what i've learned.

[cleardatum]

in my two long months as a handloader/ precision shooter, i have learned many things. i'd like to share some of my findings, if you have time. feel free to comment.
1) optimizing oal seems to enhance accuracy, if measured properly (from the ogive).
2) bullets (even good ones) vary in length significantly, and the difference is almost always in the nose. a meplat uniformer will be tested to verify this. i'll just settle for measuring oal at the ogive for now.
3) loading recipes can vary significantly, even from legitimate and current sources.
4) long barrels can be very accurate.
5) short barrels can be very accurate.
6) heavy barrels can be very accurate.
7) light barrels can be very accurate.
8) dirty barrels can be very accurate.
9) clean barrels can be very accurate.
10) rifles can be very accurate regardless of action.
11) everything affects everything.
12) annealing improves accuracy and case life.
13) annealing is a waste of time.
14) copper fouling improves accuracy.
15) copper fouling is an accuracy killer.
16) i will probably wear out my barrel before finding the perfect target load.
17) bottom your primers in the pocket when seating.
18) seat primers .003 to .005 below flush.
19) neck sizing is a godsend.
20) f/l sizing is absolutely necessary.
a lot of this list is tongue in cheek, but true nonetheless. more than anything else, i now realize that when the old timers say every gun is a world unto itself, they're right!!

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Pretty good.

I didn't hear you mention that clean and shiny cases shoot better.

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

A proper bullet seater stem (for rifle) is the one that pushes on the center of the bullets ogive rather than on the nose. So (for rifle) I know of none that would cause differing C.O.A.L measurements due to bullet seating. The distance a bullet is seated off the lands will affect accuracy and each rifle will be a rule unto itself as to what distance is best. Some like their bullet jammed right into the lands while others prefer the bullet to jump possibly as much as .050".

Hornady sells a bullet gauge that may be just what you need to sort those bullets by length at the ogive.
http://www.hornady.com/store/Lock-N-Load-.224-.308-Comparator-Set-With-6-Bullet-Inserts/

 

[Mus408]

I'm trying to keep my reloading simple and fun...if the round goes bang and the steel goes clang,from 20 yds., it was a good day...SUCCESS! And maybe the little jingle in my pockets is what I saved over store bought ammo.

 

[2Late45]

Pretty good.

I didn't hear you mention that clean and shiny cases shoot better.

I thought this was a given...

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

Another to add to the list:

Whenever there are multiple ways to do something, all of which produce identical results, mine is the only one to use, and yours is stupid.

:roll: :roll:

Rick C

 

[willk]

Hi,

Another to add to the list:

Whenever there are multiple ways to do something, all of which produce identical results, mine is the only one to use, and yours is stupid.

:roll: :roll:

Rick C

I totally disagree, your method is ok, but mine is better, cheaper, more accurate and of course, just plain the way it SHOULD be done :lol:

 

[Rick Courtright]

I totally disagree, your method is ok, but mine is better, cheaper, more accurate and of course, just plain the way it SHOULD be done :lol:

Hi,

And, as they like to say, "That's when the fight began!" :lol:

Sure glad I didn't have a cup of coffee next to the keyboard when I read that--there'd have been quite a spill. Good one, will!

Rick C

 

[Slenk]

Cast bullets are cheaper and more fun.

 

[cleardatum]

making bullets is on my list. and powdercoating, which seems to meet with a positive response more often than not.

 

[mikld]

Hi,

Another to add to the list:

Whenever there are multiple ways to do something, all of which produce identical results, mine is the only one to use, and yours is stupid.

:roll: :roll:

Rick C

I totally disagree, your method is ok, but mine is better, cheaper, more accurate and of course, just plain the way it SHOULD be done :lol:

Sorry to inform youz guys, but you're both wrong. The guy with the most posts is the unquestionable expert and is always right (except for when I answer)... :mrgreen:

 

[Rick Courtright]

making bullets is on my list. and powdercoating, which seems to meet with a positive response more often than not.

Hi,

Learning to cast bullet is rewarding as a hobby, as a way to save a penny or three, and perhaps a valuable skill for the "end of the world" types. It's not something you're likely to master without a lot of practice and much more learning, but is well worth the time and effort.

As for powdercoating, I'm not sure I've made up my mind on it: is it another "fad" based on something that will certainly help a select few but do little for the rest of us, kinda like moly coated bullets were a few years ago; is it something that's really a whole new step in the cast bullet game that most of us will benefit from; or will it simply fade back to use by just the bench resters and others who benefit most from many of these specialty bullets? Since my casting is for "workable" bullets within the limits of my own abilities to shoot anything: being nervous and jerky with eyesight that's nothing like it once was, combined with a whole raft of "bad habits" left over from years of competitive shotgunning, I kinda figure "Son, your problems ain't from the bullet you're using." So it sounds like one of those "If I'm curious enough, I might try it. Or maybe not" things for myself. YMMV, of course!

Rick C

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

I have to agree with Rick Courtright on powder coated bullets. Not for me.
I know a couple of guys that jumped on the moly fad wagon. One of them ended up replacing his barrel after he decided it was "impossible to remove" (his words , not mine) and the other just quit using it after a short time. He don`t even talk about it anymore. I think powder coating will go the same way.

 

[DGW1949]

Ya left off #21.....
Some guns defy established logic because they shoot a lot better than they should.

DGW

 

[stevemb]

Well, you have learned a whole lot right quick ! Me ? Frog smackin' loads, what is minute of frog 10-20ft..

 

[Rick Courtright]

Well, you have learned a whole lot right quick ! Me ? Frog smackin' loads, what is minute of frog 10-20ft..

Hi,

Steve, I haven't smacked any frogs since my Daisy Model 25 days (50+ yrs ago), but the ones we did were about an inch to an inch and half long (whatever kind they were, they weren't big'uns even full grown, and we were after 'em shortly after they left tadpole stage.) That gun was good to about 15 ft on that size quarry! So I guess MOF was 1" at 15 ft? (Standard BB gun targets were rated for 10 meters/33 feet, and it seems the bull was about an inch, but they didn't swim that fast!)

Rick C

 

[Mohillbilly]

I have a good one , when choose'n powders , always pick the ones that fill the case More than half way , no double charges , and better shot to shot fps . An other learned the hard way is NEVER make a dumb ie with a live primer only spent ones .

 

[Precision32]

If you take a sharpie and put a racing stripe down the bullet it will go faster. :mrgreen:

 

[GunnyGene]

The cure for all of this is to ditch all your guns and become proficient with atlatl's.

:mrgreen: :wink:

 

[willk]

The cure for all of this is to ditch all your guns and become proficient with atlatl's.

:mrgreen: :wink:

I agree and when everyone ditches them, I know of a great place in North Central Louisiana where you can send them all. :wink:

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

Gunny, your atlatl looks just a tiny bit short. Is that the new subsonic model?

Rick C