Bullet run out for competition loading

[Christel]

What do the reloaders amongst us consider is excessive run out for a reloaded bullet? I measure from where the Ogive would meet the lands and my 22C with Forster dies will consistently build to .0015" and less, whereas .308's in Redding Competition dies regardless of what is done seldom get consistently below .0025" Now I know these are different cartridges and die makes but the same method of preparation is applied to both of them.

At what stage should finished rounds be retired to the plinking tray?

Anyone?

[The Gun Pimp]

Good dies - like Forster or Wilson hand-dies will generally load to less than 0.002 in. Less than two thou. is my aim for 1000 yard benchrest.

Interesting, a few years ago a guy tried to get me interested in a 'bullet straightening' device. I decided to do a test for the magazine (Target Sports) but because all my dies were loading pretty straight rounds, I had to deliberately 'bend' some for the test!

I shot at 300 yards off the bench with a benchrest set-up. The article never appeared in the magazine - there was no difference on the target!

Cheers
Vince

[rox]

- there was no difference on the target!

I had some .308 loads made for an international 300m event. I had the test batches independently measured, and the run-out was dreadful. Before having the competition batches measured I instructed that I wanted to hear that they were fine. Lo and behold the run-out problem appeared to have been solved! Off I went, confident in my ammo, and returned with both 300m gold medals. The run-out had not improved between the test and competition batches.

Bob.

[ovenpaa]

Nice shooting Rox!

But from a feel good factor alone at what stage do you pull a face and think Drat! That one is relegated to plinking. I have no conclusive proof however anything over 4 thou tends to be put to one side, marked accordingly with something cryptic and then used when I am getting low. Fire forming is a different matter and I have seen 10 thou plus with some of my early 7mm SAUM builds while I was developing my necking technique (Note I did not sat perfecting!)

I will agree with Christel that Forster consistently give better results for us than anything else which goes to prove the most expensive die is not always the best. (For us at least)

Finally, I have a cheap old Lee die in an equally cheap cast Lee alloy press permanently set up for .308 plinking with 147 S&B bullets and I will often see sub .0001" if I check.

[woody_rod]

In Western Australia, we have a very well known guy that is an ex BR shooter, not shooting mainly in F Class. He was one of the main instigators of FC here a number of years ago.

His idea of good reloading is anything under 0.003", over that it can cause problems. CAN CAUSE, not WILL CAUSE. The shorter the range, the less it matters so I am told.