How We Do Load Development

[Scott Harris]

Greetings fellow load developers,

Wanted to share our load development method in the hope that it will save people a lot of time and barrel life. Using this method, we are usually finished with load development before the barrel has a hundred rounds on it. It is very similar/the same as Erik Cortina's method, just done in the form of a ladder at 500-1000 yards instead of 100. What we look for is identical...just easier to see at distance.

Today, we had a brand new 284 Shehane barrel and participated in a 500 yard match.

1. First string, we used our regular match load for other barrels and shot a 199-10X while fouling the barrel.
2. With the barrel fouled, we performed a ladder test as shown below. Loads 3 & 4 tightened up nicely and were right on top of each other. Our chosen load is 54.9 to 55.0 grains.
3. Once we know the load, chrono a few rounds and record the velocity. I believe load development is simply tuning barrel harmonics and velocity is what produces specific harmonics. In other words, note the velocity that shoots the best and then maintain that same velocity throughout the life of the barrel. Regardless of what is going on with barrel break-in, wear & tear. component lot changes,etc....just maintain the velocity and your rifle will usually keep shooting just as well. Regarding seating depth, we seat all our hybrids .015 off the lands when the barrel is new and never change it again. Simply maintain the velocity by changing the powder charge as the barrel wears.
4. No more steps, our load development is complete in 50 rounds. Christine will be using this one at the Bergers this year.....if she gets in.

I wanted to post this info as a way to say you don't have to go crazy on load development. We compete in F-class and have produced good results with this method over the years. I think the more time you spend competing in matches, the better you will get. Minimizing load development gives you time to focus on the more important tasks of learning to compete and read the wind!

As a side note, we have 4 Shehane rifles outfitted with identical barrels and using the same chamber reamer. They all shoot the same brass and have tuned at exactly the same place. Same experience with my 308 WIN barrels: same brass, seating depth, and load. This is the way it works with good barrels from the same maker with the same specs. In short, I don't believe in the "each barrel is a snowflake" theory: quite the opposite. When they are made to the same spec, they tend to shoot the exact same loads. Barrels that don't shoot your known good load are usually the ones that don't shoot well.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Your basic 3 shot ladder is a solid way to develop a load. However, not exploring seating depth, chasing the lands, trying to keep velocity the same, and expecting barrels to shoot the same load goes against a lot of what I have seen. Seating depth is huge, chasing the lands is huge. Also velocities can and do change from day to day while the rifle stays in tune. I do not think accuracy is tied to a velocity. I have measured as much as 40 fps change in a load without a change in tune. I think what you have seen is with heavy target barrels using the same reamer, you often will get them to shoot very similar loads, but applying that to all rifles is bound to bite you. Even when I work with a bullet I have a lot of experience with I still find it likes a very different seating depth occasionally. Of course this is all dependent on the type of accuracy your after as well. Any time I skip a full out proper load development I find myself with a sub par load and end up having to do all the work anyhow.

 

[Puzzaz01]

Your basic 3 shot ladder is a solid way to develop a load. However, not exploring seating depth, chasing the lands, trying to keep velocity the same, and expecting barrels to shoot the same load goes against a lot of what I have seen. Seating depth is huge, chasing the lands is huge. Also velocities can and do change from day to day while the rifle stays in tune. I do not think accuracy is tied to a velocity. I have measured as much as 40 fps change in a load without a change in tune. I think what you have seen is with heavy target barrels using the same reamer, you often will get them to shoot very similar loads, but applying that to all rifles is bound to bite you. Even when I work with a bullet I have a lot of experience with I still find it likes a very different seating depth occasionally. Of course this is all dependent on the type of accuracy your after as well. Any time I skip a full out proper load development I find myself with a sub par load and end up having to do all the work anyhow.

Very well explained Alex, I wanted to type something similar but I'm watching college football. Lol...

Darrin

 

[seymour fish]

Greetings fellow load developers,

Wanted to share our load development method in the hope that it will save people a lot of time and barrel life. Using this method, we are usually finished with load development before the barrel has a hundred rounds on it. It is very similar/the same as Erik Cortina's method, just done in the form of a ladder at 500-1000 yards instead of 100. What we look for is identical...just easier to see at distance.

Today, we had a brand new 284 Shehane barrel and participated in a 500 yard match.

