There's a lot of stuff that goes on behind the scenes that the general "Joe Handloader" is kept in the dark about! I've found that out by digging and asking questions of the head guys in their ballistic "labs". For instance, in all of Nosler's manuals - going way back to the present - they publish results for many loads that came from computers, not actual results! Examples are plenty: On any given page where there are several bullets of the same weight but different styles, they print the same MV for all of their .30-cal in .30-06 for individual loads - as one among hundreds of examples. They never tested all those loads except for one or two out of 5 or 6, took the average of two and called it the result for all six! Then that's what went into the computer and when pulled for printing... ? You guessed it!
And Nosler isn't the only "guilty" party that does that. To test every component bullet they manufacture and then state in print that its MV was identical to every other style of that weight and calibder from an identical load is preposterous and presumptuous!
Also, they don't load their ammo, nor do others, to the "max" that's presented in their reloads. And sometimes ammo gets out the door from a batch that's not been tested!
WE EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM MASS PRODUCED PRODUCTS! Early 250gr RN .35 Whelen advertised at 2400 fps made 2247 fps from my 22" Remington out of 10 from a box of 20.
And all that's not even close to what could be said about manuals and the factory product. Yes, today matters are much improved over what they were 40 - 50 years ago - especially bullets and gun powders!
