Why is it that some rifles will digest almost any bullet with decent accuarcy while others will sometimes only shoot 1 kind of bullet?

Case in point my Kimber 8400 270 wsm. The only bullet I have found so far that it likes is the 140 gr HPBT Game king with RE 19 or 22.


Having tried partitions in 130 & 140gr, Scirocco's , Accubonds , and some Federal premium factory loads with the TSX's and none shooting moa I'm begining to wonder if the sierra is the only bullet this gun is going to shoot.

Anyone got any tips or answers?

Every rifle / barrel is a law unto itself. Get to know its quirks and if you like them, exploit them. I know that makes absolutely no sense

I know what your saying but not neccessarly smart enough to understand it.

If a sierra shoots great what other bullet might share the same likable qualities as the sierra.

Have you played with the seating depth on the other bullets, did you chronograph all the loads? The more information you gather about the load that shoots the best will be the key for developing other "good" loads. The distance from the o'give of the bullet to the lands, the bearing surface, neck tension, and much more will affect how a particular load shoots in a given rifle.
In a nutshell try to match your other loads to the good load and usually the rifle will respond.

i have steyrs that will shoot Indian surplus 147 gr FMJ into 1.5".

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Have you played with the seating depth on the other bullets, did you chronograph all the loads? The more information you gather about the load that shoots the best will be the key for developing other "good" loads. The distance from the o'give of the bullet to the lands, the bearing surface, neck tension, and much more will affect how a particular load shoots in a given rifle.
In a nutshell try to match your other loads to the good load and usually the rifle will respond.

Yes I have to all of the above. ES is usually no more than 25 fps.with a 3 shot group. Sierra likes to be seated -.025, 140 partitons like -.035 better but still won't shoot moa consistantly. I gave up on the accubonds, and my shotgun patterns better than the scirocco's.

i've run into this a time or two. ended up just using that particular bullet, rebarreling the gun, or trading it off

I only have two rifles that are not picky. One is a Steyr in 6.5x55, the other is one those gosh awful heavy FN SPR rifles in 308. I can't really get any different powders or bullets to shoot better than the other since loading for these rifles.
On the other side, my Model 700 in 243 will really only shoot 55 grain Noslers and 60 grain Sierras with decent accuracy. Go figure.

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Anyone got any tips or answers?

Buy LOTS of Sierra's!

They've actually narrowed down the process for you. Now you just have to find the right powder. I've got a Rem 22-250 that will only shoot Hornadys 40, 50 & 55gr V-Max into 3/8" all day long, everything else is an inch or worse.

sierra's are just fine for deer, but I had hopes of finding a little tougher bullet for larger game!

How do the velocities compare to the Sierras with the other bullets?
Accuracy is about barrel vibration, if you can get the barrel to vibrate in a similar manner with the other bullets groups will improve. I am trying to find a load with a 110gr Accubond that shoots as well as the 100BT does in my 250AI and so far I have not been to impressed.
I would try the Hornady interlock- they shot real well in my 270AI with RL22 and 4831SC. I have not shot the Interbond yet. Good luck in your search.

www.duanesguns.com

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Originally posted by skunk:
Anyone got any tips or answers?

Sometimes reloading is a crapshoot. Keep trying different combinations. This hobby wouldn't be any fun if you found the magic combination on the very first try everytime. If it drives you up a wall, go back to factory fodder. Then you can ask them, WHY?

It's bbl. harmonics. All bullets are not the same. Diff. jacket mat'l., core hardness, bullet profile, all make for variations that can affect accuracy. My 260ai shoots just about everything well, some realy well. My 338-06 hates all of the 225gr bullets I have tried, but loves the 210grNP & any 250gr bullet, go figure.