Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Reloading manual variations

I know this horse has been kicked around many times, but this is a little different. In studying the 243 cartridge in my most current Nosler manual, on page 178 where all the specifications are listed, it shows the capacity on the case used,(Nosler) to be 52.5 gr. Of water. On the very next page, it shows the capacity of the same Nosler case to be 50.0 gr. of water. My question…..Is there that much variation in what is supposed to be Premium brass? And how does this variation affect pressure and accuracy, especially at longer ranges?

Different bullet lengths, and to a lesser extent, rear profiles. They're probably providing the water capacity with a bullet seated.

If he would have jumped up to 105-107 grain it’s 48. Dig farther and the 70 grain is 50.8 just a hair over the 95-100. The only ones that vary in seating depth are the 105-107 and 55’s. So you are correct.

I think you'll note that as bullets go up in weight, useable case capacity goes down, unless seating depth gets shallower. Nosler apparently accounted for this in their reported data.

I'll note that I've used Nosler brass in a number of cartridges, and that I've found it to be very consistent in every way. The 6.5 CM Nosler brass I have is the most consistent I've ever measured.

Now it makes sense. I wasn’t allowing for a seated bullet. Dumbass me.