Posted By: ChadTRG42
My rifle doesn't like this bullet....... NOT True! - 08/22/16 02:23 PM
Something that I hear often at the range or from shooters is, "My rifle doesn't like this bullet, so I switched to a different bullet." That's not 100% true. What your rifle does not like is the load used with that bullet, meaning it does not like the powder and powder charge used with this certain bullet. If you could find ammo from a different mfg or a custom load with the same bullet, it can easily be made to shoot well with that certain bullet.
Why does some factory ammo not shoot well? Ammunition made by your common ammo mfg make ammo that will (or should) chamber and function in ALL rifles in that caliber. The bullet is often seated deep in the case, which creates a long jump to the rifling, which decreases the accuracy sweet spot.
The main problem factory ammo does not shoot well- powder charge inconsistency. Factory ammunition is made on a mass production line and the powder charge is dispensed by volume, not weighed, like most hand loaders do. I have pulled MANY bullets on factory ammunition and weighed out their powder charges. Most factory ammo will have about a 1.0 grain spread. I have seen as high as a 1.9 grain spread on about 30 rounds of ammo. What is 1.9 grains difference? In fps, it's about 150-190 fps difference. Also, when I work up a load for a certain rifle, I make the test rounds going up in either a .3 or .4 grain spread (depending on the case size). A 1.9 spread will incorporate about 6 different groups of test ammo, which will have a large swing in the accuracy sweet spot, no good!
I have also taken in customers' rifle's that they said their rifle does not shoot a 180 grain Accubond well at all. They want to shoot that bullet, but they "know" the rifle doesn't like this bullet. I inform them that if you want this bullet, then let me work up a load with it. They are later amazed that their rifle now shoots this 180 grain Accubond very well when the factory ammo shot so poorly.
So if you rifle does not like a certain bullet, it can still shoot that bullet well, just in a different load. Sure, some rifles may not like a certain bullet due to the improper twist, magazine length issue, or something specific to that rifle. But in general, by switching to a different load with the bullet you want to shoot, your rifle can be made to shoot that same bullet that did poorly in another load.
Why does some factory ammo not shoot well? Ammunition made by your common ammo mfg make ammo that will (or should) chamber and function in ALL rifles in that caliber. The bullet is often seated deep in the case, which creates a long jump to the rifling, which decreases the accuracy sweet spot.
The main problem factory ammo does not shoot well- powder charge inconsistency. Factory ammunition is made on a mass production line and the powder charge is dispensed by volume, not weighed, like most hand loaders do. I have pulled MANY bullets on factory ammunition and weighed out their powder charges. Most factory ammo will have about a 1.0 grain spread. I have seen as high as a 1.9 grain spread on about 30 rounds of ammo. What is 1.9 grains difference? In fps, it's about 150-190 fps difference. Also, when I work up a load for a certain rifle, I make the test rounds going up in either a .3 or .4 grain spread (depending on the case size). A 1.9 spread will incorporate about 6 different groups of test ammo, which will have a large swing in the accuracy sweet spot, no good!
I have also taken in customers' rifle's that they said their rifle does not shoot a 180 grain Accubond well at all. They want to shoot that bullet, but they "know" the rifle doesn't like this bullet. I inform them that if you want this bullet, then let me work up a load with it. They are later amazed that their rifle now shoots this 180 grain Accubond very well when the factory ammo shot so poorly.
So if you rifle does not like a certain bullet, it can still shoot that bullet well, just in a different load. Sure, some rifles may not like a certain bullet due to the improper twist, magazine length issue, or something specific to that rifle. But in general, by switching to a different load with the bullet you want to shoot, your rifle can be made to shoot that same bullet that did poorly in another load.
Chad, just stroked out 