MVC

Bella · September 25, 2010, 07:13 AM

Most Valuable Component

Primers, powder, and bullets are replaced during reloading. All three parts are important. Which one do you think is more important in trying to find an accurate load?

TXGunNut · September 25, 2010, 08:33 AM

Powder type and weight is something I spend a fair amount of time experimenting with but only because in most cases I have already decided upon the bullet (or bullets) and primer. I can't pick one as being more important than another. I also feel cases, both choice and prep, are very important as well. A fair bit of my handloading involves new cases so it's a valid addition to the question, IMHO.
Best answer I can give is that in handloading there are no unimportant aspects, it's a hobby where attention to detail gives us the best results.

mapsjanhere · September 25, 2010, 08:38 AM

I usually pick a specific bullet I want to load develop for, so my variable is the powder type and weight. Primer is "whatever I got".

longranger · September 25, 2010, 08:44 AM

I can cast and paper patch most bullets for most of my guns.Most of my guns can be adapted to shoot B/P.I can make B/P if the need arises.I can't make primers.

Ozzieman · September 25, 2010, 09:08 AM

For me it’s not one but two of your selections.
Bullet and powder.
If the bullet does not match the twist rate of the gun then no powder is going to improve it that much. On the other hand you choose too fast or too slow burning rate powder you have problems associated with that.
To me reloading for accuracy is more of an art than science and no load will work in all guns even for guns of the same type and manufacture.
I’m with TXGunNut, I select a bullet that I want to try and do as much research on the round that I am trying to develop. Looking for loads suggested by others and results. Then start at a lower pressure and work up until I get the performance I am looking for be it power or accuracy or a combination of both.
And that’s true for all types of guns I load for.

TXGunNut · September 25, 2010, 09:16 AM

Cast and paper patch? You're my hero, longranger!

Jim243 · September 25, 2010, 09:52 AM

Most Valuable, now thats an interesting question. Price wise I would have to say the bullet as far as cost. To get up to speed one would have to pick the powder. And to start the whole process you would have to go with primmer.

So I guess the answer would be NONE OF THEM are THE most valuable. They are all equally valuable when put in the right combination. Now the person who can do it right THAT'S THE MOST VALUABLE COMPONENT of the whole process.

Just MHO
Jim

jbrown13 · September 25, 2010, 10:07 AM

I'm cheap, so I look for a bullet that is priced right for my type of shooting. I'm strictly a paper puncher for self enjoyment and shoot 300 9mm pistol rounds a week, at least 50 weeks a year (indoor pistol range). So with that volume I look for a jacketed bullet (shooting a Glock with factory barrel) in the $.08 per range. I chose the Montana Gold 124 grain JHP in case lots. Because I want the best accuracy with that bullet, the powder then becomes the most important component to me, and I'm willing to pay the fraction of a cent more for a more accurate powder with the cheap bullet. To me the powder is the most important component in developing the most accurate load.

Brian Pfleuger · September 25, 2010, 10:23 AM

I think any of those could be most significant if you have the wrong one.

A bullet that's poorly made and unstable, doesn't match the rifling in your barrel or is too large or small in diameter would ruin otherwise "perfect" ammo.

A primer that doesn't work right, isn't hot enough or doesn't fit the case correctly could ruin otherwise "perfect" ammo.

The powder has a long list of reasons why it could screw things up.

Other the other hand, if all of them are basically "OK", then I don't think any of them is singularly most important.

Actually, all of those things rank down the list in accuracy factors, says I.

1)Shooter
2)Gun
3)Procedure
4)Brass

After these.... bullet, primer, powder.... in no particular order.

m&p45acp10+1 · September 25, 2010, 10:54 AM

I am in the camp of bullet, then powder camp. For rifle I only load for one caliber at the moment. Bullet is my first consideration. For my .221 Rem Fireball so far I have used 55 grain bullets exclusively. I have found 2 powders that perform better than the others. For primers I just use standard SR primers of whatever I can find on the shelf.
I will be doing more load development with 40 grain bullets to see how they do this weekend. (Look at the time, range is gonna open in a few so I am outta here.

)

rogn · September 25, 2010, 09:36 PM

This question is easy- you cannot acheive accuracy with a bad bullet. You can work back and forth with powder and primers and eventually ork up a reasonable load. But a poor bullet= poor accuracy!

WESHOOT2 · September 27, 2010, 07:18 AM

IME the bullet matters most when seeking 'accuracy'.

wncchester · September 27, 2010, 07:31 AM

"Which one do you think is more important in trying to find an accurate load? "

That's sorta like asking which link in chain is most important.

Jimmy10mm · September 27, 2010, 07:34 AM

I cannot vote on this one since leaving any of the components out of the mix leaves you with an expensive club.

View Poll Results: Most Valuable(important) Component
Primer	3	10.71%
Powder	9	32.14%
Bullet	16	57.14%
Voters: 28. You may not vote on this poll

September 25, 2010, 07:13 AM	#1
Bella Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2009 Posts: 341	MVC Most Valuable Component Primers, powder, and bullets are replaced during reloading. All three parts are important. Which one do you think is more important in trying to find an accurate load?

