Just prepped 447 Winchester cases, chamfered, flash holes uniformed, I have 47 cases primed, OCW or Eric Cortina. I have a grasp of both concepts, I have the tools too get the info I need to do it Eric's way, the only thing I don't understand about his way, he never says what to use as a charge as your playing with seating depth. Do I just pick a load out of the manual for the powder and the bullet I'm going to use and then just play with seating depth and conversely do I just pick an overall cartridge length and the play with the charges. I have a club shoot at the end of October and would like to be shooting my reloads, because it seems that the old .30-06 factory ammo is hard to come by and very expensive, I have several types of high quality bullets and 20 pounds of IMR 4350 and 10 pounds of Winchester 760.
Me novice, first 47 cases load development?
- Thread starter cmysix
- Start date
timeout
Silver $$ Contributor
I guess it's a matter of personal preference. I do a ladder test first. Not only to find a node, but also to determine the point at which pressure becomes too high. Without doing a ladder first I imagine get several load suggestions from manuals and start with a low charge.
Clancy
Silver $$ Contributor
I do seating with a luke warm charge then follow Cortina’s method of looking for groups that share a point of impact. I leave the chronograph at home until I’m done. Learn about pressure signs and watch for them like you’ll get a prize for finding one.
Always recheck the load after a couple hundred rounds, because your barrel will speed up.
You’ll see 2-3 definitive nodes. I usually run the middle one for safety, barrel life and easy load maintenance. Every time I try to keep a gun in tune with a blazing hot load, I spend more time tuning than enjoying the rifle.
Always recheck the load after a couple hundred rounds, because your barrel will speed up.
You’ll see 2-3 definitive nodes. I usually run the middle one for safety, barrel life and easy load maintenance. Every time I try to keep a gun in tune with a blazing hot load, I spend more time tuning than enjoying the rifle.
Jager
Gold $$ Contributor
I'd recommend any novice to the world of reloading not use OCW; and not use Eric's or any other YouTube channel as their guiding light.
I'd recommend, instead, that they buy one of the mainstream load manuals, probably the one put out by the maker of the bullet they wish to start with. That manual will describe all the steps needed to be successful. And it will give actual powder charges, as tested in their lab.
I'd recommend that new reloader keep things simple. Just use the cartridge overall length that's in the manual. Start with a simple charge weight ladder.
There's plenty of time later to add all sorts of nuanced techniques like those discussed at length in forums like this; or on YouTube channels like Eric's.
At the beginning, you - the royal "you," we've all been there - don't know what you don't know. Get the basics down first.
Welcome to the other half of shooting...
I'd recommend, instead, that they buy one of the mainstream load manuals, probably the one put out by the maker of the bullet they wish to start with. That manual will describe all the steps needed to be successful. And it will give actual powder charges, as tested in their lab.
I'd recommend that new reloader keep things simple. Just use the cartridge overall length that's in the manual. Start with a simple charge weight ladder.
There's plenty of time later to add all sorts of nuanced techniques like those discussed at length in forums like this; or on YouTube channels like Eric's.
At the beginning, you - the royal "you," we've all been there - don't know what you don't know. Get the basics down first.
Welcome to the other half of shooting...
Coyotefurharvester
Silver $$ Contributor
What kind of club match(distance) bolt or semi?
FClass 300 yd, I 'm using a Remm 700 .30-06 K&P barrel, German Salazar chamber, going to shoot my 5.56 semi in the other class, but I have factory ammo for that.
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
I think you should learn how to load first not cloud it up with load workup tactics. Pick safe loads from a modern manual and work on loading right and safe
Coyotefurharvester
Silver $$ Contributor
^^^^ mid range load, match bullet, follow the manufacturer data. Watch the wind.
Many thanks for your comments. I tried "load development" on my 30-06 this weekend. Was a bit of a disaster. Borrowed the shops range radar , but that did not work properly. Both kids were sick so I could not use them as the trigger men, as I am a crap shot.
It was still fun though, but as a total newbie i am getting quite confused with this whole precision malarky. I was recommended to look up Gordons reloading tool, and that is great, but even more confusing for a newbie. Then the powder maker had their range of options, Gordons had its ideas and I did not even think to look at Hornaday for their recommendations.
I am at the point of conceding that I can take the odd impala, warthog and Blue Wildebeest with what I have , so perhaps I should just be content with that, but the reloading guy at the range/shop said he is going to keep the rifle this week and come up with something.
To be honest for the only thing I am concerned about, is knowing where the guard rails are? I just want to be operating well inside the safe region, and don't want to do a kentucky ballistics on my self or any of the kids.
On Friday pm I had my son on the trigger and he got some good results but the best group was still well north of 1MOA, but I was loading on the lower end of the powder manufactures range for 30-06 with 180 grain hornady interlock rushing down range around 2550fps when the radar was behaving.
The reloading guy at the store, said I should up the load to around 2650fps, so I tried that on Saturday with a range in 0.2gr increments, but with the kids down, I was on the trigger and the whole exercise was a bust due to inability of the trigger man.
Anyway, we have a powder whisperer in the group that owns the range/store, so I am going to see If my local man can co-ordinate with him to put the gun closer to the mark. If that fails, I may be forced to go and look at truvelo or victrix, if this longer range stuff bug bites.
