Are bullets with a canalure less accurate?

kgpcr · February 9, 2008, 10:09 PM

I just bought 250 Nosler Ballistic Tip .224 60grn bullets and see they have a canalure. The Hornady V-Max does not. All else being equal is a non canalure bullet more accurate?? I am really interested in your thoughts. I have been loading for many years and all my bullets had a canalure. Accuracy was great for what i used them for. Now i have a 22-250 tack driver on the way and i want to get the most out of it.

rwilson452 · February 9, 2008, 11:12 PM

IMNSO having a cannalure if it's done properly shouldn't effect accuracy. There won't be much left of it when the rifling gets done working it over. I have seen bullets with a cannalure that wound up undersized at the point of the cannalure that will effect accuracy.

I don't crimp my 22-250 stuff so I don't need a cannalure. I don't know anyone that does. Mic the bullets if they stay uniform in dia. before at and after the cannalure you should be good to go.

Scorch · February 10, 2008, 12:54 AM

Theoretically, a cannelure deforms the bullet and can affect accuracy. Reality says it makes little if any difference unless you are shooting a rifle capable of .1 MOA, in which case you could probably tell the difference. I shoot cannelured bullets out of my 22-250 because I buy them in bulk, and my rifle shoots under .5 MOA. I'm not sure if that answers your question.

res45 · February 10, 2008, 02:44 AM

Two 50 yd. targets 5 shots out of an SKS,same powder charge same bullet weight top target Hornday 123 Gr. SP with cannalure,Bottom target Hornady 123 Gr. FMJ no cannalure both crimped Med. with Lee factory crimp die.

Flinch was my bad.

Martyn4802 · February 10, 2008, 07:47 AM

The answer to your question is no.

Martyn

hodaka · February 10, 2008, 09:26 AM

Match bullets from Sierra, Berger and others do not have cannelures. That should say it all. Whether a rifle is capable of demonstrating the difference is another subject.

rwilson452 · February 10, 2008, 10:26 AM

shooting at 50 yards is not a valid test I think. Try a test at 200

Tom Matiska · February 10, 2008, 11:51 AM

Quote:

All else being equal is a non canalure bullet more accurate??

All else isn't quite equaL Stand your flat base VMax next to the BT and you'll probably see it is shorter. Your 22-250 probably has a 14" twist(few 12's out there) . 60 grains is getting into territory where shorter flat bases may shoot better.

Alleykat · February 10, 2008, 12:13 PM

Quote:

shooting at 50 yards is not a valid test I think. Try a test at 200

Shooting at 50 yds for an SKS or Mini is about the same as shooting at 300 yds with just about any other rifle.

rwilson452 · February 10, 2008, 01:12 PM

Play nice now lets not disparage another person choice of firearms.

Quote:

Shooting at 50 yds for an SKS or Mini is about the same as shooting at 300 yds with just about any other rifle.

Jim Watson · February 10, 2008, 02:06 PM

The uncannelured 50 gr Remington Pow-r-lokt bullets shoot very well in my .22-250, about as accurate as SMK and less expensive. But when I ordered some 55s, they came in with cannelures and did not shoot nearly as accurately. Was it the cannelure or 5 grains weight? I don't know but I am not buying any more cannelured bullets for target or varmint rifles.

kgpcr · February 10, 2008, 07:24 PM

I have a 1:9 twist rate. I just bought a 250pk of the new Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets that are 60gn and i saw they had a canalure when i opened them up. I never thought a Ballistic tip would have a cannalure.

res45 · February 10, 2008, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Try a test at 200

Well thats already in the works actually I'm shooting in a Mil-Surplus rifle iron sights only match at Charlotte rifle and Pistol Club in two weeks five round event at 200 & 300 Yds. shooting 8 8" x 13" steel plates in 60 to 30 sec Rds. I will be using FMJ with cannalure bullets for the shoot,I already know I will be up agent AR's,FAL's,Garands,M-14's etc. and I'm not one freaking bit intimidated,I know myself, my rifle & the load I'm shooting.

kgpcr don't mean to hijack the thread here but unless your shooting benchrest match's and looking for a one hole group at some ungodly distance with the proper load and you own shooting skill,you will be lucky if you can tell the difference between the two type bullets. I load a Nosler BT with cannalure for my friends old savage 110 in 243 and he can shoot 1 1/2 groups or better at 200 yds with that. For your rifle with a 1:9 twist bullets of 63 – 70 grains will stabilize the best. Good Shooting.

crowbeaner · February 12, 2008, 07:35 PM

Years back when Nosler made the Solid Base bullets, I bought some that did, and some that didn't have a cannelure. I loaded them all over 37.0 of H380 and magnum primers for my 22-250. The cannelured bullets shot 3/4 inch bigger groups out of the same rifle with all else exactly the same. JMH observation.

