Load development question on finding the most accurate bullet in your rifle

[JASON50CAL]

Ok so when starting to work up a load for a rifle and say you have 3-4 different bullets that you want to find out which one shoots the best in your rifle could you load each bullet with the same powder charge, brass and primer and shoot them to see which one shoots the best or does it depend on different velocities to see the best accuracy of each bullet? Trying to shorten the load development process and save components and was wondering if this would work. Anyone tried this?

 

[ZenArchery]

Components and shooting systems have come a long way. Do your research for whatever end goal you have in mind. You could narrow it down to one brand of bullets with slight deviation in weight and go from there.
You can also benefit in calling bullet companies directly.

 

[boltfluter]

Ok so when starting to work up a load for a rifle and say you have 3-4 different bullets that you want to find out which one shoots the best in your rifle could you load each bullet with the same powder charge, brass and primer and shoot them to see which one shoots the best or does it depend on different velocities to see the best accuracy of each bullet? Trying to shorten the load development process and save components and was wondering if this would work. Anyone tried this?

Jason,
I would make a post asking for pet loads for the cartridge you are interested in. Many times a load combination will shoot well in most rifles in that caliber. Something may match your components that you have on hand. Easy peasy.
Paul

 

[CharlieNC]

Your concern about the need to evaluate each bullet at its optimum velocity is valid. One straightforward and efficient way to do this is a charge weight ladder with 2-3 shoots per charge, doing this for each bullet. Shoot these at one setting, in round robin fashion is preferable. You should observe a node for each, and the best performance should be apparent looking at the overall trend vs any single best group. The same technique is useful to compare powders as well.

 

[K22]

For me, this has always been the critical component for optimum accuracy meaning, some bullets just won't shoot well out of some of my rifles no matter what I do. On the contrary, when a rifle likes a bullet, most suitable powders often shoot well with this bullet.

With that said, I would only test one bullet at a time with one powder (one with a proven history of success with this caliber) and one primer. I appreciate the need to conserve components, that's the reality of today's sport. I would proceed with three varying powder charges in 3 shot groups (I like 4 to 5 shots) but 3 can give you an idea of potential to see if further testing is warranted.

If none reveal any potential, I then would test the next bullet following the same process keeping the powder and primer brands constant.

 

[JASON50CAL]

I’ll be using a known powder and bullet combo. 6BR with Varget and CCI 450 primers. Have Berger 105, 108, Hornady ELDM and Nosler RDF bullets to try in it

 

[ronsatspokane]

I’ll be using a known powder and bullet combo. 6BR with Varget and CCI 450 primers. Have Berger 105, 108, Hornady ELDM and Nosler RDF bullets to try in it

First of all, what Ned said is the case. Maybe it will work, maybe it won't. If you throw too many variables into the mix (powder, bullet, primer, brass, charge weights, seating depth...) one can burn a barrel just finding the best load. BTDT. I've found that it is best to pick a bullet and go with it until it proves out or it doesn't. If it doesn't move on to the next bullet.

In your case with 6BR, Varget, CCI 450's and Berger 105's are a known components the combination of which yields quality results. I'd start there.

 

[KMW 1954]

Simply from experience, most any time you change any component you are going to change the tune. The last two summers I spent time looking to develop the most precise load in my 223 to be used for a rifle league competition. First year I tried 4 different 69gr bullets and 3 different powders. Two of the bullets performed very similar with each of the powders. One shot very well with one powder and the last would not shoot no matter what I tried.

With the TAC and A 2460 powders I found the load weights were almost identical when shot on paper.

Again the best advice, 3 shot group ladders shot round robin. When I do it I place targets on a horizontal plane. One for each load. then compare once all are fired and evaluated as a complete group

 

[Dimner]

Your concern about the need to evaluate each bullet at its optimum velocity is valid. One straightforward and efficient way to do this is a charge weight ladder with 2-3 shoots per charge, doing this for each bullet. Shoot these at one setting, in round robin fashion is preferable. You should observe a node for each, and the best performance should be apparent looking at the overall trend vs any single best group. The same technique is useful to compare powders as well.

Would this also be the best format to evaluate one bullet with 3 different powders?

 

[CharlieNC]

Would this also be the best format to evaluate one bullet with 3 different powders?

Yes, it has worked well for me. Whether evaluating bullets or powders, instead of spending considerable time and supplies to find the optimum to make a decision, a charge ladder scan will span a velocity range which will give a clear indication of which is worth following up on for optimization.

 

[JFrank]

I’ve adopted this ^^ style as well, a person could quickly qualify or eliminate a component using this method. In one, two or three shots per charge increment.

 

[Straightshooter1]

Ok so when starting to work up a load for a rifle and say you have 3-4 different bullets that you want to find out which one shoots the best in your rifle could you load each bullet with the same powder charge, brass and primer and shoot them to see which one shoots the best or does it depend on different velocities to see the best accuracy of each bullet? Trying to shorten the load development process and save components and was wondering if this would work. Anyone tried this?

This is where I find QuickLoad works well for me in saving the amount of components used in load development. Once QL is tuned for the powder I'm using I'll focus on the Barrel Time that tends to produce the best results. Usually, I'll have some data from previous firings of the same barrel or barrel that's virtually identical. Then with a seating depth starting close to the lands (like .010") I'd run just a few 3 shot OCW loads that are around the optimal barrel time I would typically use with just the bullet I feel would give me the velocity I want and see what I get on paper. If there's a decent result but needs to be a little better, then I'll work on finding the right seating depth and forget about the rest of the bullets. If the bullet doesn't show promise with those OCW loads, I'd move on to the next favorite bullet for desired velocity and do the process again.

In most cases, I feel the Berger method works well, though it tends to focus on distance off the lands, though they're rally talking about seating depths. Try it with each bullet using the same powder charge, then pick the one that performed best and tune that load with that bullet.

Getting the Best Precision and Accuracy from VLD bullets in Your Rifle

VLD bullets are designed with a secant ogive. This ogive shape allows bullets to be more efficient in flight (retain more velocity = less drop and wind deflection). While this result is desirable for many rifle shooters the secant ogive on the VLD bullets produces another result in many rifle.

bergerbullets.com

There's more than one way to skin the cat.