I loaded sixty rounds of .243 Win ammo this morning. 30 were with Sierra Blitzking 70 grain bullets and 30 were with Hornady 75 grain V-Max.

I never changed the setting on the RCBS die and it is tight. I checked the rounds using my Stoney Point Bullet comparator. There are barely two rounds alike! The Sierras measured from 2.225-2.340! The Hornady's were as bad.

I measured every single piece of Remington brass before loading. I grouped the brass into 30 pieces that measured 2.035 and 30 pieces measured 2.040.

What di I do wrong?

Well...
Did you use this load before and shot well?

What guarantee did you have that these loads would shoot well in your rifle?

Check out the thread below;
Precision Handloading
What tricks do you use?

Born to Hunt,

If your seating plug is seating the bullets by coming in contact with the tip of the bullet that could be the problem. Maybe the bullets are different lengths just by having the tip slightly different. OR, the ogives of the bullets are slightly different. That does not surprise me with the Sierra bullets, but Hornady has always been good for me. Good-luck...BCB

RDUB...

No. I loaded these rounds with IMR 4064 powder because I wanted to try the powder. I have only one load worked up for this rifle.

I don't get your point though. What difference does it make whether I've shot these loads before. I'm talking about the length of loaded ammo. I want to try and find out what is causing the inconsistency(ies).

I think I'm having the same problem.

Using my new RCBS single stage press I just loaded my first batch of .300wby rounds today and after adjusting my bullet seating die to 3.55 matching some factory ammo i proceeded to get wide variation in subsequent rounds. I would get a few at the desired OAL and then one at maybe 3.58 or more. I would put the long one back in and then either no change or get it much lower...

Wonder what I'm doing wrong... These are 180gr Nosler accubonds in three different loads (83,84,84.5gr of IMR7828) that are at most 96% density.

I think the tip of the bullets is makeing contact with the seating plug. I`ve had this happen with plastic tipped bullets before. The seater needs to seat off the ogive not the bullet tip to give consistant result. I drilled a small relief in the center of the seater cup with a small drill bit in a dremal tool to allow the bullet tip to enter the die freely. This solved my problem. RCBS will also alter their seater for free for you if this is the problem just send it and the bullets you want to use to them.
I`d try pushing both bullets in the seater cup, out of the die body, and check that it is contacting the ogive not the tips.

The difference listed is over 1/8 th inch.....far far too much variance.....you don't need calipers to measure it...it can easily be seen visually.

It's actually hard to believe one can do this.....

You need to find out what's happening.....and it isn't likely the point contact as suggested.....If it was there'd be better uniformity than 1/8 th inch.

Sorry...I can't offer a solution except to say the problem isn't dangerous as long as it's purely length variations.....but it's not at all chear that that is what it is.

Are we heavily compressing powder that is pushing the bullet back?????

Vapodog,

My load is nowhere near compressed. I'm going to the loading room right now. I'll post my measurements. I think I may be cross-eyed, but I'd think I too could see 1/8". I'll remeasure and post...

I'm with Vapo on this one...that much variation is a bit bizarre. A few thou., sure, but this is too much. Compressed powder pushing the bullet out, maybe the necks are too work hardened to size down properly, which might contribute.

Next time you load some place a THICK washer around the case and on top of the shell holder. This will keep you from crimping but it will take the slack out of the press. If it gets rid of your problem them your press is probably just loose. BTW what kind of press is it?

Here we go:

Load 1: Rem 243 Win Case, 36 Gr IMR 4064, 75 GR Hornady V-Max

2.2535(2),2.254, 2.255, 2.256, 2.257, 2.2585, 2.259, 2.2595(2)
Variance= .006" Short to Long

Load 2: Same as above, but 37 gr. IMR 4064

2.253, 2.254(2), 2.255(2), 2.2555, 2.257(2), 2.2585, 2.261
Variance= .008" Short to Long

Load 3: Same as above, but 38 gr. IMR 4064

2.253, 2.2545(4), 2.255, 2.256, 2.257, 2.2595(2)
Variance= .0065" Short to Long

Load 4: Rem 243 Win Case, 38 Gr IMR 4064, 70 GR Sierra Blitz King

2.225, 2.2265, 2.227(3), 2.228, 2.2285(2), 2.2315, 2.232
Variance= .007" Short to Long

Load 5: Same as Load 4, but 39 gr IMR 4064

2.2275(2), 2.2285, 2.229, 2.2295, 2.230, 2.233, 2.2335(3)
Variance= .006" Short to Long

Load 6: Same as Load 4, but 40 gr IMR 4064

2.2265(3), 2.227, 2.2275(2), 2.2285, 2.2295, 2.230, 2.231
Variance= .0045" Short to Long

To all...

It appears I am cross-eyed! I really don't know why I was so wrong?? Anyway, I'm no experienced reloader by comparison with many of you guys, but I'd say these are pretty good loads?

Thanks for the input!