After a 9 or so year absense I finally got back into reloading.

I am curious if anyone is as picky as I am.

I have a digital scale and measure out each charge exactly.

I also spot measure loaded rounds (every 6 or so) for length using a vernier caliper off the ogive!!!

Yep, I weigh all my charges and measure every round.

In my mind so much effort goes into reloading frlom all the case prep to the fuel to get to the range. I do just about all I can to exact everything!!!

Rah,

If you were truly picky you'd weigh each charge on a balance beam scale. You'd also measure the seating depth off the ogive with a high-end caliper (mine is a Mitutoyo) with Sinclair's tapered steel inserts for the Stoney Point collimator. You'd measure EVERY round. You'd also measure the ogive length of every bullet and sort them into groups of no more the +/- .001, then uniform the noses on these bullets with a metplat uniformer, again to +/- .001.

This doesn't even address brass prep.

There is more you could do, like use a lab grade balance beam scales and a Juenke internal concentricity comparator, but what I described avove worked well enough to set a couple club records, shoot screamer groups, and win matches.

So in light of that, your approach doesn't seem so picky to me.....

If you were truly picky you'd weigh each charge on a balance beam scale. You'd also measure the seating depth off the ogive with a high-end caliper (mine is a Mitutoyo) with Sinclair's tapered steel inserts for the Stoney Point collimator. You'd measure EVERY round. You'd also measure the ogive length of every bullet and sort them into groups of no more the +/- .001, then uniform the noses on these bullets with a metplat uniformer, again to +/- .001.

Blane
This is good practice.
When hunting, every round needs to be it's best.
HD

Every powder charge gets weighed on my Ohaus. I have a list of settings for each brand and weight of bullet for my Forster seater. I set it to be a bit longer than the desired end result to allow for differences in individual bullets within a box. After seating to that setting I check with an RCBS Precision Mic and go progressively deeper, checking with the mic after each reseat stroke until I get where I want to be. Best, John

I have to admint I am only that fussy with my 1K BR rifle, and I despise sorting and trimming bullets. However, it does make a difference in that game.

I do measure each charge with a digital scale..........i guess in comparison to members here I am not as picky as I thought!!!

I do the same thing. Nothing wrong with keeping consistent. Plus my shooting show how the extra step is worth it.

+1 Me too.

Blaine, since you have one of the comparators have you checked alot of hunting style bullets? I have some that shoot lights out and then others form same manufacturer that make good fishing sinkers. Trying to decide whether or not to get one to help eliminate flyers. Thanks

Nope. I long ago realized that since there will never, ever be two loaded rounds exactly alike in EVERY way, that to achieve perfection, I'd only be able to reload one cartridge - ever.

That didn't appeal to me, so now I just pull the handle and stuff in bullets!

I haven't checked any hunting bullets, but that would be a place to start. However, I am not sure it make a difference at 100 to 200 yds.

How much does one of those cost anyway?

Rocky +1.

I recall a study (50's? Whelen?) that showed improved accuracy from powder measures over weighing each charge. I compromise - I pull the handle four times and weigh the fifth.

I'd bet you'd be amazed at how accurate ammo is from a "Lee Loader". Now that's unpicky! But the darn things work. Kinda make a guy feel foolish for investing so much $$ in stuff.

I weighed everything up to a few years ago, Now I use a powder measure, powders are more friendly now compared to the stick powder of just a few years ago. I read somewhere that bench rest shooters charge cases by volume, this is what ta powder measure does. I have not noticed any differance doing it one way or the other , other than time.

It depends on the kind of BR shooter you are talking about. Little BR guys do often throw their charges, but they are thrown very accurately. 1000 yd BR guys weigh every one. I see no issue with throwing ona hunting rifle, espeically the ones with larger case capacities.

I weigh every charge on a balance beam scale, just because that's the way I started 33 years ago. I check the OAL on my loaded rounds with a calipre. For hunting accuracy out to 300 yards, mine work fine. And groups at 100, and 200 are good enough to put a smile on my face -- of course, it don't take as small a group to get me smiling as it does some guys. I've never shot at anything over 400 yards away, and then only once -- my first moose -- first shot put it down in its tracks. I grinned BIG that day.

So what is "minute of moose" anyway?

All the above but I also use a Tubbs Meplat Uniformer on Hollow Points and a Bersin tools to adjust Concentricity to less than .002. I flatten the primer pockets of every round of rifle brass with a Sinclair uniformer and then use it to clean them after the 1st uniforming. Some necks I turn.
Probably not needed for hunting ammo, but I do get results I'm reasonably happy with............................DJ

FC,

I missed this. You need a 6" caliper, which can run anywhere from $12 to $200. The COL tool used to be made by Stoney Point but Hornady now offers the tool.

Cost will be around $80 if you get the whole deal, which includes: colimator, inserts, COL gauge, and a couple modified cases. This allows you to check bullet seating depth as well as as measure loaded round OAL to the ogive.

https://www.hornady.com/shop/?ps_session=822f3d2546fc85ddac54d42cd549602b&page=shop%2Fbrowse&category_id=ed0a24f7da507b583bac1a8d6e16635b

Jaywalker: I used the Lee Loader for years, and still do at the range for load development. Good tool. But as far as the origional subject goes, I also weigh every charge for rifle. I also handload for the 9mm Pistol but I use a Lee Dipper for that one. The dipper puts out a medium load with the powder I use.

cur dog

You are not that picky

If I weighed powder for every charge I'd never have time to shoot.

+1 more.... I do all that and a tad more... You can't be too careful

Yes you can....

I think it all depends on the components you are using and what you want your gun to do. IE-hunting loads for my 308 bar here in wisconsin...don't need perfect runnout and unbelievable case prep as there is almost never a shot over 100 yds. Going to Alaska where I might try a 500 yd poke....that would require a bit more like watching runnout and making sure I'm MOA (or under)to at least 350 yds which is about as far as I can practice
at. Guys doing 1000 target and hunting need even more.
ALSO different guns seem to respond better to really really good prep. Other guns don't even need it for 500 yds shooting.
A year or so back a guy over at Snipers Hide took his match grade 308....loaded ammo on a progressive press without even weighing charges....didn't check runnout..no fancy neck turning or flash hole reaming....and went out and fired several 3" groups at 500 yds!!