Sorting pistol head stamps?
For plinking with 9mm plated bullets.
Is there any reason to sort head stamps?
Is there any reason to sort head stamps?
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No good reason for plinking ammo. Way back in the day, when I hunted bunnies with a 1911 by running after them through the brush, the loss rate for brass was nearly 100%. I didn't use my best stuff for this purpose. 0 -
God bless you for that answer!! 0 -
NO need but I would not mix steel case with Brass case. I would never reload Steel Case. They tend to Break Extractors. 0 -
I would sort them, but then I like shooting possibles at the range. 0 -
I never do. 0 -
I do sort them by manufacture. 0 -
I only sort headstamps on pistol ammo when shooting in competition or working on the perfect group, for plinking I don't worry about it 0 -
After shooting multiple cartridges with sorted and mixed head stamps, I can say that there is no difference in accuracy out to 50 yards. In fact, running a t-test on the results, mixed head stamps have a very slight edge in accuracy.
Since this is not a safety issue, feel free to run your own experiments.0 -
For plinking I never sort 'em either. 0 -
I used mixed headstamp when I'm breaking in new pistols. For target shooting at the range, where I want to make nice groups, I sort headstamps. I have plenty of boxes of both types, to ensure I don't go short. 0 -
I only sort headstamps for reloading consistency. Different makes of brass seem to have internal tapers that are sometimes different enough to require minor adjustments in seating depths, to avoid bulging the brass. I load only FMJ ball, and I like to keep the overall fairly long, about .010" under the maximum, so the noses catch the feed ramp as early as possible - so, the bullet bases usually aren't deep enough to reach the inside taper. But just last night, I discovered that I had a lot of brass that had apparently been engineered with a short bullet seat, as when I loaded some 125-grain FMJ ball to the max overall of 1.169", the cases were already starting to bulge. When you are set up on one kind of brass, it makes a long run a lot smoother. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by machine gun moran
I only sort headstamps for reloading consistency. Different makes of brass seem to have internal tapers that are sometimes different enough to require minor adjustments in seating depths, to avoid bulging the brass. I load only FMJ ball, and I like to keep the overall fairly long, about .010" under the maximum, so the noses catch the feed ramp as early as possible - so, the bullet bases usually aren't deep enough to reach the inside taper. But just last night, I discovered that I had a lot of brass that had apparently been engineered with a short bullet seat, as when I loaded some 125-grain FMJ ball to the max overall of 1.169", the cases were already starting to bulge. When you are set up on one kind of brass, it makes a long run a lot smoother.
And that's key. If you're loading a long run, having consistent components, whatever they are, will help to ensure consistent rounds, and THAT can only help consistent accuracy.
In general, for plinking, it doesn't matter too much. But since I load the same ammo for plinking that I carry (JHP 9mm) I try to keep same headstamp and load large batches identical to all my other loads.0 -
I really wonder (unless you're using a Ransom rest
or shooting a contender) if the average shooter-not including
Bullseye- can tell the difference in performance down range.0 -
quote:Originally posted by rong
I really wonder (unless you're using a Ransom rest
or shooting a contender) if the average shooter-not including
Bullseye- can tell the difference in performance down range.
Perry Shooter said "no".
That pretty much clinched it for me. [;)]0 -
Been reloading since the first Hornady progressive (~35 years?) and never noticed any problems with mixed brass unless it was a military case and I didn't swage the primer pocket.
The ONLY reason to sort head stamps is if it makes you more confident. It sure won't affect the external ballistics out to at least 50 yards.0 -
I sort, but only to sooth my OCD! I don't notice any difference between my Starline, Remington or Winchester brass. 0 -
For plinking loads, never. For close to max or max, yes. 0
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