We're not talking about the firearm or the shooter, but in cartridge reloading for a rifle.

Question:
What component contributes the most to accuracy?

Choices:
Bullet
Cartridge case
Powder
Primer
Other (explain)

 

Other - Consistency

I voted with Frank. If you do everything the same way with the same components, whatever they are, you get the best results.

Bullets, Barrels, and Bedding.

quote:

Other - Consistency

+1

Hitting the target.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
Other - Consistency

Fjold is on the dot with his answer.

Some guys should reload and some guys shouldn't. We don't load to save money! We load to insure consistency! ....and tailor our loads to our specific gun and application.


Zeke

Can't pick one from the OP's poll. It takes the right combination of bullet/powder/OAL for starters.

quote:

Originally posted by JGRaider:
Can't pick one from the OP's poll. It takes the right combination of bullet/powder/OAL for starters.

I can't pick just one either so I agree with JG on this one. Too many times I've seen a minor change of bullet (brand weight or shape) powder (weight or type) OAL (OAL affects speed and accuracy).
Can't get anywhere without the other 2.

Other, e.g.:
Combination of shooter's ability, barrel quality, bedding, bullet, handloading tools and technique, etc.

Gremlins. "Lucking into" a load still happens, despite expertise in all of the above. Mostly I would answer it is in the machining of the weapon and that includes optics.

quote:

Lucking into" a load still happens

With a good rifle and good loading experience it happens a lot more often then not.

More rifles I loaded for shot good with the first load I tried with them then not.

quote:

Originally posted by Andre Mertens:
Other, e.g.:
Combination of shooter's ability, barrel quality, bedding, bullet, handloading tools and technique, etc.

I believe the OP said:

We're not talking about the firearm or the shooter, but in cartridge reloading for a rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
Other - Consistency

My first thought as well!

Read the OP's criteria; all the hardware is a Constant. So forget about barrels, bedding and the shooter. Of the variables left, bullets are the most important. You can't make a bad bullet shoot well no matter how consistent you are. But good bullets shoot well from dipped powder charges from a ten dollar Lee loader.
Think about it.

Accuracy ?

Accuracy = the ability to hit the target !

Precision = ability to group on that target !

Both related yet both different !

So first and foremost accuracy has little to do with the hardware other than the hardware has to shoot where it is pointed ! More to do with the shooter. Precision on the other hand relates to having a capable shooter but now hardware plays a deciding role !

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
Read the OP's criteria; all the hardware is a Constant. So forget about barrels, bedding and the shooter. Of the variables left, bullets are the most important. You can't make a bad bullet shoot well no matter how consistent you are. But good bullets shoot well from dipped powder charges from a ten dollar Lee loader.
Think about it.

And some rifles will not shoot good bullets worth a flip either. Too many variables go into making accurate loads.

Back to the OP's premise; a bad rifle will shoot good bullets better than a bad rifle/barrel/bedding/shooter, etc, will shoot bad bullets. Which falls within the parameters outlined by him. He only asked about which variable was most important given a fixed set of circumstances. That, in my opinion, is the bullet. You can't add criteria unless the OP allows it (in his unique test, anyway).
Yes, he meant precision, not accuracy.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
Back to the OP's premise; a bad rifle will shoot good bullets better than a bad rifle/barrel/bedding/shooter, etc, will shoot bad bullets. Which falls within the parameters outlined by him. He only asked about which variable was most important given a fixed set of circumstances. That, in my opinion, is the bullet. You can't add criteria unless the OP allows it (in his unique test, anyway).
Yes, he meant precision, not accuracy.

+1

Ditto Frank: CONSISTANCY

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
Back to the OP's premise; a bad rifle will shoot good bullets better than a bad rifle/barrel/bedding/shooter, etc, will shoot bad bullets. Which falls within the parameters outlined by him. He only asked about which variable was most important given a fixed set of circumstances. That, in my opinion, is the bullet. You can't add criteria unless the OP allows it (in his unique test, anyway).
Yes, he meant precision, not accuracy.

To clarify: read "accuracy" as smallest group size.

Good question.I don't have an answer to that.I know the proper load or powder is very important to match the bullet weight/rifle twist but I have not used powders without having a good source of accurate reloading data beforehand.Someone would have to really play around with components to determine which effects accuracy most.If one were to stick to using components that are common or popular I believe choice of powder varies most and if you don't choose the right one you will get crazy results.

Ok, consider this; you can vary powder charges by quite a bit, especially with slow powders and not make a huge change in usable group size, but if you try flinging bad bullets with any powder charge, No matter how consistently you make them, then your groups will open up, more. Consistency, whilst certainly important, in this context, will not gain the improved results that good bullets will. If you shoot bad bullets, you will consistently get, bad results. But even with slightly varying powder charges (and we are talking just "thrown" charges, not measured, and using different primers, you will get better results with better bullets than you will with bad ones.
So, my answer is still, the most important variable, given the OP's constants, is, bullets.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
Ok, consider this; you can vary powder charges by quite a bit, especially with slow powders and not make a huge change in usable group size, but if you try flinging bad bullets with any powder charge, No matter how consistently you make them, then your groups will open up, more. Consistency, whilst certainly important, in this context, will not gain the improved results that good bullets will. If you shoot bad bullets, you will consistently get, bad results. But even with slightly varying powder charges (and we are talking just "thrown" charges, not measured, and using different primers, you will get better results with better bullets than you will with bad ones.
So, my answer is still, the most important variable, given the OP's constants, is, bullets.

