Long range load development at 100 yards.

[hogpatrol]

I've come back to this thread a number of times since it was posted and decided I harvested enough to warrant a donation to this site.

Does this method have a name yet?


I call it the EC TSE process (tomato stake eliminator) and so far it's done it's job twice for me. ;D

 

[ch21]

I'm going to try this method on 140 hybrd. Will there be much of a difference in powder load results if later I use it on 140 vld? What I'm asking is, can I use the 140 hybrd powder load results for the 140 vld and just focus on searching for the right seating depth for the 140 vld.

Thanks

 

[Steve Blair]

I'm going to try this method on 140 hybrd. Will there be much of a difference in powder load results if later I use it on 140 vld? What I'm asking is, can I use the 140 hybrd powder load results for the 140 vld and just focus on searching for the right seating depth for the 140 vld.

Thanks

[br]
No, they have different bearing surface lengths and seating depth requirements. I run a new load development every time I switch lots of the same bullet.

 

[SHootSTraight22]

Here are groups from my .284 using Berger Hybrids 180gr and H4831sc powder. All are 3 shot groups at 100 yards.

Feedback is appreciated.

Shoot 55.2-56.2 in .2gr increments... Then post.. After that, wherever your load is just flank it on both sides by .2-.3 gr and shoot them .1 increments... I can tell you have a very nice load there! I think it should be at 55.5-55.7gr at the end of the day.. I nwouldn't be afraid to load upo 55.7gr now and shoot a match to be honest...

 

[SHootSTraight22]

I'm going to try this method on 140 hybrd. Will there be much of a difference in powder load results if later I use it on 140 vld? What I'm asking is, can I use the 140 hybrd powder load results for the 140 vld and just focus on searching for the right seating depth for the 140 vld.

Thanks

It would be kind of like switching new powder lots.. But, most likely the load will flank the other by no more than .2gr....

 

[ch21]

I'm going to try this method on 140 hybrd. Will there be much of a difference in powder load results if later I use it on 140 vld? What I'm asking is, can I use the 140 hybrd powder load results for the 140 vld and just focus on searching for the right seating depth for the 140 vld.

Thanks

It would be kind of like switching new powder lots.. But, most likely the load will flank the other by no more than .2gr....

Good, then it should be more of tweaking than starting from scratch. Having to use less ammo to arrive a solution is always good.

Thank you

 

[JamesnTN]

Here are groups from my .284 using Berger Hybrids 180gr and H4831sc powder. All are 3 shot groups at 100 yards.

Feedback is appreciated.

I would do 55.5 55.7 and 55.9 and go from there and I'm thinking it'll be between 55.5 and 55.7 to be honest.

 

[ch21]

I'm guessing between 59.5 and 60?

 

[Martin52]

Based on just these 6 groups, I would test either side of 59.5 in 0.1 gr steps.

 

[SHootSTraight22]

Reshoot 59.5gr-61gr to comfirm what your load/rifle combo is doing... Shoot with increments of .3gr.. After you find the node/middle of the node,, flank that by .4-.3gr either side and shoot increments of .1-.2gr.... I would need to know more of what this rifle is doing with that one group going "awall" like it did... This is what I would do if it was me..

 

[newbieshooter]

New to shooting so this has been an interesting read for me. So much to learn on this site.
At first - i just picked a few powder loads based on friend's recommendation - and as Erik mentioned, just picked one that appeared good. Been shooting that ever since. After reading this thread, decided to try load development test again.

Erik, just wondering if you have a recommendation based on this test. Didn't start lower then 27.4 (should I have?) and didn't proceed higher than 29.2 (ever so slight pressure signs). Seems I have an odd one for 28.3. Maybe I loaded incorrect amount of powder?

6br, varget powder, berger 105 hybrids jumped .005.
thanks

 

[Brians356]

6br, varget powder, berger 105 hybrids jumped .020.
thanks

What's your barrel length? The speed at high end is ~300 fps higher than Hodgdon's data for 24-in barrel.

 

[newbieshooter]

Sorry about that. It is a 30" barrel.

 

[Brians356]

Sorry about that. It is a 30" barrel.

Then your results are not unreasonable considering the Hodgdon data - FWIW.

I await Erik's comments, they should be particularly instructive in this example. Nice work!

 

[Erik Cortina]

I'm going to try this method on 140 hybrd. Will there be much of a difference in powder load results if later I use it on 140 vld? What I'm asking is, can I use the 140 hybrd powder load results for the 140 vld and just focus on searching for the right seating depth for the 140 vld.

