Accuracy loads will vary quite a bit depending on the rifle. With a new rifle/powder/ bullet situation I first run a simple pressure test. I set the seater so that the bullet is about .006 into the lands, from an accurately determined touch length, start with a load that is well below where I want to be, by a couple of grains, and shoot one shot per load, carefully observing for pressure signs. I keep going until I see a little more pressure than I like and then, at the temperature and humidity I am testing at, call the previous load my max for that rifle. I try to shoot this test, that can be preloaded, on a day when the wind is easy to deal with, at 100 yards, using a couple of wind flags. Under those conditions, I can remember where the flags are so that all of the test shots are shot in condition that are reasonably close to each other. I do this shooting all shots over a chronograph, noting the position of each bullet hole on the target as I shoot them. After I am finished, I look at the target to see if there were any clusters, which I will then load three shot tests using the middle charge weight. Further investigation is done loading at the range, on the same trip. Using this method I am able to learn several things and get an excellent start on a load in a relatively short time, without using excessive components. The increments for my powder charges will depend on the size of the case. For the smallest cases .3 gr or less for the really small ones, for .308 and up .5 gr. The reason for testing with the bullet into the lands is so that I will not get any surprises when testing various seating depths, and since charges are worked up gradually, from well below maximum, there is no problem with pressure.
