Biggest Factor for Accurate Loads?

[steve4102]

What is the most important factor in your quest for rifle accuracy?
A. Bullet
B. Powder
C. OAL
D. Bullet Weight
E. Powder Charge
F. Brass

I do it like this. I select a bullet based on it's intended purpose and I stick with it. For Hunting rifles I start with Nosler Partitions, I like em. I will run the gamut with several powders and powder charges until I find a powder/charge that satisfies my accuracy needs. Then I may adjust seating depth to try and tighten it up a bit. So, for my hunting rifles I would have to say (B) powder. Next is (E) powder charge.
If I can't get the Partitions to shoot then I will switch to a Sierra Gameking and start all over. If the Sierra's don't shoot I give up on the rifle.

[1 Eyed Jack]

So far from my limited reloading experience, and a lot of reading, I think it's a combination of just about everything, including primers and brass, and being consistant with everything, components, etc.,

[woolleyworm]

Originally Posted by steve4102

What is the most important factor in your quest for rifle accuracy?
A. Bullet
B. Powder
C. OAL
D. Bullet Weight
E. Powder Charge
F. OAL

I do it like this. I select a bullet based on it's intended purpose and I stick with it. For Hunting rifles I start with Nosler Partitions, I like em. I will run the gamut with several powders and powder charges until I find a powder/charge that satisfies my accuracy needs. Then I may adjust seating depth to try and tighten it up a bit. So, for my hunting rifles I would have to say (B) powder. Next is (E) powder charge.
If I can't get the Partitions to shoot then I will switch to a Sierra Gameking and start all over. If the Sierra's don't shoot I give up on the rifle.

When it comes down to it; I'd say that Time is the biggest factor in producing accurate loads. All factors that you listed are variables and IMO there isn't a specific one that is more/less important than any other. Time to develop the load(s) and gather accurate data is the most crucial factor in getting results in the accuracy dept.

[reynolds357]

Originally Posted by steve4102

What is the most important factor in your quest for rifle accuracy?
A. Bullet
B. Powder
C. OAL
D. Bullet Weight
E. Powder Charge
F. OAL

I do it like this. I select a bullet based on it's intended purpose and I stick with it. For Hunting rifles I start with Nosler Partitions, I like em. I will run the gamut with several powders and powder charges until I find a powder/charge that satisfies my accuracy needs. Then I may adjust seating depth to try and tighten it up a bit. So, for my hunting rifles I would have to say (B) powder. Next is (E) powder charge.
If I can't get the Partitions to shoot then I will switch to a Sierra Gameking and start all over. If the Sierra's don't shoot I give up on the rifle.

[reynolds357]

They are all equally important. Screw up any one of them and you turn a tack driver into a scattergun.

[accident]

I agree 100% with these guys. I don"t think I could catagorize or list any factor over another as more important.If you"ve found an accurate load for a particular gun,then change a factor such as bullet weight,one or more factors will likely need to be changed to obtain the same accuracy.It takes time to adjust all the factors to reach your goal of a safe,accurate,and consistent reload. IMHO JOE.

[JLA]

Steve you mirror my mind. I tend to lean heavily on HDY AMAX bullets both for target and light game hunting, if the Amaxes dont cut it its SMK for targets or Gamekings for meat.

[cpttango30]

That's easy

G: The guy jerkin the lever.

You are the single most important part of the process. It is you who chooses to take time and pride in your work. Weighing bullets and cases and powder charges. Spending hours working up the loads that give you the best performance. You take your time making sure you perform all steps to the best of your ability.

You can use $200 a 1000 custom match grade bullets in Laupa brass with VV powder and benchrest primers. If YOU do your job halfazz then you are going to get halfazz results.

We each go about things in a slightly different way but we are all looking for the same end result. The best performing most accurate round for that specific rifle.

[jack404]

1 word

consistency

[myfriendis410]

I completely agree with the above but would have to add that the case is also critical to the overall accuracy of any load developed.

In order of overall consistency I would list like this:

1-Lapua/Norma/Weatherby
2-Nosler
3-Federal
4-Remington
5-Winchester

I did not list Hornady or PMC etc. because I have only very limited experience with those brands. Whenever possible I use brass in the order listed.

