Sealesniper
Well-Known Member
I have a custom 6.5x284 and it has been a laser with 140 LVD Berger bullets. Over the last 12 months I have been working with Nosler Accubonds Long Range 142 grain Spitzers with great terminal effects on deer and bear at extended ranges. This past Sunday I went to the range with a new batch of LR Accubonds as I had worked through the first box. WTH???? I sight in at 250 and I would have the first two touching, then the next two would be 1/2" high and a spread of 3/4" to 5/8". I normally get snowmen or clover leaf patterns (if I do my part). I backed off, took a breath, let the barrel cool and over the next hour and a half, continued to get the same unusual groups. I did not shoot all the rounds I had loaded as I wanted to verify them when I got home.
Once home I verified Ogive, OAL, pulled the bullets and verified the charge, verified the necks as best I could with just pulled brass and nothing was off. I then decided since I had the scale zeroed and calibrated to check a few bullet weights. I took 50 rounds out of the Nosler box and WOW, not at all uniform. I had variences from 141.6 grains up to 142.3 grains. Out of the 50 I tested only 10 (20% were exactly 142 grains). I came up with a Standard Deviation of 0.164639 grains, a Mean of 141.894 grains and a variance of 0.027106 grains. Just for kicks, I took the box of 140 grain Berger VLD's down and weighed 50 of them. 49 were exactly 140 grains and one was 139.9. I did not run any calculations on them as that is about as perfect as one could ask.
So here is my question. How much difference does that SD make at 1000 yards? I did not have my chronograph with me Sunday to get velocity (wish I had) but using my standard balistics program it does not show any apparent vaiance in POI even out to 1000 yards which I dont believe. As shooters, how willing are we as a group to support what I feel is **** poor quality control? For over the past 12 months I have been singing praises of the Long Range Accubond. Should I be? Then, will this small variance really make any difference on any ethicaly shot I take at deer? Should we as shooters and customers continue to purchase bullets from manufactures that claim 142 grain bullets and only 20% of the bullets in that lot actually are that weight? Berger has the quality control, why does not Nosler?
Roger
Once home I verified Ogive, OAL, pulled the bullets and verified the charge, verified the necks as best I could with just pulled brass and nothing was off. I then decided since I had the scale zeroed and calibrated to check a few bullet weights. I took 50 rounds out of the Nosler box and WOW, not at all uniform. I had variences from 141.6 grains up to 142.3 grains. Out of the 50 I tested only 10 (20% were exactly 142 grains). I came up with a Standard Deviation of 0.164639 grains, a Mean of 141.894 grains and a variance of 0.027106 grains. Just for kicks, I took the box of 140 grain Berger VLD's down and weighed 50 of them. 49 were exactly 140 grains and one was 139.9. I did not run any calculations on them as that is about as perfect as one could ask.
So here is my question. How much difference does that SD make at 1000 yards? I did not have my chronograph with me Sunday to get velocity (wish I had) but using my standard balistics program it does not show any apparent vaiance in POI even out to 1000 yards which I dont believe. As shooters, how willing are we as a group to support what I feel is **** poor quality control? For over the past 12 months I have been singing praises of the Long Range Accubond. Should I be? Then, will this small variance really make any difference on any ethicaly shot I take at deer? Should we as shooters and customers continue to purchase bullets from manufactures that claim 142 grain bullets and only 20% of the bullets in that lot actually are that weight? Berger has the quality control, why does not Nosler?
Roger
