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Another
step toward perfecting
ammunition
Grouping bullets together that are more
nearly the same helps attain the goal of
eliminating as many variables as possible.
The Superior Shooting Systems Inc. Bearing
Surface Comparator [BSC] provides
an effective way to measure the surface of
the bullet which is in contact with the
bore of your barrel. Small differences
(even a few thousands) in bullet bearing
surfaces generate enough more (or less)
friction that the velocity and pressures
of the load are affected. Uniforming
bullets into a consistent measurement
range will allow your standard deviation
and extreme spreads to become closer, and,
ultimately, shoot smaller groups on
target.
The BSC is designed as a
caliber-specific instrument with different
caliber attachments (sleeves/bushings)
available that fit from .222 through .338
diameter (caliber) bullets. A caliber set
consists of two different tapered bore
diameter sleeves. One sleeve attaches to
the stem of the supplied dial indicator
and is held in place by a 5/32 allen-head
screw. The other (stepped) sleeve is set
upon the granite base (with the sleeve's
larger diameter step on the bottom). The
bullet to be measured can be placed into
this base sleeve either nose up or nose
down.
To get repeatable accurate results, the
base sleeve should be perfectly centered
under the dial indicator's stem-mounted
sleeve. When setting up the BSC, keep the
allen head screw which attaches the dial
indicator to the red mounting finger
somewhat loose until you put a bullet into
the bottom sleeve. Let the dial indicator
stem with the top sleeve attached then
slide onto the protruding end of the
bullet, and keeping light pressure from
your index finger on top of the stem
(pushing downward on the bullet), tighten
the allen head to set the dial indicator
in the proper position. This ensures top
accuracy and squareness of the BSC
device.
After the BSC instrument is correctly
set up, it usually takes a few minutes to
become familiar with the fit and feel and
pressure of the bullet into the base
sleeve. Once this is accomplished there
are several usage techniques which work
equally well in measuring the bullet's
bearing surface.
Dropping the dial indicator about
one-tenth (0.100) of an inch onto the
bullet is a technique that works well.
This can be repeated a couple of times to
ensure a consistent measurement (this also
helps to seat the bullet fully into the
bottom sleeve). A different technique is
to gently let the indicator sleeve slide
onto the bullet and then gently bump the
exposed (top of indicator) stem of the
indicator to assure that the sleeve has
fully seated (using your index finger for
the bump initiator). When putting the
bullet into the bottom sleeve, a small
amount of downward pressure helps assure
that the bullet is seated properly. It is
recommended that you segregate and group a
range of bullets of about 0.003 inches
into the same category.
The BSC design allows for the tip of
the bullet to be up or down when measured.
This is strictly a matter of individual
preference -- either way allows for equal
efficiency and accuracy. Whichever way you
choose, however, continue measuring the
same -- all nose up or all nose down for
that group of bullets.
The BSC can also be used with loaded
ammunition to check a round's frontal
bearing surface to base of the case
measurement. This measurement allows one
to segregate the overall lengths of the
loaded rounds (take care to be certain
that your primer is fully seated below the
rim of the case).
Phone 806-323-9488, FAX 806-323-9483, or order ON LINE
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