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Apologies for the thread hijack Dougan!

Dangermouse wrote:I have know bought some Berger 155.5's and although I have only loaded some test rounds, they also appear to be inconsistent - which is a real pain in the behind.

The problem I find with trying to measure them is that depending on how hard/soft they are placed in the callipers & comparator the reading can differ quite a bit and it is possible to get a number of different readings for the same bullet. If anyone knows how to prevent this I would love to hear from you how you do it, DM

DM, are you measuring them with a comparator on the ogive or to the meplat? If it is a comparator what sort?

ovenpaa wrote:Apologies for the thread hijack Dougan!

Dangermouse wrote:I have know bought some Berger 155.5's and although I have only loaded some test rounds, they also appear to be inconsistent - which is a real pain in the behind.

The problem I find with trying to measure them is that depending on how hard/soft they are placed in the callipers & comparator the reading can differ quite a bit and it is possible to get a number of different readings for the same bullet. If anyone knows how to prevent this I would love to hear from you how you do it, DM

DM, are you measuring them with a comparator on the ogive or to the meplat? If it is a comparator what sort?

Not at all :) - it's very interesting...although you have started 'speaking in tongues' again :P


Does anyone know about the little hole in the tip of some FMJs - does this not affect the aerodynamics, and wouldn't a 'perfectly pointed tip' be better ? :?

It has not noticeable effect, it is quiet common with point drawn quality cases like Match Kings or Scenars . That is why OAL is best measured fron the ogive as the drawing of the jacket means that the bullets are not a consistent length base to tip.

Now proper cast boolits don't have that problem.

What you can do is trim the meplat (pointy end) so all bullets are the same length and then point them by putting them in a tipping die. I seem to remember the FB listoids referring to this as 'buggering flies'

Trimming and pointing does give change the BC of the bullet and gives a reduction of 1.25MOA at 1000 yards for my 7mm, so the rifle is shooting 15" higher in other words. next thing is measuring the length of the bearing surface and a certain Mr Spud of this parish is doing this as we speak with interesting results which hopefully he will post up very shortly.

ovenpaa wrote:What you can do is trim the meplat (pointy end)

- That's more like it :lol:

Even at 1000 yrds, 15" is a big difference....it's fascinating the effect all these differences can make :geek:

Will look out for Spud's report...

I am measuring to the ogive - although I wonder if the pointy end might give more consistent results!
I am currently using the Hornady Comparator with the correct body insert for .308. (that is a red one on p29 of the current Sinclair's catalogue - which is my mouse pad)!

In the 30 Min's that I have been absent I have just loaded a series of test rounds for the SMK 175's - as I have 150+ sitting I might as well get some details for them whilst I am doing this just in case I return to them in future.
To underline my frustration I have just found one 175gn bullet that was .030" shorter than the rest? I had to pull it to make sure that I had not got a foreign round in my tub.

:cool2:

DM