weighing brass

drover

Member
I think that this has been discussed before but I tried to find a link and was unsucessful.

I have a Cooper Varminter in 223, it is an honest one-half inch rifle for 5 shots at 100 yds, some days a little better but rarely any worse. The trigger is a consistent 8 ounces, which is what I am comfortable with, I use wind flags, a good solid ground mounted wood bench, a good leather rear bag and a Midway Rock rest with a leather front rest that fits the forearm (I have tried a corura front rest but groups open up when using it). I am very careful about rifle set-up and try to use proper bench techniques, although the rifle wants to shoot best being held fairly tight rather than a loose (benchrest type hold). The rifle complete with scope and mounts only weights slightly more than 9 lbs and with the varminter stock design it does not lend itself well to being shot free recoil.

For loads I use 26.3 VV-133, Win brass, 40 gr Nosler ballistic tip bullets. Win brass which the rifle seems to prefer, I have tried all of the other brands including Fed Match. I have also tried bullets thorough 52 grains from all of the major manufacturers including the Sierra match and Nosler matchm I have not tried any custom bullets because the rifle shoots the 40 gr Nosler ballistic tips better than the heavier (50 & 50 gr) match bullets.

The question is this - In a half-minute rifle is there any advantage to be gained from sorting brass by weight. Please share your thoughts and experiences on this.

I have also posted this on the Factory/Hybrid Rifles forum.

Thanks in advance - drover
 
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You can spend a lifetime in pursuit of one hole 5 round targets at 100 yards with y our .223. With the benchrest equipment you describe you're not likely to achieve it. You could purchase a good gun vise, but that probably wouldn't work perfectly either; not even on a windless day. Half minute ("sometimes less") groups with a .223 at 100 yards will win a top spot inmost of the matches I shoot in (provided they're in the 10 ring) so relax and enjoy what you have. Weighing your brass wouldn't be worth your time.
 
Thanks for the replies - I was too was thinking that it would be a waste of time but just wanted to check with other shooters before discarding the idea.

I have tried unweighted Lapua brass and did not notice any decrease in group size and with Lapua's reputation for consistency I was afraid that it telling me there would be no point in going through the weighting process.

drover
 
Probably a waist of time in any rifle but surely a waist of time in a factory rifle. It is much better to just buy a good brass (Lapua) in the first place and be done with it.
 
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