reloading for serious accuracy???

[rotty]

OK I have been being brow beat, not here, elsewhere, for my reloading questions, figured I would ask here.
currently for my most accurate reloads this is my process.
1. clean brass...tumble
2. full length resize (yes I know only neck sizing is better)
3. clean primer pocket
4. trim case to length
5. chamfer i/s o/s of case mouth
6. clean brass of lube from resizing.
7. sort brass by weight
8. prime
9. charge case (throw powder then trickle to desired charge)
10. seat bullet (I always work up my loads by playing with C.O.A.L)
11. most cartridges I use lee factory crimp.

complete....
now my questions.
I have been told it is imperitive to uniform the necks, and flash holes and primer pockets, my question is how much of a practicle difference is this goign to make, I mean I may do some competition, but its not going to be a career for me.
Are these items going to make huge difference in actual performance at any given range?

[TerryN]

If you're shooting a factory barrel, with a factory chamber, neck turning and primer pocket uniforming are probably an exercise in futility. I still deburr flashholes because I've seen some really big burs there.

If you're shooting benchrest or 1,000 yard competition in a custom rifle with a high-dollar aftermarket barrel and 'tight' neck chamber, then the extra steps will probably show some difference in group size.

A lot of high power shooters don't go through all the extra voodoo steps for their 'short-range' (200-300 yard) ammo, and only turn necks and uniform primer pockets for 600 yards and beyond. Folks like David Tubb like to design new bullet processing tools (and sell them) and custom rifles (and sell them) just to keep things complicated.

Dedicated varmint hunters, many of whom are also benchrest shooters, generally don't bother with all of the additional steps like neck turning for their regular varmint ammo because they load it in such high volume.

So, it's going to depend on what the ultimate use of your accuracy ammo is - and how serious you are about 'ultimate accuracy.' If you're shooting paper and competing against yourself, your loading regimen is totally satisfactory. If you want to shoot benchrest and win, you ain't there yet. REALLY serious benchresters do things like spin bullets to determine which ones are balanced, uniform the meplat (bullet tip), etc. For me and my rifles, going to that extreme would be a waste of time and money.

[SHARPSHOOTER]

Another thing a lot of the serious BR shooters do is make their own bullets. I wanted to do that for a while until I figured out what it would cost to by the hand equipment to make my own jacketed bullets.

[rotty]

the reloading I'm speaking of will be for my .50, I want to get good Accuracy...out as far as i can. But i'm not looking to win any BR shooting matches or anything.

[gunseller]

The only times neck sizing only will help is if you can put the round in the chamber the same each time or your chamber is in PERFECT alinement with the bore.
Steve

[brownknees]

Absolutely. Bench rest fanatics mark the rim with a small file mark so that they can do this every time.
A while back I had a really accurate rifle & used to do all these things. One day I got curious & made up 2 batches of ammo for this rifle.

One lot was neck trimmed, uniformed, reamed, and powder charges weighed as you described. The other lot was used without the extra steps. Both lots were otherwise loaded identically on the same press & dies, this lot had the powder thrown right off the powder measure without trickling to weight.

At 300 Yds (the longest distance availiable to me) there was no real diference in either variations in velocity as chronographed, or measureable group sizes.
Based on that I quit doing all the extra steps.

Neck turning is designed to reduce variations in case neck thickness. If you're going to do this first you need to check if you have these variations. Mike the case neck at 12'0 clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, & 9 o'clock. If there is very little difference you do not need to do this as the thickness doesn't vary anyway.

[TerryN]

Originally posted by rotty
the reloading I'm speaking of will be for my .50, I want to get good Accuracy...out as far as i can. But i'm not looking to win any BR shooting matches or anything.

In a .50, I expect that your bullets and barrel quality will make the most difference in accuracy. Using pulled GI bullets severely limits your accuracy potential. If you're using quality aftermarket bullets in a quality barrel, you should get decent accuracy.

GI .50 BMG ammo frequently displays .020-.030" of indicated bullet runout. For those who don't know, that means that the bullet is that far out of alignment with the center of the case. In contrast, most centerfire rifle ammo will display a max of around .005" runout, and that's sloppy ammo indeed! BR shooters strive to have under .001" runout with their loaded ammo. As long as your loaded ammo has less that .020" runout, you should be good to go - assuming the quality of your bullets and barrel.

[rotty]

The rifle I am getting is from ALS, they currently hold 3 worl records and according to them are regular match winners, I didnt get the ultra-match chamber but a match chamber, I will be reloading with H50bmg powder,a nd A-max bullets.
so good components for the serious stuff,
I will also load some plinking or fun ammo with surplus bullets and powder, but im not really worried about the accuracy with those though.