Loading for a big match - FCN and the likes

[bsumoba]

So I will not have the luxury of reloading or testing loads at the venue and will be loading up 300+ rounds of a load that is giving me the best results in my area. It is a decent node so I should be okay. Weather should be near identical and elevation....

Ben Avery: approximately 1,640 ft
Sacramento Valley: approximately 260 ft

My question is...

when loading rounds for a big match like this, do you ever load a few extra and then shoot them to make sure the batch of rounds you just made are still grouping or shooting as expected? I would think this is a good check to make sure that the batch of rounds you just made are shooting well and you aren't traveling 10-14 hours with boxes of bullets that were not technically validated (since most of us load in batches and reloading a batch of bullets one day may be different than another day).

Would it be better to load them long, then hit the range prior to the match and shoot a few groups at different seating depths to see if that "tunes" the load better (assuming the load is not working well at the venue)?

Have any of you with resized brass, check each one to ensure they chamber properly and weren't sized wrong?

I know this is probably very anal of me, but I would like to not suck any more than I have to because I went to a match with rounds that aren't tuned as best as I can get them or they don't even chamber because halfway through the reloading process, something in the set up changed (and it can happen given that you are prepping 300+ pieces of brass).

 

[Matthew Schwartzkopf]

you shouldn't have any issue with your load in Phoenix. As long as it is not extremely hot.

I personally think people get too caught up in perfecting their loads and they forget to focus/practice their position and wind reading skills.

 

[bsumoba]

you shouldn't have any issue with your load in Phoenix. As long as it is not extremely hot.

I personally think people get too caught up in perfecting their loads and they forget to focus/practice their position and wind reading skills.

I agree. I was just curious if there was some sort of "standard" procedure others go through. I have heard people long long, then seat at the venue, and other things.

I was simply going to load up and go.

 

[Matthew Schwartzkopf]

I have done both. seat long then seat at the venue (which seems to be somewhat of a standard practice) and just load the ammo as I would shoot it at the venue. to be honest, I didn't see much of a difference.

 

[Scott Harris]

Bryan,

The main thing I would worry about are temperature differences between your location and Phoenix. If you are comfortable that you have a safe/reliable load in up to 100+ temps, then you are good to go. Hard to believe, but it could exceed 100 degrees at the end of October, welcome to PHX Guessing Sacramento may be similar.

I would keep it simple and plan to arrive with fully prepared ammo. Focus on the wind like Matt said. That'll do a lot more for your score.

 

[nhm16]

This is where a load with a powder that is less sensitive to temperature really helps. I have a great load with IMR-7828SSC that I developed this past spring; the problem is, in the heat of the Texas summer, I had to back it off 0.6 grains. However, I also have a load with H4831 which should work year round (H4350 and H4831SC are the same in my experience), which is what I'm using for Nationals.

 

[BigBlueandGoldie]

I have done both. seat long then seat at the venue (which seems to be somewhat of a standard practice) and just load the ammo as I would shoot it at the venue. to be honest, I didn't see much of a difference.

Matthew, can you explain the logic behind this? Are you intentionally increasing pressures by progressively seating deeper to meet a certain velocity?

 

[nhm16]

I have done both. seat long then seat at the venue (which seems to be somewhat of a standard practice) and just load the ammo as I would shoot it at the venue. to be honest, I didn't see much of a difference.

Matthew, can you explain the logic behind this? Are you intentionally increasing pressures by progressively seating deeper to meet a certain velocity?

I think the theory is that you do the final seating when you arrive to reduce/eliminate any possible "cold welding" issues that may arise if you seated your bullets and just let your rounds sit there for any period of time.

Or maybe if you have time you can do some seating depth testing at your destination.