Sweet spot?

Baylian · #1 06-18-2006, 02:00 AM

What are the sweet spots for the major calibers? I know 130 grain bullets are the best for the .270. What are the best for the others?

Thanks, TJ

Cal Sibley · #2 06-18-2006, 11:29 AM

I'm not certain at what we're looking at here. If you're referring to finding the optimum setting on a Browning or similar rifle, it's going to vary every time you change your bullet, powder or load. These items are all affected by your setting. I think the "sweet spot" principle does indeed work, but there's a lot more to it than that. I'd suggest you read up on the topic. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

Dan Morris · #3 06-19-2006, 08:45 AM

Cal is correct, as a round is fired, the barrel vibrates at a certain harmonic. A combination of powder,bullet,primer and seating depth go into the optimum performance of that combination. Together,this creates the "sweet spot" for that combination.This is just a trial and error for that rifle!
Dan

model 70 · #4 06-19-2006, 09:12 AM

perhaps he's asking what the "traditional best" of each popular round is as far as weight goes. maybe something like:

270win:130gr.
30/06:165 or 180gr.?
7mm rem mag.: 175gr.

M.T. Pockets · #5 06-19-2006, 10:42 AM

I owned a Browning A-Bolt with a Boss and they referred to the "Sweet Spot" in the owners manual.

They had suggested settings for the Boss for different calibers and bullet weight combinations, but they also said that you should experiment to see how your rifle responds.

I've see some aftermarket adjustible weight devices to try to do the same thing.

I'm sure that these settings are helpful if you're serious about getting the best possible performance from your rifle. Personally, I think a good handloader could reach the same results. I couldn't say that I took full advantage of the Boss to improve my accuracy that I could notice. I shoot factory ammo without a Boss now, and I'm happy with the results I get, although my rifle absolutely hates some loads and will shoot 1" groups with others.

rem 700 · #6 06-19-2006, 12:28 PM

My 25-06 likes 110 accubonds which perform great on paper as well as game, and the trusty 7mag likes 140s and 160s pretty well if that gets this subject any farther

Baylian · #7 06-20-2006, 12:29 AM

It always seems I never give enough info. I tried to give an example to help but I must have used the wrong terminology. I was just wondering if I had a .223, what bullet is best? If I had a .22-250, what bullet is best? Now I'm talking about factory here because I'm new to this and I haven't had time to start reloading. From the ballistic tables it seems 130 grain spire point boat tail bullets are the schniz for the .270. That's the caliber I recently acquired. I hope this fixes the misunderstandings!!!

Good hunting, TJ

Brithunter · #8 06-20-2006, 06:24 AM

Boat Tailed bullets do not show any real advantage until about 400 yards. Often Flat based bulelts show better accuracy than boat tailed ones and the boat tail can or seesm to be reasponible for some bullets of tradition make up shedding their jackets.

Now evey barrel let alone rifle is different so what one barrel in a particular calibre (note I said calibre and not cartridge

) likes may not be the same for the next barrel/rifle tried. Perhaps a better selection for the .270 would be the 140 grain bullet

and the 7.62 nato was dsigned around the 147 grn and .308 win adopted the 150 grn so?

gd357 · #9 06-20-2006, 08:00 AM

Along with harmonics, the rate of twist also plays an extremely important role in what bullet weight each rifle likes. There is little variance in standard calibers, but this issue was what caused the 6mm Rem to fall far short of .243 sales and popularity. Generally speaking, faster rates of twist will shoot heavier bullets better (with respect to individual calibers).

gd