Do you ever think about starting over on a good load?

[M-61]

I have a load for my BR rifle (222REM) built for me in 1975 (Ed Ferguson)
A few months of experimenting and I came up with this good repetitive load.
1975 is awhile ago. Remington sleeved action and a Douglas barrel. 3 piece laminated stock. SHBF. I'd say it was state of the art back then.
Every decade or so I try a different load thinking something good will occur.
Nothing has, and my original load is still the best.

 

[searcher]

I have a few rifles (one is a factory Ruger .243 varmint) which I bought long before I got into accuracy loading for match shooting. The .243 was considered a "good shooter" after getting a load that averaged around 3/4" MOA. A few years back, I thought I'd try some new powders and bullets - and apply my "new-found" loading skills. It was well worth it to me to see how accurate my rifle really was - which was far better than what I was getting. For me - it was well worth it. To any deer shot within 400 or so yards - wouldn't have made a difference.

 

[pertnear]

I have a few rifles (one is a factory Ruger .243 varmint) which I bought long before I got into accuracy loading for match shooting. The .243 was considered a "good shooter" after getting a load that averaged around 3/4" MOA. A few years back, I thought I'd try some new powders and bullets - and apply my "new-found" loading skills. It was well worth it to me to see how accurate my rifle really was - which was far better than what I was getting. For me - it was well worth it. To any deer shot within 400 or so yards - wouldn't have made a difference.

I'm the OP. Even though I'm not a competitive shooter, I've always been an "accuracy reloader". I guess searcher's post has kind of echoed my thinking in asking the original question. I realize that for deer hunting, a factory rifle & shells is plenty good enough. But I like the confidence I get when I know my rifle shoots much better than its operator!

Thanks everyone for your opinions & informative posts!

Dave

 

[Ccrider]

For my hunting rifles, no. I know what I expect from them and once I am getting it from my Bullet of choice, I am done.
If you shoot N133 in a ppc, seems like you are working up a new load every day, sometimes twice a day.

 

[AWS]

Yes and no. I have a good load for most of my rifles and keep 50-100 rounds always loaded, but I'm not above working with new bullets. Surprisingly I haven't been able to improve anything yet. I have added some Lead Free loads to my coyote hunting rifles just incase I end up hunting in a lead free zone. I have had to start over on some when components have disappeared(Herter's shut it's doors) Herter's 50gr SP's were my goto bullet in my 223 for pelt hunting and control work 50 yrs ago. The 52gr Speer Varmint and 40gr NBT have taken up the slack. With new rifles more shortcut stick and ball powders are replacing 3031.

 

[CharlieNC]

Why not. Since the original load development it sounds like you have done a bit of research and discovered ladder testing and other disciplined techniques vs original hunt and peck approach. A simple ladder will require minimal components, slow shooting for no loss in barrel life, will either confirm you stumbled onto a good node or have significant opportunity for improvement. Worst case is you gain more confidence in your load with little effort and cost.

 

[LGKLAS]

No. And for all the reasons stated above. Plus , I like just going to the range and shooting without being mission oriented (i.e. testing a load). Just out shooting for the pure fun of it.