Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Run-out discussion ? ...

Do you precision accuracy folks check for Run-Out ?

What do you use ?

Does it take having an RCBS CaseMaster type tool to REALLY check it ?

What do you do to correct rounds too far out ?

What causes Run-Out ? Dies ? bad brass ? dies set up wrong ?

Yes.

Sinclair RO gauge and Forster gauge

Yes, or something similar.

I correct my loading process (usually a die problem) and anneal every few firings, generally speaking.

Sizing dies, seater stems, expander mandrels, case neck thickness variation, neck tension variation, etc.

Yes.

Forster gauge.

Since I've switched to Forster dies I have very little run-out.

Jordan ,

[I correct my loading process (usually a die problem) and anneal every few firings, generally speaking.]

Is it an adjustment thing or worse ?
Can you run the round through the die after correction ? or do you have to pull the bullet and start over ? or is that a 600 yard warmer-upper round ?

Mike, great questions. I dont use fancy expensive dies to load ammo with less than .003 TIR. They are simply not needed. Hopefully mathman will be along shortly to explain the proper way to set up your dies for reduced run-out. Concentric ammo tends to help promote greater accuracy. Good luck with it..

Oops, forgot to tell you what I use:


This was shot at 160 yards. 10 shots in the 10 ring after 1 adjustment:



Straight ammo just shoots better...

I use the Sinclair gauge

Depending on the dies, you may have to adjust the position of the expander/decapping stem or seater stem, depending on which stage of the loading process your RO is being introduced, so that it is perfectly centered in the die, or replace the seater stem with a VLD style, if using standard dies like RCBS or Redding FL. Or you may need to uniform and trim the case necks, if neck thickness is your issue. The easiest way I’ve found to load straight ammo is to use Forster BR dies and the Lee NCD with good brass. The advantage of the Forster gauge is that it can measure neck wall uniformity, but it’s a little less user-friendly to measure TIR than the Sinclair gauge.

For already loaded ammo, you can straighten it with Jerry’s TruAngle, pull it and run it through straight dies, or just use it for offhand practice

RCBS Casemaster & a TruTool to straighten. TruTool doesn't get much use these days.

This

after measuring all the steps in my process many i found that the the standard seater dies were the biggest part of run out for me, Redding Competition Seater dies fixed it.

if you want near zero runout and are only neck sizing start with the Lee Collet neck sizers.

i found the Hornady tool very easy to use for measuring both bullet run out and case neck thickness.

don't depend on any of the tools that straighten out bullets, find and fix the problem before you get that far.

+1

Forster benchrest dies will also give amazing results

If you are shooting vld bullets, make sure you have a vld seater stem

I use this tool to check run out. Usually find a bad die, bad sizer, or bad technique used.
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Not lubing the inside of necks using std sizers will usually kink the necks way out of alignment. I use the Lee sizing wax that is white and comes in a tooth paste type of container in conjunction with a Q tip.

Pay attention to the seating pressure that is used in seating bullets, if one seats real hard, cull that piece of brass as it has work hardened and has a death grip on the bullet....usually a flyer.

I anneal every third or forth shot fired. I inside nk. lube with Hornady lube on a twisted pipe stem cleaner. After sizing I check for trim, make sure I have a good inside champfer, then polish the neck opening with 0000 steel wool to rid any burrs. My technique is to then seat the bullet on the case, run up into the die..gently..till I contact the inside of the seating stem...gently tap on the bullet with the press handle to make sure all is in alignment, then finish seating the bullet. This sounds more complicated and time comsuming than it is...but I can feel the bullet being seated smoothly.
Watching some guys seat bullets is like watching a bull in a china shop. MHO....VMMY

Thanks

I like the first sentence/question... Not to stir the pot, but you'd think all of these "precision accuracy guys" posting what they use would be in the top 10 of the "moa all day long" shoot here. Am I wrong? I'd love to see what these precision accuracy guys are putting on paper downrange. I don't want to hear lame excuses either... "The proof is in the pudding", so to speak.. It's fun to read about how you have 27 steps in sizing, and seating. Let's see it on paper in that thread.

So is that back to the original rules, or does it depend on whether you consider a sub 100 dollar POS Caldwell rest OK.

+1 Every round I fire gets checked

Great info. - plan on starting with a Lee Collet die I've had good luck with them .
Going to get a runout gauge still not sure which one , although Keiths looks a little above my pay grade . What's the brandname of that Keith ?

Jordan which of your would you pick if you could only have one ?

Are there any RO Indicators that work with a neck turning/case trimming lathe set-up ?
I need one of those too and like tool that do multiple things .

CGPaul , that's a good sounding procedure you have for seating - I sure keep those tips in mind ...

Probably the Forster, but the Sinclair gets used the most. Just like the versatility of the Forster for some tasks. Having said that, I’ve only really used the two brands. I’m sure others are good also- the Hornady unit looks pretty decent.

I'm ot a "precision accuracy" shooter. But the reason I reload is to be able to shoot accurately at longer distances. One of the best shots I know doesn't shoot groups on paper, just steel out on his range. Runout is one thing I check, all I've ever used is the RCBS gauge and it works fine for my purposes.

I don't correct runout, I just mark the cases with high runout and put them in one end of the box of 50. Usually it's not that many and I'll shoot those when I'm not looking for the best accuracy. I've found that some brass/chamber/die combinations result in very straight ammo with just a garden variety FL die, and some combinations respond best to neck sizing only, I use redding bushing dies for that.

To go after low runout the combination I recommend is a Lee collet die, a body die, and a Forster seater. I base this on cost vs. ease of use and likelihood of success.

I am following this thread with interest. I don't have the tool to check run out but I am looking into getting one. Who makes the red tool shown in the picture? Is it by Accuracy First?