Most accurate load

[GeorgeS3]

How do YOU find your most accurate load for your rifle????
Let's hear YOUR way???????


George

 

[fdshuster]

George: For references: Lyman reloading manual, current 49 th edition and Hodgdon manual 2008 edition, suggested accuracy loads. Many times they are right on, or very close with just a little 'adjustment'. This sites cartridge info pages, listed down the left side of the home page. As an example, one of the suggested loads for the 6BR is 31 grs. of Varget with the 95 gr. Berger VLD bullet. It too is right-on, one of the best! The Sierra manual is another reliable source, after all, the powder companies would like you to be successful with their powders= more sales for them. A recent edition of 'Handloader' magazine had an extensive accuracy loading article on the 308, which I found to be very valuable, December/January 2009 edition. Many great sources out there that require minimal tweaking for your individual rifle.

 

[2506]

For a quick way to really get you in the ball park I go to the Sierra 4th & 5th edition manual and look at their accuracy loads and hunting loads. They have given me some very accurate loads with very little work up time and money spent. One thing I do is start my load work with most hunting type bullets ten thousands off the lands. If this is pretty accurate I then start a ladder with 20,30 and 40 thousands off to see what happens. For a hunting round I don't want a bullet any closer than ten thousands to the lands. I once stuck a bullet in the bore while deer hunting when I unloaded my rifle to climb into a tree stand and did not have a cleaning rod to knock it out with me. It screwed up a good days hunt. The bullet was from a different lot number and the ogive was a little longer and I was measuring OAL from the tip of the bullet. No more loading to the lands for hunting ammo for me. By the way I found out a long time ago that Berger VLD's would really shoot when they were way off the lands.

 

[GeorgeS3]

Been loading for several years...Know what I do,Ladder and then different seating depths)...Was curious as to how others do it. Sometimes I go to a public range and someone is trying to find the load. They have 10 bags of handloads with all different kinds of powders and bullets and seating depths...Just wondering how YOU guys do it for your guns!!!!!!Let's hear it!!!!!!YMMV

George

 

[BoydAllen]

I am set up to load at the range. I run a pressure test,starting at a load that is safe, but below the velocity that I am looking for, shoot one shot per load, in increments that vary with the case size, usually about .3 gr. in a varmint cartridge, all at the same target, on a day with good conditions, using wind flags. When get to the point that I am experiencing slight bolt stickiness with FL sized cases, I note the temp. and humidity, and look at the target, and my notes to see where there may be a cluster of shots, and in what range of powder charges this has occurred. I then load up three with a charge in the middle of this range, and retest. I do all of the above with a seating depth that experience tells me will work, almost always longer than touch. After I have a powder charge that seems to be working, I play with seating depth by small amounts. Another thing, I usually do the initial pressure series over a chronograph. This method seems to work, giving the best results in the shortest time, and with the fewest shots, wasted components, and barrel wear.

 

[Gearheadpyro]

I look at the loading manual first and pick out a powder somewhere in the middle of the charts, or use a very common powder for that caliber,there's got to be a reason its popular). I load 3 rounds each in .5 grain increases while seating to factory recommended depth. After I shoot this ammo and record group size I can see approximately what powder charge my gun likes. Then I go back to the smallest group size out of the powder charges and load in .2 grain increments up and down a few from that charge. Shoot those and pick the best for my load. I then go back to the manual and see where this load puts me velocity wise,I don't have a Chrony). If I feel like it I will try one or two other powders loaded to the same velocity in the reloading manual, otherwise I adjust bullet seating depth out .005' at a time till I touch the lands. Wherever my best group size is becomes my pet load.
That's how I do it anyways. It works for me.

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

Long, and slightly out of date, but this is what I wrote ~15 years ago, and I still do load development approximately the same way.

http://yarchive.net/gun/ammo/load_development.html

Toby Bradshaw
baywingdb@comcast.net