Place in order the most important factors that contribute to accuracy in reloading.

1 type of bullet
2 primer
3 shell casing
3 type of powder
4 seating depth

1,2,3,3,4?



Out of all of those, I couldn't order them, except I'd think seat depth was generally more important for accuracy.

But things you didn't list are bullet hardness, bullet diameter, sectional density vs twist, and probably a few others.

None of the above and all of the above. The single most important accuracy factor is consistency. Consistency, or lack thereof, in any of your components/preparation will make or break your groups.

The bullet is no.1,the powder no.2.AFTER THAT who knows

1.The length of the bullet.
1.Distance off the lands
1.Concentricity of everything around the centre of the bore.
1. The choice of powder and primers and case preparation.

None of what you listed!

The most important factor in reloading the the intelligence, knowledge, and consistancy of the person operating the machinery.

I�m in no doubt that the bullet is most important. Then the powder. You have to find a combination of bullet/powder/charge weight that works well in your barrel. The right bullet/powder charge is the one that is "in tune" with the barrel, wich means that it gives the right barrel vibrations, being released from the muzzel when the "swing" shifts direction. The only way to find out is to try different combination, though it is my experience that some bullets are inherently more accurate than others. I have had excellent accuracy with Barnes X and Swift A-Frame, but I have found bullets like most Sierras and Nosler PT to be a lot more dependable, that is more likely to be accurate in any given calibre I have tried. The Barnes bullet would only shoot in one out four rifles I have tried loading it for, while Sierras have always been accurate or very accurate.

Primer and type of case can mean a slight difference, but not by a large amount if the bullet/powder charge is right.

All other efforts, like working on the case, bullet pull, seating depth etc. can make the right combination of bullet and powder go from accurate to very accurate.

1. Bullet
2. Powder/charge weight
3. Case maintenance/case brand/primer/seating depth/bullet pull.

Tron

All of the above threads are great thoughts. I once did an experiment with a good friend while reloading a caliber. He couldn't get the results he wanted out of the loads he was working. I took his components and ran through my process: Weighing each bullet, weighing each case, measuring, measuring, measuring (trimmed case length, col length, etc.). Components are important, but your time devoted to accurately and consistently reload these components will ultimately determine the outcome.
It's amazing how EXACT reloads can improve accuracy. The outcome of our little experiment closed a 1.75" string to .80" string. All because each bullet, and each case weighed within +/- .2 grns., and each completed load was within +/- .oo2" of each other. (weigh a box of bullets sometime and record the weights of each bullet - it may surprise you1)

Hey cummins cowboy, I'd say Steve Ricciardelli's and Kentucky Nimrod's answers tie for 1st.

1. The Trigger Yanker and Consistency(in all aspects from Load Development to the shot).
2. A firearm capable of fine accuracy.
3. The cartridge - developed using the "NEVER IMPROVED UPON" Creighton Audette Method.

No doubt some Bullets are more accurate than others, so it does indeed have a significant bearing on the Accuracy of the Final Load. So I agree with Tron's list but would place them as:
3a, 3b, and 3c.

...

Forgot to add, Accuracy isn't everything. Quite often a "Less Accurate" bullet is MUCH BETTER for the task at hand. Just depends on what you are trying to accomplish.

[ 01-06-2003, 18:18: Message edited by: Hot Core ]

Seating depth has just moved up the list in my opinion. At the range yesterday, I discovered that bullets seated too deeply wil increase the 5 shot groups from 1.25 to 3.5! Unbelievable. I didn't like the way my Hornady 139 g. SST's looked with the cannelure far above the neck of the case. So, I decided to lower the bullet where the cannelure looked perfect in the case. Big mistake. I shot four 5-shot groups and every group was around 3.5 inches. Ouch.

BTW, why do the SST's have the cannelure so far up on the bullet?