QC on these loads???

Just got ahold of my first batch of AA factory 129SST's and am just wondering what you guys are experiencing accuracy wise? When I examined the loaded rounds, I am seeing COAL's vary from 2.254" up to 2.263" and everywhere in between. Just makes me wonder about quality control and whether or not these are out of the running as tack drivers.

Some people love them, but they are not the most accurate factory round from my rifle. As for the varying COAL, I'm not surprised.

Long, skinny bullets tend to have some variance. I've spent HOURS trying to get exactly the same COAL's when handloading. I think it comes down to some very small variance in the actual ogive lengths, and I've noticed the same problems with long Sierra's, Bergers, and Lapuas; though the Lapuas seem a little more consistent.

If you handload, you can try to seat them all to a consistent depth.

Bill

I do handload and I've also struggled to get each one to be exactly the same. I can typically keep them within .002-.003 though, not a spread thats nearly .010".

I was just surprised, thats all.

Just got ahold of my first batch of AA factory 129SST's and am just wondering what you guys are experiencing accuracy wise? When I examined the loaded rounds, I am seeing COAL's vary from 2.254" up to 2.263" and everywhere in between. Just makes me wonder about quality control and whether or not these are out of the running as tack drivers.

Any match bullet varies in length considerably, it isn't critical to accuracy. The seating stem seats the ogive at the same depth which is the critical part. I've achieved .25-.5 MOA with the 129 SSTs from some barrels and .5-.75 from others. This is with no sorting whatsoever.
Bob

I am seeing COAL's vary from 2.254" up to 2.263" and everywhere in between.

In my handloads I seek to not exceed the max COAL of 2.265 with my 123 SMKs. Call me a crappy handloader (maybe my QC is lacking? :o) but my lengths with the 123 SMK vary greatly, from 2.267 to 2.250, if I remember correctly.

John

I had real good luck with 129 grain Hornaday Spire Points in my Grendels. The SSTs though only shoot around 1" @ 100 yards. They shot 1/2 tha size group in my 6.5-06.