February 9, 2008, 10:09 PM	#1
kgpcr Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2005 Posts: 955	Are bullets with a canalure less accurate? I just bought 250 Nosler Ballistic Tip .224 60grn bullets and see they have a canalure. The Hornady V-Max does not. All else being equal is a non canalure bullet more accurate?? I am really interested in your thoughts. I have been loading for many years and all my bullets had a canalure. Accuracy was great for what i used them for. Now i have a 22-250 tack driver on the way and i want to get the most out of it. __________________ Colt King Cobra .357 Colt Anaconda .44mag Springfield Armory .45 Double stack Loaded XD40 service XD45 Taurus 617 .357mag Smith M&P 40

February 10, 2008, 12:54 AM	#3
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Theoretically, a cannelure deforms the bullet and can affect accuracy. Reality says it makes little if any difference unless you are shooting a rifle capable of .1 MOA, in which case you could probably tell the difference. I shoot cannelured bullets out of my 22-250 because I buy them in bulk, and my rifle shoots under .5 MOA. I'm not sure if that answers your question. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

February 10, 2008, 02:44 AM	#4
res45 Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2007 Location: NC Posts: 753	Two 50 yd. targets 5 shots out of an SKS,same powder charge same bullet weight top target Hornday 123 Gr. SP with cannalure,Bottom target Hornady 123 Gr. FMJ no cannalure both crimped Med. with Lee factory crimp die. Flinch was my bad. __________________ The Reloaders Network discord Channel https://discord.gg/Nafuzht

February 10, 2008, 07:47 AM	#5
Martyn4802 Senior Member Join Date: June 12, 2007 Location: Grayling, Michigan Posts: 737	The answer to your question is no. Martyn __________________ US Army Retired NRA Benefactor Life Member JPFO

February 10, 2008, 07:24 PM	#12
kgpcr Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2005 Posts: 955	I have a 1:9 twist rate. I just bought a 250pk of the new Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets that are 60gn and i saw they had a canalure when i opened them up. I never thought a Ballistic tip would have a cannalure. __________________ Colt King Cobra .357 Colt Anaconda .44mag Springfield Armory .45 Double stack Loaded XD40 service XD45 Taurus 617 .357mag Smith M&P 40

February 9, 2008, 11:12 PM	#2
rwilson452 Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2004 Location: Tioga co. PA Posts: 2,647	IMNSO having a cannalure if it's done properly shouldn't effect accuracy. There won't be much left of it when the rifling gets done working it over. I have seen bullets with a cannalure that wound up undersized at the point of the cannalure that will effect accuracy. I don't crimp my 22-250 stuff so I don't need a cannalure. I don't know anyone that does. Mic the bullets if they stay uniform in dia. before at and after the cannalure you should be good to go.

February 10, 2008, 09:26 AM	#6
hodaka Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,010	Match bullets from Sierra, Berger and others do not have cannelures. That should say it all. Whether a rifle is capable of demonstrating the difference is another subject.

February 10, 2008, 10:26 AM	#7
rwilson452 Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2004 Location: Tioga co. PA Posts: 2,647	shooting at 50 yards is not a valid test I think. Try a test at 200

February 10, 2008, 02:06 PM	#11
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,545	The uncannelured 50 gr Remington Pow-r-lokt bullets shoot very well in my .22-250, about as accurate as SMK and less expensive. But when I ordered some 55s, they came in with cannelures and did not shoot nearly as accurately. Was it the cannelure or 5 grains weight? I don't know but I am not buying any more cannelured bullets for target or varmint rifles.

February 12, 2008, 07:35 PM	#14
crowbeaner Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 1,943	Years back when Nosler made the Solid Base bullets, I bought some that did, and some that didn't have a cannelure. I loaded them all over 37.0 of H380 and magnum primers for my 22-250. The cannelured bullets shot 3/4 inch bigger groups out of the same rifle with all else exactly the same. JMH observation. __________________ If you want your children to follow in your footsteps, be careful where you walk. Beware the man that only owns one gun; he probably knows how to use it. I just hope my ship comes in before my dock rots.