Hi Folks!
A few minutes ago I posted a thread titled
"Why Reload?" showing the difference in consistency between a factory load and a handload.
Now, my question for the experts out there is...
Why? That is, why is there a difference?
Again, both targets were shot with the same gun (a Browning BLR in .243 Winchester) with the same scope (2x Leupold scout scope) on the same day at the same time on the same range (50 yards) under the same conditions (cool, calm). The only difference were the loads, which were...
- Federal GameShok with 85 grain Barnes TSX bullets
- My handload:
- Fireformed, neck sized Federal brass
- Sierra 85 grain HPBT bullets (Sierra No. 1530)
- 43 grains Reloader 22
- Lee "Factory" crimp
And I must point out that I am NOT a skilled reloader. I reload occasionally, mainly for older, stranger guns for which ammo is difficult to get.
Also, I chronographed these loads while I was shooting the targets. The results:
- Federal
- Average = 2956
- Extreme spread = 127.5
- Standard deviation = 47.60
- Handload
- Average = 2652
- Extreme spread = 146.2
- Standard deviation = 53.49
Arguably, the handload data is worse than the Federal data.
So, again, why the difference?
Thanks!
Dave