Editing Handloading (section)

===Bullets===
Bullets must be well balanced and consistent in weight, shape, and seating depth to ensure that they correctly engage the rifling, exit the barrel at a consistent velocity, and fly straight.  Buying bullets from a high-quality source will help ensure quality, but for ultimate accuracy, some shooters will measure even the best bullets, and reject all but the most consistent.  Measurement of the weight is the easiest, and bullets that are out of round can be detected by rotating the bullet while measuring with a micrometer.  There is even a device available that will detect changes in jacket thickness and internal voids in jacketed rifle bullets, though its high cost makes it prohibitively expensive for all but the most dedicated shooters.<ref name=frfrog />

The transition from the case to the barrel is also very important.  If the bullets have to travel a varying distance from the case to the point where they engage the rifling, then this can result in variations in pressure and velocity.  The bearing surface of the bullet should ideally be seated as close as possible to the rifling.  Since it is the bearing surface that matters here, it is important that the bullets have a consistent bearing surface.<ref name=frfrog />