D
dion
Guest
Dumb question but have to ask, what do you guys first test whendeveloping your loads. bullet depth, powder charges, primers....?
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FWIW from a relative rookie BR shooter who happens to be lucky enough to have access to a gun that will put a bullet where you want it to go.
bullets just off the lands or touching. powder charge 10% below published or known safe maximum. Pick a primer that is appropriate and shoot five (or 3 if they won't touch right off). Go up in charge by 0.3 or 0.5gr until you reach a load that will bring 5 shots into a nice ragged hole, or at least will go where the wind is supposed to put them, and then adjust seating depth.
Keep primers a constant. Try different bullet weights if you can't get 5 shots to go where you want them to after varying seating depth. I have tried to use known standard bullets that seem to shoot well, maybe not the absolute peak of accuracy, but will give me an honest estimation of my guns ability (like a 69gr sierra in a 1:9 .223 or BIB 118's in my 30BR). An important thing to note is that judging a load without wind flags will drive you nuts...was it the wind that put that shot out of the group, a handling error or is this load not worth the barrel life you just burned up.
I don't know what your background is, but if you have a stick and some surveyors tape you have wind flags in the making and will vastly improve your group size.
Hope this helps,
Mike
bullets just off the lands or touching. powder charge 10% below published or known safe maximum. Pick a primer that is appropriate and shoot five (or 3 if they won't touch right off). Go up in charge by 0.3 or 0.5gr until you reach a load that will bring 5 shots into a nice ragged hole, or at least will go where the wind is supposed to put them, and then adjust seating depth.
Keep primers a constant. Try different bullet weights if you can't get 5 shots to go where you want them to after varying seating depth. I have tried to use known standard bullets that seem to shoot well, maybe not the absolute peak of accuracy, but will give me an honest estimation of my guns ability (like a 69gr sierra in a 1:9 .223 or BIB 118's in my 30BR). An important thing to note is that judging a load without wind flags will drive you nuts...was it the wind that put that shot out of the group, a handling error or is this load not worth the barrel life you just burned up.
I don't know what your background is, but if you have a stick and some surveyors tape you have wind flags in the making and will vastly improve your group size.
Hope this helps,
Mike
D
DaRealViper
Guest
I start with CCI Large or Small Rifle Standard Primers and a tested Brass for the caliber of choice. I use faster powders than most for most of my cartridges. This provides standard pressure with lower than factory velocities. This allows me accuracy and consistancy.
Use a Known load test to find the best bullet weight for your barrel.
Then use a medium priced (Varmit Amax etc)not hunting not benchrest bullet.
Load the following to maximum Sammi Specifications Over all length.
Try this at 50yds load 87% maximum powder charge load 10rnds in the smallest increments possible .2gr for .223 rem .3gr for .308. Load and label the cartridges with the powder charge on each in permanent marking pen.
Go to the range test. Where the rounds converge to the tightest group.
E.G. Choose the middle value or the lowest accurate value 23.6gr and 23.8gr load 3 rounds 23.7gr test if accurate try 5rounds or loads a batch and go shoot. If strange accuracy occurs try the 23.6gr load for 3 rounds. Load and go shoot. You will see the barrel harmonics on paper of the Various powder charges. If accuracy isn't up to your standards try a different powder .
When the right bullet and powder charge is determined, adjust seating depth in increments for best accuracy.
This ladder test works nice out to 300yds and saves alot of component costs in testing. For longer ranges simply test the loads at 200-300yds for 6,8,1k yds then try them at the longer ranges.
The closer ranges reduces variables of shooter error, wind, mirage etc. making the results more consistant.
Then chronograph the loads and devolop ranging charts for required distances.
Use a Known load test to find the best bullet weight for your barrel.
Then use a medium priced (Varmit Amax etc)not hunting not benchrest bullet.
Load the following to maximum Sammi Specifications Over all length.
Try this at 50yds load 87% maximum powder charge load 10rnds in the smallest increments possible .2gr for .223 rem .3gr for .308. Load and label the cartridges with the powder charge on each in permanent marking pen.
Go to the range test. Where the rounds converge to the tightest group.
E.G. Choose the middle value or the lowest accurate value 23.6gr and 23.8gr load 3 rounds 23.7gr test if accurate try 5rounds or loads a batch and go shoot. If strange accuracy occurs try the 23.6gr load for 3 rounds. Load and go shoot. You will see the barrel harmonics on paper of the Various powder charges. If accuracy isn't up to your standards try a different powder .
When the right bullet and powder charge is determined, adjust seating depth in increments for best accuracy.
This ladder test works nice out to 300yds and saves alot of component costs in testing. For longer ranges simply test the loads at 200-300yds for 6,8,1k yds then try them at the longer ranges.
The closer ranges reduces variables of shooter error, wind, mirage etc. making the results more consistant.
Then chronograph the loads and devolop ranging charts for required distances.
D
DaRealViper
Guest
Addendum Usually test between 87% and 92% Maximum powder charge for best accuracy loads.