1. First string, we used our regular match load for other barrels and shot a 199-10X while fouling the barrel.
2. With the barrel fouled, we performed a ladder test as shown below. Loads 3 & 4 tightened up nicely and were right on top of each other. Our chosen load is 54.9 to 55.0 grains.
3. Once we know the load, chrono a few rounds and record the velocity. I believe load development is simply tuning barrel harmonics and velocity is what produces specific harmonics. In other words, note the velocity that shoots the best and then maintain that same velocity throughout the life of the barrel. Regardless of what is going on with barrel break-in, wear & tear. component lot changes,etc....just maintain the velocity and your rifle will usually keep shooting just as well. Regarding seating depth, we seat all our hybrids .015 off the lands when the barrel is new and never change it again. Simply maintain the velocity by changing the powder charge as the barrel wears.
4. No more steps, our load development is complete in 50 rounds. Christine will be using this one at the Bergers this year.....if she gets in.

I wanted to post this info as a way to say you don't have to go crazy on load development. We compete in F-class and have produced good results with this method over the years. I think the more time you spend competing in matches, the better you will get. Minimizing load development gives you time to focus on the more important tasks of learning to compete and read the wind!

As a side note, we have 4 Shehane rifles outfitted with identical barrels and using the same chamber reamer. They all shoot the same brass and have tuned at exactly the same place. Same experience with my 308 WIN barrels: same brass, seating depth, and load. This is the way it works with good barrels from the same maker with the same specs. In short, I don't believe in the "each barrel is a snowflake" theory: quite the opposite. When they are made to the same spec, they tend to shoot the exact same loads. Barrels that don't shoot your known good load are usually the ones that don't shoot well.

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Scott, Thanks for taking the time to lay this out. I would not have bet you could maintain accuracy without chasing the lands, but your results speak loudly. Do you think you are maintaining the same barrel time along with MV ? What level of accuracy are you maintaining over the competitive life of these barrels at 1000 in a perfect condition ? Is it fair to say your known load might run slower in a brand new barrel, then speed up at a hundred or so rds? If so, and given the 199, it’s a wide node. As a parting shot, loved your write up on the Dillons. Seymour

 

[desert shooter]

Thank you Scott for your input, I will try this method with the new barrel I am expecting soon, and congratulations on winning the Ca. state long range championship for FTR.

 

[Scott Harris]

Your basic 3 shot ladder is a solid way to develop a load. However, not exploring seating depth, chasing the lands, trying to keep velocity the same, and expecting barrels to shoot the same load goes against a lot of what I have seen. Seating depth is huge, chasing the lands is huge. Also velocities can and do change from day to day while the rifle stays in tune. I do not think accuracy is tied to a velocity. I have measured as much as 40 fps change in a load without a change in tune. I think what you have seen is with heavy target barrels using the same reamer, you often will get them to shoot very similar loads, but applying that to all rifles is bound to bite you. Even when I work with a bullet I have a lot of experience with I still find it likes a very different seating depth occasionally. Of course this is all dependent on the type of accuracy your after as well. Any time I skip a full out proper load development I find myself with a sub par load and end up having to do all the work anyhow.

Hi Alex, thanks for the reply, definitely value input from the "Montana Club!" No question we are "leaving something on the table." Question is how much and perhaps the answer depends on the discipline. In my opinion, not much...for F-class. Here is another target from the 500 yard match: 25 rounds with a different rifle, same ammo. I'm thinking the load is just fine, but there IS something else that can be improved.

Everyone has limits on time and energy. I'm suggesting that most of the juice is squeezed from the "load development" lemon after a basic ladder test. In benchrest, guess you have to try and squeeze ALL the juice. IMHO, that is not needed for f-class or just about any other non-benchrest discipline. Wind-reading, centering the group, making perfect shots...those are subjects that require all our attention all the time!

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Hi Alex, thanks for the reply, definitely value input from the "Montana Club!" No question we are "leaving something on the table." Question is how much and perhaps the answer depends on the discipline. In my opinion, not much...for F-class. Here is another target from the 500 yard match: 25 rounds with a different rifle, same ammo. I'm thinking the load is just fine, but there IS something else that can be improved.

Everyone has limits on time and energy. I'm suggesting that most of the juice is squeezed from the "load development" lemon after a basic ladder test. In benchrest, guess you have to try and squeeze ALL the juice. IMHO, that is not needed for f-class or just about any other non-benchrest discipline. Wind-reading, centering the group, making perfect shots...those are subjects that require all our attention all the time!

