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Posted: 6/22/2009 6:49:47 PM EDT
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This may be a bonehead question, but oh well. I've been around guns my entire life and have paid attention to bullet weights and what not but I have always wondered this. How can a bullet of the same caliber, have a different weight? For example, I am looking at 2 boxes of .30-06 rounds, one box is 150 grain and the other is 180 grain. That is big difference. So how can 2 bullets of the same caliber be so different in weight? Is the heavier bullet longer? I've never reloaded so I am not totally clear on all of that, but that is the only thing I can think of. So, if it is longer, does it extend further into the casing? I guess it would have to.
Anyway, somebody school me on bullet weight please. Spanks. |
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This is a pretty good graphic comparison although the pictures are not precisely to the same scale.
As RobRat stated, yes the heavier bullets are generally seated deeper although there is often room for increasing the Cartridge Overall Length (COA) as long as the specified maximum is not exceeded. For the .30-’06 you mentioned max COA is 3.340” The 150 Gr bullets will be around 3.200” The 180 Gr bullets will be around 3.245” Now the 180 Gr is about .5” longer so 0.045” is on the outside with the remaining 0.455” is tucked away inside the case. But the 190 Gr and 220 Gr are loaded to 3.220" & 3.230" so they are extending into the case much more! |
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