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Being an Ammo Mfg and Compitition Shooter like my father (see his guides...Ohio Ammo) accuracy has always been an obssesion...I started reloading in 1968 and Dad and I started Ohio Ammo in 1988 so accuracy has been frustrating me for a long time...Just when you think you have got a perfect load all goes to pot for some mysterious reason...the accuracy gods are a tough lot...so many things go into an accirate ammo/gun combination it would be imposible to cover them all so will cover one here and others later...lets look at an overlooked aspect of accurate ammo...cartridge length...ammo length for manufacturers is controlled by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Mfgs Institute (SAAMI) so all are on the same page...this is the length you will find in the reloading manuals...but this length may not be perfect for your weapon...since you are making your ammo for only one weapon you don't have to be concerned with SAMMI stats...the closer you can get your bullet to the lands and grooves of the barrel the better groups you will shoot..to find this length is not hard just a little time consuming but you only have to do it once so it is worth it...to start seat a bullet in an UNPRIMED EMPTY (READ NO POWDER) case and seat it very long...just in the case enough to hold the bullet...smoke the bullet with a candle, now you see why no primers or powder, chamber the round in your firearm...the action will NOT close...you will see marks on the bullet from lands and grooves...go back to your seating die and seat a little deaper resmoking the bullet as needed...continue this process until there are no marks on the bullet...this is the best length for your loaded rounds...bullet jump from case to barrel should be .010 inches or less (bench rest shooters have the bullet just touching the lands and grooves)...but you are not quite done yet...make sure this length will cycle form magizine to action to chamber...if it too long for your magazine gradually seat bullet deeper until it will fit the magazine...this is for hunting loads only...for bench shooting leave the cartridge as long as possible and shoot single shots...give this little trick a try and I think you will see group size shrink...and to those who have sent such kind words to me and my sister at my fathers passing we thank you very much...the reloading world lost a brilliant ballistician...keeping in his tradition I will continue to answear all reloading questions free of charge...just e mail me through the eBay links...good shooting and God bless...Bear
Guide created: 11/22/06 (updated 05/22/09)
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