The header above is kind of a misleading statement, but I had to have a title. To get into it: I took note, interestedly, in Joe Brennan's work about group sizes over the last 20 or so years; he noted that we're not shooting any smaller groups now, than we were then. (At least, that's at least one of the thrusts I got out of it.) So, recently I happened upon a copy of Maj. Geo. Nonte's book on Handloading. It was interesting reading, kind of a later version of Phil Sharpe's book, (in fact, Maj. Nonte mentions Mr. Sharpe favorably) and I was caught by the publishing date. (Early 1970'S) Reading Maj. Nonte's chapter about bullet casting, I was struck that we are today doing those same things, and talking about the same problems, etc. etc. An example: when I was first casting bullets, (1952, yep, just a little while ago) it was a given, according to Sharpe's book, that the bullet should be .003 over groove diameter. The way he wrote about it, it was a figure graven in stone; not even open to question. However, Maj. Nonte states that the bullet should be sized “no more than .0015” larger than groove diameter." Which, at that earlier time frame, would signal a real sea-change. Now, it's accepted as fact as, at least, a good starting point. The point I am getting to is simply this: What has happened in those last 30 years or so, that means we should be shooting measurably better? From Nonte's writing to now, I haven't noted any quantum leap forward in barrel technology, firearms, etc. Many new, different powders, but that, it seems to me, is just a tiny step. And, we're still shooting our same alloys, of course. That's what we do: make some kind of lead alloy into projectiles. I guess I'm trying to solve a mystery/problem that may not have a solution. And, I have to admit I'm having a good time doing what I've always done; the frustration is simple: I'm just not getting better at what I'm doing. But, I'm going to keep doing it as long as I enjoy it. Hope springs Eternal, it's said.
In theory, there's no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is. My fate is not entirely in Gods hands, if I have a weapon in mine.
