I've been handloading for a couple of years and never bothered much with sorting bullets, as most uses were for plinking and informal paper-punching, or for very close-range hunting ( boar at 20 yds,etc.).

That's changed with my new Whelen. Although I realize this isn't a benchrest proposition, I would like to cut down on the number of unwanted variables in developing loads. So I've been sorting Hornady 250 gr. RN Interlocks on my PACT scale. Those that are .5 gr (or more) over or under 250 gr. go in seperate boxes, those in between into a third.

What criteria do you folks use to sort with? I realize that some rifles may be more or less forgiving with weight variances, but would like to get a bit more uniform. How much is too much? I can see myself winding up with a dozen boxes unless someone tells me to stop

Thanks for any and all input.

Take your bullets you sorted and shoot a group of five that weigh the same and then take a mix of five bullets that have the widest spread and shoot another five shot group and you most likly see that there will be little difference between the two groups in size. This will answer your question.Good Luck

I ONLY WEIGH BULLETS ON RARE OCCASIONS AND THAT's JUST TO CHECK ON A NEW BOX OR IF SOMETHING
DOESN,T FEEL RIGHT. I do however, measure the
bullet's length and sort them before loading
to keep the seating depth consistant. Weighing
cases is also a concern but only if I am trouble-
shooting a problem load or making a load up for
hunting at ranges in excess of 200 yds.BLR7

Thanks for the replies ; I'll leave well-enough alone.

Been going nuts waiting for the range to open and doing all sorts of anal things to pass the time.

.5 grains is only a .002% deviation in weight on a 250 grains bullet, do it only if you are very bored. I have never weighed my match bullets for 600 yard shooting.

Never mind the weight differences, get a Redding Bullet Comparitor.

It measures the distance from the base of the bullet to the ogive.

Sort a box of 100 bullets, and you will find 90 of them will only vary .001 or .002 either side of a "norm".

The other 10 will vary .005 or more either side, and that could make up to .012 variable extreme spread.

If one loads a 5 shot group with 3 "good" bullets, and one from each extreme, guess what kind of group you are going to get?

Most Hornady, Sierra, Nosler and Speer bullets don't vary very much, but the Barnes X, can really give you fits, and now I sort all my X bullets before shooting them. It makes quite a difference.