September 25, 2010, 08:33 AM	#2
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	Powder type and weight is something I spend a fair amount of time experimenting with but only because in most cases I have already decided upon the bullet (or bullets) and primer. I can't pick one as being more important than another. I also feel cases, both choice and prep, are very important as well. A fair bit of my handloading involves new cases so it's a valid addition to the question, IMHO. Best answer I can give is that in handloading there are no unimportant aspects, it's a hobby where attention to detail gives us the best results. __________________ Life Member NRA, TSRA Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call Lonesome Dove My favorite recipes start out with a handful of used wheelweights.

September 25, 2010, 08:38 AM	#3
mapsjanhere Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 2,832	I usually pick a specific bullet I want to load develop for, so my variable is the powder type and weight. Primer is "whatever I got". __________________ I used to love being able to hit hard at 1000 yards. As I get older I find hitting a mini ram at 200 yards with the 22 oddly more satisfying.

September 25, 2010, 09:16 AM	#6
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	Cast and paper patch? You're my hero, longranger! __________________ Life Member NRA, TSRA Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call Lonesome Dove My favorite recipes start out with a handful of used wheelweights.

September 25, 2010, 08:44 AM	#4
longranger Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2008 Location: Buffalo WY Posts: 1,056	I can cast and paper patch most bullets for most of my guns.Most of my guns can be adapted to shoot B/P.I can make B/P if the need arises.I can't make primers.

September 25, 2010, 09:08 AM	#5
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	For me it’s not one but two of your selections. Bullet and powder. If the bullet does not match the twist rate of the gun then no powder is going to improve it that much. On the other hand you choose too fast or too slow burning rate powder you have problems associated with that. To me reloading for accuracy is more of an art than science and no load will work in all guns even for guns of the same type and manufacture. I’m with TXGunNut, I select a bullet that I want to try and do as much research on the round that I am trying to develop. Looking for loads suggested by others and results. Then start at a lower pressure and work up until I get the performance I am looking for be it power or accuracy or a combination of both. And that’s true for all types of guns I load for.

September 25, 2010, 09:52 AM	#7
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	Most Valuable, now thats an interesting question. Price wise I would have to say the bullet as far as cost. To get up to speed one would have to pick the powder. And to start the whole process you would have to go with primmer. So I guess the answer would be NONE OF THEM are THE most valuable. They are all equally valuable when put in the right combination. Now the person who can do it right THAT'S THE MOST VALUABLE COMPONENT of the whole process. Just MHO Jim __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum

September 25, 2010, 10:07 AM	#8
jbrown13 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: Perry, GA Posts: 105	I'm cheap, so I look for a bullet that is priced right for my type of shooting. I'm strictly a paper puncher for self enjoyment and shoot 300 9mm pistol rounds a week, at least 50 weeks a year (indoor pistol range). So with that volume I look for a jacketed bullet (shooting a Glock with factory barrel) in the $.08 per range. I chose the Montana Gold 124 grain JHP in case lots. Because I want the best accuracy with that bullet, the powder then becomes the most important component to me, and I'm willing to pay the fraction of a cent more for a more accurate powder with the cheap bullet. To me the powder is the most important component in developing the most accurate load.

September 25, 2010, 10:23 AM	#9
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	I think any of those could be most significant if you have the wrong one. A bullet that's poorly made and unstable, doesn't match the rifling in your barrel or is too large or small in diameter would ruin otherwise "perfect" ammo. A primer that doesn't work right, isn't hot enough or doesn't fit the case correctly could ruin otherwise "perfect" ammo. The powder has a long list of reasons why it could screw things up. Other the other hand, if all of them are basically "OK", then I don't think any of them is singularly most important. Actually, all of those things rank down the list in accuracy factors, says I. 1)Shooter 2)Gun 3)Procedure 4)Brass After these.... bullet, primer, powder.... in no particular order. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

September 25, 2010, 10:54 AM	#10
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	I am in the camp of bullet, then powder camp. For rifle I only load for one caliber at the moment. Bullet is my first consideration. For my .221 Rem Fireball so far I have used 55 grain bullets exclusively. I have found 2 powders that perform better than the others. For primers I just use standard SR primers of whatever I can find on the shelf. I will be doing more load development with 40 grain bullets to see how they do this weekend. (Look at the time, range is gonna open in a few so I am outta here.) __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

September 25, 2010, 09:36 PM	#11
rogn Senior Member Join Date: December 25, 2005 Posts: 203	This question is easy- you cannot acheive accuracy with a bad bullet. You can work back and forth with powder and primers and eventually ork up a reasonable load. But a poor bullet= poor accuracy!

September 27, 2010, 07:18 AM	#12
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	and there you go IME the bullet matters most when seeking 'accuracy'. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

September 27, 2010, 07:31 AM	#13
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	"Which one do you think is more important in trying to find an accurate load? " That's sorta like asking which link in chain is most important.

September 27, 2010, 07:34 AM	#14
Jimmy10mm Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2010 Location: Greenacres, FL Posts: 933	I cannot vote on this one since leaving any of the components out of the mix leaves you with an expensive club.