Jason Baneys load devolpment

[q2hunter]

read the article on the ladder test load development.....good stuff that made sense to this rookie.

Question: brand new rifle, brand new brass- do the ladder test with the components I want to shoot (hard to find 129 ABLR), or fire form my new brass using some cheaper easier to find bullets? My method of reloading is setting FL sizing dies to just bump the shoulder .001-.002, and anneal every other firing. Can enough data be captured doing the ladder test while fire forming the 50 brass I have to be beneficial?

 

[watercam]

I would test seating depth while fire forming new brass with mid-range load and do the powder test with once-fired brass.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

I'd suggest starting by working up the pressure first. Go slow, make sure you are going to work in a safe range. This must be done with the components that you are going to use.

The ladder is only really valid with the components you intend to use.

If you are really short on components, you might want to transition to a second-choice component and really get that tuned. It will be better in the long run to have trusted accuracy with a lower BC.

Is this a LR hunting rig?

 

[q2hunter]

I'd suggest starting by working up the pressure first. Go slow, make sure you are going to work in a safe range. This must be done with the components that you are going to use.

The ladder is only really valid with the components you intend to use.

If you are really short on components, you might want to transition to a second-choice component and really get that tuned. It will be better in the long run to have trusted accuracy with a lower BC.

Is this a LR hunting rig?

Yes sir, primarily hunting and a little summer plinking to stay sharp on the trigger. Highly unlikely that I do ANY shooting over 600yds in the immediate future. I do plan to work up slow and find the max pressure for sure. Just wanted some thoughts on what I can do to be productive while fire forming the brass the first round. If there is nothing to be gained from the fire forming, I thought about burning through some old sierra pro hunter 120s at a safe low charge just to fire form. Loading up some of the ABLRs in .3gr increments to find my max pressure is a good idea, that wouldn't diminish the small supply I do have. Would one at each increment be enough, or would you do 2?

I have a couple pounds of H4350 im going to start with, Nosler doesn't list H4350 for this bullet, but from my research I should be fine starting around 46gr and working up.

 

[q2hunter]

I would test seating depth while fire forming new brass with mid-range load and do the powder test with once-fired brass.

So in your experience, does an identified optimal seating depth of a particular bullet remain consistent when changing charges and/or powders?

Im a bit of a rookie at extensive load development, and have always done seating depth as a secondary after finding the best charge wt.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

Makes sense.

Yes, fireform with something cheap and a safe charge.

Load development early in a barrel's life will need revisiting after 150-250 rounds in my experience.
Be safe!

 

[steve123]

I'd just run in the barrel on steel with a light load, this will work harden the heel of the brass and also move the throat a couple thou, also the barrel will have sped up by then.

Load higher charges than you think you'll need. Twice now I stopped just short of the high node because I under estimated. If pressure signs occur "up there" just stop and pull the bullets when you get home.

Calm mornings, keeping the barrel cool, and adhering to good form - go a long way with a ladders consistency.

 

[q2hunter]

Fired the first 25 rounds through it yesterday evening. Had the old sierra flat base bullets loaded mildly, got the scope on paper with the first four, next four shots were under 3/4”. Then two shooting buddies burned the next 6 rounds. Through these 14 shots I cleaned every other shot. It was a little late in the evening to set something up at a longer distance as I had 11 loaded with the 129 ABLRs and H4350 from 47.5-50.5 in .3 increments for a pressure/ladder test. We just remained at the 100yrd target and worked through these checking for signs of pressure. I guess I didn’t go high enough, absolutely nothing at 50.5. Maybe it doesn’t take much to impress me, but those 11 different charge weights, shot at 100yrds, were grouped under an inch. I’ve got factory rifle or two that on a good day with a carefully loaded hand load might do that for 3 shots. Anyway, didn’t learn a tremendous amount on day one, other than I will load a few more increments above 50.5 and see what happens. I’ll also load a couple sets for group testing around 49.5-50.5 range, and play with the depth.

 

[seymour fish]

So in your experience, does an identified optimal seating depth of a particular bullet remain consistent when changing charges and/or powders?

Im a bit of a rookie at extensive load development, and have always done seating depth as a secondary after finding the best charge wt.

Once optimal seating depth is found, it generally remains a constant with various bullets. Chase the lands to keep it constant

 

[seymour fish]

Fired the first 25 rounds through it yesterday evening. Had the old sierra flat base bullets loaded mildly, got the scope on paper with the first four, next four shots were under 3/4”. Then two shooting buddies burned the next 6 rounds. Through these 14 shots I cleaned every other shot. It was a little late in the evening to set something up at a longer distance as I had 11 loaded with the 129 ABLRs and H4350 from 47.5-50.5 in .3 increments for a pressure/ladder test. We just remained at the 100yrd target and worked through these checking for signs of pressure. I guess I didn’t go high enough, absolutely nothing at 50.5. Maybe it doesn’t take much to impress me, but those 11 different charge weights, shot at 100yrds, were grouped under an inch. I’ve got factory rifle or two that on a good day with a carefully loaded hand load might do that for 3 shots. Anyway, didn’t learn a tremendous amount on day one, other than I will load a few more increments above 50.5 and see what happens. I’ll also load a couple sets for group testing around 49.5-50.5 range, and play with the depth.

You may have learned more than you think, if you noticed a Node where vertical was exactly the same for 3 consecutive shots

 

[q2hunter]

You may have learned more than you think, if you noticed a Node where vertical was exactly the same for 3 consecutive shots

Hard to say with that pressure test as it was only 100 yards. All 11 of the charge weights grouped less than inch. I’d say an adequate ladder test would be hard to see vertical differences and likenesses at less than 300?

 

[KentuckyFisherman]

Hard to say with that pressure test as it was only 100 yards. All 11 of the charge weights grouped less than inch. I’d say an adequate ladder test would be hard to see vertical differences and likenesses at less than 300?

Correct in my experience. If a rifle really likes a given bullet and powder, ladder test differences can be hard to truly see at 100 yards. If you have a chrony, don't forget data from that can be a great tool during load development as well.