/10-15 gr of variation and still shoot sub MOA 500yd groups.

[Ranch Dog]

I've been through a lot of stuff with cast bullets and this was one thing that I was seriously interested in. After approaching bullet selection, the "keepers", from a number of angles, I found that visually "culling" your bullets just about eliminated the weight variations. In that a bullet is formed from a fixed cavity, there really is not much variation if that cavity is completely filled with alloy. When you remove the bullets that weren't properly "filled"; wrinkled noses, poorly defined bands, and unfilled bases, you greatly reduce the variation to the point that you are simply wasting time comparing the remaining bullets. If it is "perty" shoot it, if it is ugly "melt" it!

[beekeeper]

RD,
That is what I have always done.
Just grasping at straws trying to get better at long distances and trying to extend my hobby instead of starting a new one.
Weighed some Lee C309-150-R bullets last night and got approximately 1 grain difference over 50 so think I am good.
Just trying to get a few fellers goat that I can shoot cast as well as they can shoot jacketed.

Oh Well I will just keep on trying.


beekeeper

[62chevy]

beekeeper I just did the same thing with my rifle boolits. Most of my 180 grain boolits cast at 168.3 gr with +/- of .5 gr.

Was thinking of sending the mold back to Lee but all I do is plink and punch holes in paper so changed my mind.

[Ranch Dog]

Was thinking of sending the mold back to Lee but all I do is plink and punch holes in paper so changed my mind.

Which mold is it and what alloy are you casting with?

[62chevy]

Was thinking of sending the mold back to Lee but all I do is plink and punch holes in paper so changed my mind.

Which mold is it and what alloy are you casting with?

It's the C309-180-R, even dead soft pipe lead was casting at 170 or so.

[Ranch Dog]

It's the C309-180-R, even dead soft pipe lead was casting at 170 or so.

Does it cast at the correct diameter?

[62chevy]

It's the C309-180-R, even dead soft pipe lead was casting at 170 or so.

Does it cast at the correct diameter?

Bigger WW with 2% tin come in at .312 and with out the added tin .311. The length is .950 or slightly longer.