Thanks

It would be kind of like switching new powder lots.. But, most likely the load will flank the other by no more than .2gr....

Good, then it should be more of tweaking than starting from scratch. Having to use less ammo to arrive a solution is always good.

Thank you

Steve Blair gave you the correct answer, but you waited until someone told you what you wanted to hear to go with it. If you don't do a full load work up, you will never know if you are getting the max accuracy out of your rifle.

 

[Erik Cortina]

New to shooting so this has been an interesting read for me. So much to learn on this site.
At first - i just picked a few powder loads based on friend's recommendation - and as Erik mentioned, just picked one that appeared good. Been shooting that ever since. After reading this thread, decided to try load development test again.

Erik, just wondering if you have a recommendation based on this test. Didn't start lower then 27.4 (should I have?) and didn't proceed higher than 29.2 (ever so slight pressure signs). Seems I have an odd one for 28.3. Maybe I loaded incorrect amount of powder?

6br, varget powder, berger 105 hybrids jumped .020.
thanks

27.4 through 28.0 look good, but ES is a little high. 28.9 and 29.2 also look good and ES is also good. Adjust seating depth on 28.0 and also on 29.0 and see which one shows more consistency. Depending on which shows best accuracy, test .5 gr. in .1gr. increments on each side of load with new seating depth as long as it is safe to do so. Stop if you see pressure signs.

 

[newbieshooter]

New to shooting so this has been an interesting read for me. So much to learn on this site.
At first - i just picked a few powder loads based on friend's recommendation - and as Erik mentioned, just picked one that appeared good. Been shooting that ever since. After reading this thread, decided to try load development test again.

Erik, just wondering if you have a recommendation based on this test. Didn't start lower then 27.4 (should I have?) and didn't proceed higher than 29.2 (ever so slight pressure signs). Seems I have an odd one for 28.3. Maybe I loaded incorrect amount of powder?

6br, varget powder, berger 105 hybrids jumped .020.
thanks

27.4 through 28.0 look good, but ES is a little high. 28.9 and 29.2 also look good and ES is also good. Adjust seating depth on 28.0 and also on 29.0 and see which one shows more consistency. Depending on which shows best accuracy, test .5 gr. in .1gr. increments on each side of load with new seating depth as long as it is safe to do so. Stop if you see pressure signs.

Erik - Thank You for the feedback!

 

[SHootSTraight22]

New to shooting so this has been an interesting read for me. So much to learn on this site.
At first - i just picked a few powder loads based on friend's recommendation - and as Erik mentioned, just picked one that appeared good. Been shooting that ever since. After reading this thread, decided to try load development test again.

Erik, just wondering if you have a recommendation based on this test. Didn't start lower then 27.4 (should I have?) and didn't proceed higher than 29.2 (ever so slight pressure signs). Seems I have an odd one for 28.3. Maybe I loaded incorrect amount of powder?

6br, varget powder, berger 105 hybrids jumped .020.
thanks

It really looks to me that your rifle is climping into it's best load where you stopped... I don't know how many ejector marks you see at that level out of 5 cases but if only 1 or 2 I would keep working the load higher.. If not the only node your showing here is at the low end...Something tells me that if you will shoot 29.1, 29.2, 29.3 29.4gr you will find them all at the same vertical and bugholing.... Just watch for heavy ejector marks starting to show on 3 out of 5 cases... Your rifle looks to be climbing into it's best node around 29.3 for sure but we want know unless you shoot...

 

[snowpro440]

Just what shootstraigh22 said , I would look into 29.1 to 30 in one tenth increments

 

[newbieshooter]

Just what shootstraigh22 said , I would look into 29.1 to 30 in one tenth increments

Thanks everyone for your input. I'm still learning how to identify pressure signs. When I mentioned "ever so slight pressure signs" at 29.2 I noticed that the bolt was just "ever so slightly" harder to lift than at lower powder loads. I did not check for ejector marks. Since this is new to me - I figured I would stop there (29.2) to be safe.

I can shoot 29.1 and 29.2 (again) and check for ejector marks (I just googled images of that). If it looks ok - I'll try one round at 29.3 and check for heavier bolt lift and ejector marks on the brass. I can repeat for 29.4 if everything checks out at 29.3. I can see how the grouping goes - but given my lack of experience, I am hesitant to go all the up 30gr even in .1 increments (unless one of my more experienced friends comes along to double check everything).