I've always considered the bullet as the most important variable in a handload, but posted this poll to see what others thought.

I voted other being the OAL. My best load in my 22/250 groups .375 all day long when I do my part. All I have to do to have it group 2" is change the OAL.

Your 22-250 does not reflect most calibers' reaction to oal changes. Two inch group changes are rare, in my experience.
Here is a good example; cast bullets in BP cartridge loads; the bullet is by far the most important thing; if your bullets aren't near perfect in terms of weight and size, not to mention bullet lube and lead alloy, you can go from very good groups to disaster in a hurry. Nothing else matters nearly as much. Fortunately our modern jacketed bullets are super quality so we (I) don't worry about them.

Barrel!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Ackley Improved User:
Barrel!!!

We're not talking about the firearm or the shooter

There is no single item that contributes more to accuracy than others.

For a rifle to shoot accurately, one needs a good barrel, installed properly in a good action,and

Bedded properly.

The above also require good bullets.

The load can be taylored to suit.

And the final part is the shooter.

I believe a straight cartridge is most important assuming the right bullet/powder combo.
I mean a TIR on the bullet of less than .003". To achieve this brass with uniform neck thickness is needed, .001" or less. Without neck turning.

It would appear that reading comprehension is a much bigger problem than accuracy.

I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that the greatest contributor to accuracy is the shooter.


I have given my 14 year old daughter 3 separate rifles to shoot for the first time - she never shot any of them before.

A Sako HB in 22-150 Remington
A Remington 40X in 220 Swift
A Sako TRG M10 in 308 Winchester. This one is actually hers. She saw it when I got it, and commented what a nice looking gun it was. I told her she can have it, and as that is the case, she has to install her own scope on it. She picked a Leupold VX 4-24X and put it on herself.
Have to follow in the family footsteps I suppose. Her uncle, who I used to have sitting on my lap while I hold the 410 shotgun, used to shoot flying doves. He went on to win an Olympic Gold Medal in Double Trap

They all were using ammo I have developed for each rifle.

She is the only one who shot groups very close to the ones I have shot.

Just for fun, I have been keeping track of other shooters - all older than her, including some hunters who have been hunting for a very long time, and their kids who hunt as well.

Some are actually hunting guides in Europe.

Not a single one of them has shot any groups with these rifles even remotely as good as mine or hers

Makes me so bloody proud of her.

quote:

A Sako HB in 22-150 Remington
Makes me so bloody proud of her.

Your pride is a just reward, I'm sure.
Is the 22-150 a type-O.

roger

Saeed,
I cannot believe that little girl of yours is already fourteen. I remember the pictures of her when your brother came back from Sydney.
Enjoy every minute with her. My little seven year old step daughter is now twenty-five. How did that happen?

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:

quote:

A Sako HB in 22-150 Remington
Makes me so bloody proud of her.

Your pride is a just reward, I'm sure.
Is the 22-150 a type-O.

roger

22/150, 22/250 whatever it takes!

I selected "Other". For me, I gain accuracy by matching powder charge to bullet weight/type and seating it to the optimal depth for my rifle.

Saeed,

Wow! Just . . . Wow!

I can only imagine your pride.

Thanks for telling us.

quote:

Originally posted by lawndart:
Saeed,
I cannot believe that little girl of yours is already fourteen. I remember the pictures of her when your brother came back from Sydney.
Enjoy every minute with her. My little seven year old step daughter is now twenty-five. How did that happen?

The worst part is that I am 14 years older!

I had a funny thing happen the other day.

I went to a software shop, where they had 2 desks with one person behind each, and two chairs for teh customer by each desk.

The people in the shop know me, nut not the 4 customers.

And I know this might come as a shock to some, knowing what is going on with young people"attitude.

But, one young man, got up to let me have his chair.

"Thank you very much. It is very kind of you to give me your chair, but I think you better have it, as you are older than me"

Everyone started to laugh, as they could tell that was not the case at all.

"I am older than you?" He asked.

"Yes. How old are you?"

"I am 24 years old"

"There you are then.You ARE older than me. I stopped growing since I was 13. Mentally that is"

Everyone was laughing, they did not know how close to the truth that was

Since this thread has boiled down to good bullet vs bad bullet... lets muddy it up a bit with right bullet vs wrong bullet.

example. a 308 with a 1:12 twist might shoot 200 grain bthp bullets accurately, but probably not. That twist from that cartridge prefers bullets in the 150-165 gr range.
conversely a 308 with a 1:10 twist may handle the 200 grainers accurately, but the 150's or lighter, probably much better.

I know there are better cartridges to illustrate my point with a greater range of twists/bullets available, but I'm at work eating my lunch and i don't have access to my library!

OTHER

Case, Primer, Powder, bullet and gun.

They all vary and some combination creates "The Load".

Some are very critical in some guns and some are not.

It just usually a trial and error situation that we call reloading.