Load development for dummies guide

[giannid]

Have a new 6.5 Creedmoor rifle that I've started load development for. After doing some research and making some posts, I've discovered I really don't know what I'm doing. The new rifle is a Tikka with a proof barrel I purchased from a member. I'm using H4350 and have shot the 142 SMK's, berger 140VLD's and Berger 130 Hybrid OTMS. So far it's shooting pretty good and have been working at 200 yards with it. Some of my groups are under an inch at 200 yards. Also have data on it from my Labradar as average velocity, ES and SD.

Biggest problem I have is I really don't understand the whole node thing. With the Berger VLD I did the initial load development like they tell you to do with the VLd's and .01 OTL has worked the best so far. With the SMK's and OTM's I started with powder charges starting at minimum going to a little above max in .5 grain increments. Those two bullets were both shot at .015 OTL's.

I'd like to work the load right in this rifle. Most of the other rifles I've done loads for were hunting rigs and I'd like to shoot my first match in the spring with this rifle if this covid shit lets me.

Is there and relatively simple guide for load development explaining nodes and ladder testing? I'm not really a newbie, just a newbie to trying to find a thousand yard load. At this point, I've been to the range with this rifle two times and really need to get pointed in the right direction before I go any further.

 

[old_heli_logger]

Long-Range Load Development

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Good luck

 

[Quickoz]

So your shooting 1/2MOA already.....why do you want to go tighter then that? For most rifles and style of shooting, 1/2MOA is very good if its consistant.

When it comes to load dev, it opens a can of worms as most people do it different to each other. I do it very simply on my varmint rifles compared to my F-Open rifles. But still same basic method at the start. But I go another step with my F-Open rifles.

 

[Fast14riot]

You're almost there, just take your method and test again, in smaller increments.

 

[giannid]

The rifle is shooting well already, honestly it probably shoots better than I can. I do want to get everything I can out of it as it'll be the only rifle that I have that will be dialed in that precisely. I have an annealer coming to get my neck tensions more consistent. I've got a couple of loads that are in the single digits for SD, just need to fine tune.

 

[jepp2]

Is there and relatively simple guide for load development explaining nodes and ladder testing?

I find using this guide along with QuickLoad to identify the potential nodes.

Chris Long OBT

The chart about 60% of the way down is the summary to work from.