How many shots load Testing ?

[savagedasher]

I would like to know how many shot do you use load testing ? Then the reason and yardages
Larry

 

[TheOtherZilla]

I start off with three shot groups at 100yds. If I see promise I start using 5 shot groups, working around whatever load I am testing.

 

[Hoier]

Last year when I got my new 6br barrel I went to my first match with 46 rounds through her.

I started by breaking in the barrel which was about 10 rounds then I move out to 300 and shot a ladder. After the ladder I loaded 5 shot groups with varying seating depths. Used the one that had the least amount of vertical.

 

[stool]

everyone should read this simple process...

For me it is a 4-step process:
- To locate the barrels accuracy nodes, I load a 8 to 15 increment Ladder Test, firing 1 of each increment at +300yds, for vertical assessment.
- From the found nodes of the Ladder Test, load 3 or 4 increments from with in the node zone for 3-shot group test at +300yds.
- From the found optimal charge, seating depth test via 3-shot group test at +300yds.
- At this point the load is 95% complete, so now I fine tune the load by neck tension and refined adjustments.

Donovan

 

[diego-ted]

I do this at 100 yards until the lest step. I start with about a spread of 3 grains in 3/10 increments to find the node, so about 20 shots. Once I find the node I shoot the same 3/10 spread above, at and below the node to confirm, about 18 shots. Then I do seating depth testing and chronograph all, about another 30 shots. Then once the load is confirmed I take it out to 300 yards, about another 20 shots. So all in all it takes me about 100 rounds to develop a load if all goes well.

Diego

 

[357Mag]

Savagedasher -

Howdy !


Well jeepers...... with my wildcat .22-35 Rem, I had to arrive @ my own safe / accurate loads ( back before things llike "QUICKLOAD"; etc ).

To try all the bullets, powders, and primers I needed to...... and to drive things to a point where I had found 2 great loads... took me 450rnd.
That was with a 24" 1-14.

When I rebarrelled ( same wildcat case ) for use in a 28" 1-8 format, I decided early-on to go w/ one bullet that could serve in
a dual-role' capacity. I settled on use of Hornady 75"A"-Max. With that combo, I found my best load w/ 62 shots.

My point:
If you shoot a known cartridge that has other's load data available for review, by all means... take a look.
You should be able to get a great sense of what powder(s) will likely perfom best; along w/ the bullet you've chosen. IMHO
Its' always a good idea to have 2-3 top choices in-mind, as powder availability is one of today's challenge areas.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[357Mag]

Savagedasher -

OOops !

I'll trial 3ea shots to see what groups best @ 100. Then, shoot 5ea shots to prove better verify grouping ability ( @ 100 ).

Then, shoot 5-shot groups of the same load @ all yardages of interest ( 100yd increments ).


With regards,
357Mag

 

[Dgd6mm]

everyone should read this simple process...

For me it is a 4-step process:
- To locate the barrels accuracy nodes, I load a 8 to 15 increment Ladder Test, firing 1 of each increment at +300yds, for vertical assessment.
- From the found nodes of the Ladder Test, load 3 or 4 increments from with in the node zone for 3-shot group test at +300yds.
- From the found optimal charge, seating depth test via 3-shot group test at +300yds.
- At this point the load is 95% complete, so now I fine tune the load by neck tension and refined adjustments.

Donovan

I learned this simple process fromm Jason Baney, he shoots his at 1000 yards which is extreme for some. I've done it at 300 and 600 yards.

 

[Hoier]

Donovan

I am with you and do all mine at 300 because that's as far as I have that's close. That said, it's hard to argue with guys that do theirs at 100. Jim Ohara does and his records are hard to argue with.