How the brass is handled can have a huge impact on overall accuracy. Obviously if you don't trim your brass, the best components on earth won't help with getting peak performance. At some point you have to go with what the rifle wants and what the intended purpose is i.e. don't neck size if you are loading for hunting.

[reynolds357]

Originally Posted by myfriendis410

I completely agree with the above but would have to add that the case is also critical to the overall accuracy of any load developed.

In order of overall consistency I would list like this:

1-Lapua/Norma/Weatherby
2-Nosler
3-Federal
4-Remington
5-Winchester

I did not list Hornady or PMC etc. because I have only very limited experience with those brands. Whenever possible I use brass in the order listed.

How the brass is handled can have a huge impact on overall accuracy. Obviously if you don't trim your brass, the best components on earth won't help with getting peak performance. At some point you have to go with what the rifle wants and what the intended purpose is i.e. don't neck size if you are loading for hunting.

I would have to agree with Lapua, Norma/Weatherby. I almost exclusively use Norma brass when it is available.

[steve4102]

My case prep and loading techniques are the same for each cartridge I load for, so I did not mention it as a factor that will change when searching for accuracy. I should have used the word "Component" instead of "Factor", sorry.

Brass is also another important component that I left out, I'll add that to the list. As for me I use Lapua or Norma when available. If not I use what I can get, in my 221 Fireball Remington is the only game in town, same for the WSSM it's Win or nothing. So in many of my rifles swapping brass isn't an option or even considered.

[myfriendis410]

I had read somewhere many years ago (American Rifleman?) that the case contributes about 70% of the potential accuracy (or inaccuracy) of any load. I don't know that I agree, but I've demonstrated for myself that the brass with the most uniform primer pocket and flashhole does appear to do better on paper. The new WW brass is horrible for having oblong and off-center flashholes and concave primer pockets. Of the big three; Federal has the most consistently centered and uniform primer pockets. I try to load that when possible. I simply can't afford Norma. I DID invest in Nosler brass for my .300 win mag and have not used anything else in that rifle.

[243winxb]

Custom Full Length Sizing Dies or Bushing Dies. If you sizing die makes a lot of runout, nothing is going to make your rifle shoot.

[carver]

Originally Posted by myfriendis410

At some point you have to go with what the rifle wants and what the intended purpose is.

I agree! No matter what load you come up with, it probably won't shoot well in another gun of the same caliber. You are building a reliable, accurate, round for YOUR gun! It's not the guns fault if you can't find what works well in it. Nosler Partitions, and Sierra Gameking, bullets might not be the best choice for a given gun! Different bullet weights, and different manufactures of those bullets, will make a big difference in the performance of any gun, along with the brass, primers, powder, and OAL!

[ozo]

While all of the above plays a part in overall accuracy,
I will add this to the mix.
When the flash hole is punched, it most likely has burrs
inside the casing. These burrs can interfere with a
uniform ignition of your powder from your primer.
As I mostly shoot handguns these days, and my loads
have such a small amount of powder [physically] in regards
to the capacity of the brass, I not only de-burr the
flash hole from the inside for uniformity [my favorite
de-burr/uniforming tool is a Possum Hollow] but I also
raise the barrel to allow the powder to fall back against
the primer before I pull the trigger.

[ozo]

P.S. I now use Starline brass almost exclusively.
The flash hole has been consistently centered,
primer pockets have been uniform and flat,
and the price is very affordable.
OAL of brass seems to be consistent with any other brand
but since I mainly shoot revolvers, my wife and I shoot
mostly the same calibers [I don't load separate accuracy
loads for each gun of the same caliber], and the rounds
remain accurate between the guns, I don't even bother
to trim all my brass to exacting lengths.
I don't like cutting corners, but I do believe in keeping
things as simple as possible, as long as there is not
much interference to quality. [she sure can burn thru alot of ammo !!]
Also, for the most part, when we tumble our brass, we use
regular cheap white rice for the media [no offense meant, jobama]

[JLA]

That reminds me of a write up Mike Venturino did about a year and a half ago in Handloader. "One load, Many rifles" Its a good read. And debunks alot of common myths regarding individual rifle loads. I encourage anyone not having read it to look it up. IF you cant find it PM me, Ill scan it and post it in PDF form here.