Let me start by saying I'm not a sub MOA 1,000 Yd precision shooter.
But I did try a test a few years back to see if as a target shooter I'd actually gain anything with my equipment by weighing & grading individual components as part of a project to see how much accuracy I could wring out of a particular rifle that I was using out to 600yds.
Here's what the results looked like:
Code:
Note: '55 Faz seating OAL to contact lands. (Max OAL = 3.075) 3.075
150Gr Hornady Interlock SP (# 3120) = 3.040. 3.040 0.035
These are the "match" loads. BULLET
CALIBER CASE PRIMER Mfr. TYPE Gr. POWDER GRAINS
.303 Brit PPU cci 200 Hornady FMJBT 174 3031 35.5
DATE STRING SHOT VEL. LOW HIGH AVG. E.S. S.D. A.D. GROUP
03/20/10 1 1 2237 2181 2238 2217 57 20.6 16.0 1.5" (5)
03/20/10 1 2 2229 NOTES
03/20/10 1 3 2181 These are the "match" loads. Primer pockets uniformed, flash holes reamed, cases & bullets weight matched, Powder trickled.
Development from earlier 34.0Gr. Load. Aiming for 2250FPS
03/20/10 1 4 2183
03/20/10 1 5 2208
03/20/10 1 6 2223
03/20/10 1 7 2238
03/20/10 1 8 2223
03/20/10 1 9 2221
03/20/10 1 10 2234
These are the "Standard" loads BULLET
CALIBER CASE PRIMER Mfr. TYPE Gr. POWDER GRAINS
.303 Brit PPU cci 200 Hornady FMJBT 174 3031 35.5
DATE STRING SHOT VEL. LOW HIGH AVG. E.S. S.D. A.D. GROUP
03/20/10 1 1 2186 36 2267 2219 81 29.7 23.3 5" (5)
03/20/10 1 2 2235 NOTES
03/20/10 1 3 2190 These are the "Standard" loads. Batch loaded on Dillon. Misc cases, misc bullets, primer pockets cleaned only, charges dropped from measure.
Development from earlier 34.0Gr. Load. Aiming for 2250FPS
03/20/10 1 4 2213
03/20/10 1 5 2212
03/20/10 1 6 2186
03/20/10 1 7 2213
03/20/10 1 8 2217
03/20/10 1 9 2226
03/20/10 1 10 2266
I'm thinking that as the outside dimensions must be the same (or darn close to it) that weight is a pretty good indication of thickness, & so by inference, capacity. That in turn is pressure which creates velocity.
Oh the "target" loads were noticeably more accurate as well.