 

[Grimstod]

For me it is a 4-step process:
- To locate the barrels accuracy nodes, I load a 8 to 15 increment Ladder Test, firing 1 of each increment at +300yds, for vertical assessment.
(the Ladder Test also yields the powder/primer/bullet pressure tolerances and the powders velocity)
- From the found nodes of the Ladder Test, load 3 or 4 increments from with in the node zone for 3-shot group test at +300yds.
- From the found optimal charge, seating depth test via 3-shot group test at +300yds.
- At this point the load is 95% complete, so now I fine tune the load by neck tension and refined adjustments.

Donovan

1+
You really can't say it better then this.

 

[lawrence97]

Powder testing (100-200 yards): 3 rd. groups in .5 grain increments with a seating depth of .010 jump. I will start in the upper limits of charges found in a book or online as most loads work best near the upper limit. This is usually 15-25 rds with sighters and fouling rounds.
I then settle for a charge in the middle of node.

Seating depth (100-200 yards): 3 rd. groups in .003 increments going from .010 jump out to .030. I like to stay away from lands! I then settle for a depth in between two tight groups.

By then you should have a good load and if need be you can fine tune it at the max distance you will shoot at. I did the above and it has worked well in competition.

Feel free to reference the "long range load development at 100 yards" post started by Erik Cortina for over 40 pages of knowledge and tips.

 

[mikecr]

I don't start load development until brass is fireformed and stable in dimension/capacity. That takes as many rounds as brass to form.
During this fireforming, I run seating tests similar to Berger's recommended(regardless of bullet).
With ~best seating chosen, I run a 300yd ladder. I watch for BOTH vertical and horizontal, and MVs.
With approx load and best seating, I group shoot at 200yds with tweaking to powder & seating to shape grouping.
For 50 FF'd cases, new load from scratch, I usually have ~200 down the bore. Maybe ~50 less if it's not a new load, and ~100 less if cases are already fully formed -AND THE LOAD SHOOTS WELL-.
If the load didn't work out well then shot total will be unknown(as many as it takes to get it or give up).

With this hot load, I begin cold bore load development for accuracy. As many shots, and way more time..
Then there are the experiments,, different condition & distance testing, and actually, I guess I don't ever really stop.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Larry I do 3 shot groups, I don't like 2 shots because I want to know the the load is doing. Does the load string? Or is it round? 2 shots wont tell you. Then I will use 5 shots once I think I found a good load.

 

[allenn]

A ladder test will help you eliminate much of your vertical. Pictures always seem to help, that's why I'm writing this. Shooting a ladder at less than 300 yds will be very hard to interpret, the farther the better.
Picture is of 500 yd. ladder test. From 29.6 grains of powder to 30.5 grains of powder is over 5 inches of vertical. From 30.8 to 31.7 is less than 2 inches of vertical. Both have 9 10ths. of a grain spread in powder charge. It's obvious we want to do load work up in the area of less vertical. With a hunting gun I would shoot a five shot group of 31.1 grains and a group with 31.4, pick the best one and let it go at that. With a bench gun I would start at 30.8 and shoot three shot groups moving up in 2 10ths. of a grain increments. Pick the two best and shoot a five shot group with each one. From there go to your seating depth test. Then to the other things Donovan said.

 

[fredhorace77]

tag

 

[savagedasher]

What I was trying to ask that I didn't explain well enough to some is. Do you do 5 or 6 2 shot test 3 or more 3 shot or just 5 shot. Yardage and the reason why. Larry

 

[Hoier]

I shoot 5 shot groups at 300yd. The reason is it's to far to drive to go any farther. And I use 5 shot groups because that's what I shoot in matches. I shoot 600 and 1k IBS.

 

[daniel brothers]

are you guys using crony numbers to help out as well...?

 

[masterblaster1]

I shoot 5 shot groups at 100 yds, once I find a node I go up 2 increments 0.1 grains each and down the same, once I lock in I run 5 more just to make sure. Any rounds left over I let the kids or wife shoot. I bring a box of 50 rounds, 10 rounds loaded at each level so I usually have 20 rounds left.

 

[savagedasher]

are you guys using crony numbers to help out as well...?

That's a great question also. The answers will help all shooters . Larry