185g or 200g for the Long Line?

I've been shooting a 200g SWC over 3.8g of N310 for both the long line and short line.

Can I expect a 185g SWC to shoot as good a group at the long line?

Thanks, Art

Art in my experience with my guns the 185 LSWC was not as accurate as the 200 at 50 yards.

That was using Zero leads, what I think caused this is the nose on the 185 and 200 are the same size thus the extra weight is all in the bottom on the 200 which gives it a larger bearing surface that the 185. Not science by any stretch just my thoughts.

Generally speaking-I too,feel the 200gr is more accurate than the 185 SWC at 50 yds.Usually more bearing surface and minor weight differences seem to have less of an effect on head.I also suspect the H&G #68 nose shape seems to be better suited to 50 yd accuracy than the shorter nose of the H&G#S242 shape and the FB type seems to be more accurate that the BB type. Of course each pistol must be individually tested and a good load must be developed -probably with a RR.In the past I found the old Lyman 45266(452066) 215 gr SWCBT bullet was very accurate with almost any kind of target powder-go figure. IMHO......of course.

I was shooting 200 LSWC with the short nose today. They were not good at 50. 25 yds, yes.
Their casting looks good with sharp base edges and all. But very disappointing at 50.

What about the Zero SWCHP or the Nosler HP in 185gr? Supposedly the HP puts more weight on the rear for better accuracy.

Jerry Goldfarb wrote:What about the Zero SWCHP or the Nosler HP in 185gr?

I have played with the Zero 185gr LSWCHP and do like the feel of it. I did not test for accuracy at 50 yards, however it is my goto bullet for sustained fire 25 yards outdoor and indoor 50'. If I had a chance to use this for a short course (25 yards only) I am sure it would be very acceptable.

It seems for consistency and accuracy at 50 yards the 185gr JHP is the way to go.

Lately I have been casting the Saeco #065 which is a 180gr H&G 68 style, at a hardness of about a 9. I have not RR tested it but I am finding it shoots from the hand as well as my 200 gr H&G 68s both bullets over 4.1 gr of WST. I shot the H&G 130 (185gr button nose) at the short line for several years and really liked it at 25yds but never got it to shoot well at 50.

Scott

My findings are similar to Scott's.

I know Giles used to love the H&G 130 with (memory failing here) 3.5 gr Bullseye and a hard crimp at 50 yards, and he got fantastic groups. I've tried them in several wad guns and I don't get groups, patterns mainly. When I use my H&G 68 bb that drops them at 215 gr, they go into nice round groups about 2" @ 50 yards with 4.4 gr WST.

I still use the 130s with 3.5 gr Clays for the short line and indoors as they shoot quite well at those ranges.

FWIW