Bullet style and accuracy

T

taco

New member
I have noted from reviewing my reloading data from past 14 years that there seems to be an patern between bullet style and accuracy. By this, I mean that certain bullet style/weights are easier to develop accurate loads than others. In the calibers that I reload I noticed that following bullet styles seems to be better than others:

9mm - 124-125gr JHP (worst is 115gr FMJ)
38 Special - 148 gr Wadcutters and 158gr SWC lead (worst is any Lead RN design)
357 Mag - 158gr JHP (worst is any 110-125gr bullets)
44 Mag - 260-320gr SWC lead GC (worst is any bullets under 200gr)
45ACP - 230gr JHP and 200gr SWC (worst is 230gr RN lead followed by 230gr FMJ)

In general I have found that for pistols RN lead or FMJ bullets and any "light weight" bullets for revolvers require much more work to find accurate loads. Please note that I'm talking about accuracy only.

Also with 22lr ammo I noticed that solid round nose bullets seem much more accurate than HP or solid truncated style.

Anybody else have similar experience?
 
I load 230 gr. LRN for the 45 ACP because it is the most reliable feed.

Nonetheless, variables in firearm, velocity, powder, load, seating, headspace, rifling twist rate . . . you know . . . will all affect accuracy.

You note that "light" bullets have less accuracy. I wonder about the load velocities of these bullets and if they're not stripping free of the rifling.

Generally, shorter bullets need less spin in the rifling to stablize.
 
Xero: My loads are usually at or below "standard" factory velocity.

Each load is usually shot in 3 or more (up to 7 depending on caliber) handguns to determin "average" accuracy for that particular load.

I have been working with Remington and Winchester 110gr JHP bullets in 38 Special for my sister but I have not been able to get below 3" at 25 yards (using 4" Mod 10, 4" Diamondback, 3" SP101 and 6" Python). Velocity were between 710 to 1,080fps (depending on load and revolver) and the most accurate group was 2 1/2" with Python while other revolvers will average about 4 1/2". So far I have tried 18 different loads with these 2 bullets. On the other hand, with 158gr SWC lead with average velocity of 780fps every revolver will shoot under 2" and I have some groups under 1" with my Diamondback.
 
Hornady makes some excelent bullets that are very accurate.
Sectional Density can play a big factor in a bullets accuracy - much more so than the bullets weight.
 
I would suspect that the twist rate would play an important role as it relates to the length of the bearing surface. This was seen in the new 62gr .223 bullet which requires a faster twist to stabilize than the older 55 gr slug.
 
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