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Scott, I would say your load development method is very similar to mine. However, I can say for example with a reamer that has many many chambers on it, mostly the same barrel as well that MOST will shoot a load very similar however a very good number will end up quite different in regards to seating depth especially. The way your going about it is actually how a lot of successful competitors go about it, the barrel shoots the load they want it to or they pull the barrel. Many top shooters have settled on a bullet, powder, barrel make, and reamer. In that case what your doing works well most of the time. But for a lot of those guys to get to the point of where you are at, they have burnt up some barrels and components to get there. I just dont want guys to think if they jump .015 and the powder test doesnt work the first time that the barrel is bad. I know thats not what your saying, and I may be wrong with my assumptions, but I think what your describing is for experienced shooters that have thoroughly learned their combo of powder/bullet/barrel/reamer.

 

[Scott Harris]

Alex, you hit the nail on the head! I especially agree with this: "...the barrel shoots the load they want it to or they pull the barrel." Sounds crazy to pull a brand new barrel, but the ones that don't shoot your "load," more often than not are mediocre barrels. But totally agree that you have to do full load development when you have new components or don't already have a load that has proved itself on prior barrels.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Good stuff. One thing I have a question on is about the statement of "our load development is complete in 50 rounds".

I've found that a lot of barrels won't settle down for the best consistency in accuracy and speed until at least 50 rounds have been fired. So anymore I don't really start serious load development until I've sent at least 50 bullets down the barrel. Takes more time, but the end result for me is less load tuning later on. I know a guy can keep tweaking as the barrel changes, but what are your thoughts on this?

 

[Scott Harris]

Good stuff. One thing I have a question on is about the statement of "our load development is complete in 50 rounds".

I've found that a lot of barrels won't settle down for the best consistency in accuracy and speed until at least 50 rounds have been fired. So anymore I don't really start serious load development until I've sent at least 50 bullets down the barrel. Takes more time, but the end result for me is less load tuning later on. I know a guy can keep tweaking as the barrel changes, but what are your thoughts on this?

Good question. The speed definitely does not settle down on many barrels until after 100 rounds. But, I record the velocity of the desired load at round 50 and simply adjust the powder charge as the barrel breaks in. This has worked well for me. Next step is to verify the load in a match, usually it's good to go...if it is a good barrel.

 

[seymour fish]

Good question. The speed definitely does not settle down on many barrels until after 100 rounds. But, I record the velocity of the desired load at round 50 and simply adjust the powder charge as the barrel breaks in. This has worked well for me. Next step is to verify the load in a match, usually it's good to go...if it is a good barrel.

Scott, that’s what I was looking for. Makes sense. Thanks. Seymour

 

[harry_x1]

Greetings fellow load developers,

Wanted to share our load development method in the hope that it will save people a lot of time and barrel life. Using this method, we are usually finished with load development before the barrel has a hundred rounds on it. It is very similar/the same as Erik Cortina's method, just done in the form of a ladder at 500-1000 yards instead of 100. What we look for is identical...just easier to see at distance.

Today, we had a brand new 284 Shehane barrel and participated in a 500 yard match.

1. First string, we used our regular match load for other barrels and shot a 199-10X while fouling the barrel.
2. With the barrel fouled, we performed a ladder test as shown below. Loads 3 & 4 tightened up nicely and were right on top of each other. Our chosen load is 54.9 to 55.0 grains.
3. Once we know the load, chrono a few rounds and record the velocity. I believe load development is simply tuning barrel harmonics and velocity is what produces specific harmonics. In other words, note the velocity that shoots the best and then maintain that same velocity throughout the life of the barrel. Regardless of what is going on with barrel break-in, wear & tear. component lot changes,etc....just maintain the velocity and your rifle will usually keep shooting just as well. Regarding seating depth, we seat all our hybrids .015 off the lands when the barrel is new and never change it again. Simply maintain the velocity by changing the powder charge as the barrel wears.
4. No more steps, our load development is complete in 50 rounds. Christine will be using this one at the Bergers this year.....if she gets in.

I wanted to post this info as a way to say you don't have to go crazy on load development. We compete in F-class and have produced good results with this method over the years. I think the more time you spend competing in matches, the better you will get. Minimizing load development gives you time to focus on the more important tasks of learning to compete and read the wind!

As a side note, we have 4 Shehane rifles outfitted with identical barrels and using the same chamber reamer. They all shoot the same brass and have tuned at exactly the same place. Same experience with my 308 WIN barrels: same brass, seating depth, and load. This is the way it works with good barrels from the same maker with the same specs. In short, I don't believe in the "each barrel is a snowflake" theory: quite the opposite. When they are made to the same spec, they tend to shoot the exact same loads. Barrels that don't shoot your known good load are usually the ones that don't shoot well.

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Scott : Can you also share you ES/SD numbers please, in case you have them handy. I understand for Fclass the group size is critical but I am more into ELR where the SDs are critical...hence asking for numbers to make up my mind on this process. Thanks for sharing all these details.