Development - follow the groups, or follow the velocities?

[JEFFPPC]

Since matches are won/ lost by what the target shows.....You figure it out. Losers figure and figures lie.

 

[fattybinz]

Thanks. I thought 1200+ wasn't a reasonable expectation but I did my fireforming and break in at a range with a 12" gong at 1220 and was surprised to hit it on my second shot. Probably a lot of luck getting as close to I did with the first shot. After that was able to hit it once every about 5 shots. That was also before any load development. I had plenty of elevation left in the scope, so who knows...going to try for 1500. It may take 40 shots, but I think it'd be fun. Ballistic calc says I can do it with max elevation plus a small hold over.

Forgot to link the video if those first few shots. Not a whole lot of energy at 1200, but it got there lol.

1200 Yards

 

[Webster]

Developing a load for a 223 Rem. Bighorn Origin, 27" Blackhawk Barrel. Tried a few powder and bullet combinations. TAC and Hornady 75 gr Match BTHP showed promise, so that is what I'm developing with. I'm testing chargeweights first. The lighter chargeweights shot the best groups, but had pretty horrendous ES and SDs. The heavier chargeweights shot terrible groups but had velocities that were great. As I move on to seating, do I 1) follow the targets/groups, or 2) follow the velocities and then use seating depth to tighten up the groups? I'm going to be commonly stretching this rifle to 1000-1300 yards, so I'd of course like consistent velocities, and I wouldn't mind choosing going with the faster chargeweights to enjoy those ~3100 fps speeds.

In case it matters, this is using x2 fired brass, all sized to give me .001-.002" headspace. Sized with a SAC modular die with a mandrel that gives me .001" neck tension. These were loaded .045" off the lands.

Below is a table with each chargeweight I used, the group size, the mean radius of the group, the average velocity of each group, and the ES/SDs. These were all shot at 200 yards. Do more weight testing, or move on to seating?

View attachment 1668357

You don't win with the best fps.