Does the weight of the RB matter...How much is too much variance?

[BigBossMan]

I know this is really getting picky but it might be interesting.  I weighed the balls in the Hornady 32 caliber RB box (.310) just to see what the variance was.  They weighed from 45.5 grains to 45.9 grains.  The majority was 45.7 with about equal amounts of 45.6 and 45.8.

From an accuracy standpoint does this really matter.  I am working up what I hope to be the most accurate load for this rifle.  Or, am I just being toooooo tooooo anal?

[flintlock]

That's not enough to worry about...I've shot these things since 1975, I mold my own with a Rapine bag mold, never weighed a one...

[Ironwood]

There are so many other variables to contend with I don't think a few 10ths of a grain is going to make that much difference.

[coyotejoe]

The exact weight of the ball is not important, the main reason for weighing balls is to detect any which may have an internal void. Any void in the ball will unbalance it and thus any light balls are rejected. This is generally only an issue with cast balls, not the swaged balls you are using.

[BigBossMan]

Thanks for the advice.  I never would have thought about a RB having a void but I can certainly see where it could happen.

[forest2]

There are so many other variables to contend with I don't think a few 10ths of a grain is going to make that much difference.

 ironwood is correct, a few 10th at bad. a full  grain in .50 is questionable. A void, is simply and air bubble that could have been trapped some where in the casting. If the bubble where to be in the exact center it wouldn't matter,, when I weigh ball, I find a group center of random weight.  With a +/-  1/2 of one grain as tolerance.Then I put heavies with heavies, light with light,,and toss all that are more than 1 grain out of nominal back into the pot,,or just use them for scrap shooting or fouling shot's. Some say it doesn't matter. Guess what? it does, you have just removed one more variable. here's a trick in compition; shoot your out of tolerance ball during warm up and practice, your freinds will see your having a bad day. When the money lands on the barrel-head,,that's when you shoot the ball that weigh the same,;)
 Just remember, the winner buy's the soda,,,,,,,,,,;)