There seems to be a heck of a lot more to learn with this rifle stuff, that just cranking the handle on the dillon for the 9mm.
I hope to come back to this group and learn more, but at this stage, I don't even know what questions to ask, but at least one can pick up some pointers like looking at the bullet makers for tips. Many thanks again.
Hoot
Silver $$ Contributor
I reloaded for at least ten years before I got QuickLoad (similar to GRT) software.
By then I had verified that experience is not only the best teacher but also the most expensive.
Fortunately I'm a quick study, having used modeling software in other areas and have grown to rely upon QL for estimating starting loads with different powders or projectiles. It didn't hurt having an online tudor from TX with the patience of Job back then. Mainly I strive for a middle of the pack load that QL says is on top of an OBT node. Its rarely right on the first iteration but usually close.
In lieu of getting fluent in a modeling program, heed the advice of the others and get some range time under your belt. Then begin varying contributing factors one at a time and in baby steps. They all matter. The degree may be different but finding those interrelationships is part of the fun.
I'm not your usual participant here. I shoot because I reload. When I tell people at the range that, I get strange looks most of the time but I love experimenting. Most of all, enjoy yourself.
Hoot
By then I had verified that experience is not only the best teacher but also the most expensive.
Fortunately I'm a quick study, having used modeling software in other areas and have grown to rely upon QL for estimating starting loads with different powders or projectiles. It didn't hurt having an online tudor from TX with the patience of Job back then. Mainly I strive for a middle of the pack load that QL says is on top of an OBT node. Its rarely right on the first iteration but usually close.
In lieu of getting fluent in a modeling program, heed the advice of the others and get some range time under your belt. Then begin varying contributing factors one at a time and in baby steps. They all matter. The degree may be different but finding those interrelationships is part of the fun.
I'm not your usual participant here. I shoot because I reload. When I tell people at the range that, I get strange looks most of the time but I love experimenting. Most of all, enjoy yourself.
Hoot
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
Ask questions here to verify what you want to try then stick to a plan. Try not to experiment too many variables. Always start with your setup- good scope, solid bench, good rest that lets the gun act natural and is repeatable on every shot. Nothing ruins groups as quick as a different hold each shot trying to nudge it on target.
CharlieNC
Gold $$ Contributor
Manuals will provide a range of powder weight, up to max safe load, and it is up to you to find the charge weight in that range which provides optimum accuracy. As a first step look up the Audette ladder test, which finds the charge which gives a stable poi on the target. Given this start, you can then fine tune with the other methods.
dusterdave173
Silver $$ Contributor
Novice to novice ( I am about a year in )
Don't size and prep all your brass at one time in the beginning--as you go forward you will discover mistakes and improve so much as you go-( same goes for loading up a huge number of rounds )-I savaged a Lot of brass at first--because I did all I had in one sitting--then learned what I could do better---this is a thing that repeats itself many times until you finally get your sea legs and have a decent handle on things
Remember Arnold Palmer could whip anybody at golf with a claw hammer taped to a broomstick--meaning equipment is great but once you really know what you are doing --you see that lots of what you thought you must have is just another "for sale " item now
Also think--if you buy a box of bullets 100 count--just so you can try that weight, brand, etc remember--It takes a lot of time, powder, primers and patience to test that one box and come up with any meaningful info-- skipping all around with different components takes Time and $$ and all you get is just enough info to try some More with it---you can blow a couple of weeks easy. As soon as you find a promising combo--work it--work it until the end when you are sitting there going OK--I damn sure know what that will do
Heck I don't know I am a rookie but like posters here say--get the basics down--THEN work on your curve ball and fancy stuff
Learning to set up your sizing die and being able to measure cases so you understand exactly what you are doing to them is the foundation
Don't size and prep all your brass at one time in the beginning--as you go forward you will discover mistakes and improve so much as you go-( same goes for loading up a huge number of rounds )-I savaged a Lot of brass at first--because I did all I had in one sitting--then learned what I could do better---this is a thing that repeats itself many times until you finally get your sea legs and have a decent handle on things
Remember Arnold Palmer could whip anybody at golf with a claw hammer taped to a broomstick--meaning equipment is great but once you really know what you are doing --you see that lots of what you thought you must have is just another "for sale " item now
Also think--if you buy a box of bullets 100 count--just so you can try that weight, brand, etc remember--It takes a lot of time, powder, primers and patience to test that one box and come up with any meaningful info-- skipping all around with different components takes Time and $$ and all you get is just enough info to try some More with it---you can blow a couple of weeks easy. As soon as you find a promising combo--work it--work it until the end when you are sitting there going OK--I damn sure know what that will do
Heck I don't know I am a rookie but like posters here say--get the basics down--THEN work on your curve ball and fancy stuff
Learning to set up your sizing die and being able to measure cases so you understand exactly what you are doing to them is the foundation
I agree, do a ladder test, with five or so, to start, with loads in your loading book/manual for your bullet weight and powder charge. When you find a couple that group really well, then work around them with various bullet seating depth to see if they fine tune to a tighter group. Keep it simple and don't overwork your mind and end up chasing the dogs tail, so to speak.
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