Reloading at the range for the 6PPC

[SS427]

I'm about ready to start reloading at the range, but realized I don't really have a clue what to do if my rifle is out of tune.

Should I take a couple loads pre-loaded to get a feel for the conditions? If those loads don't work, which way do I go in powder charge - up or down? I assume as the temp goes up and the rifle goes out of tune, you decrease powder charge. But how much? Is there a rule of thumb....10 degree increase = X amount of powder decrease? Are there any guidelines regarding humidity?

Or, as I fear, every barrel has its own rules and you just have to figure it out by trial and error?

 

[BoydAllen]

When I am working with a new rifle, or a new powder, I start out with a sort of mini ladder/pressure test, over flags, at 100 yards, one shot per load, with .3 grain increments. I start well below where I think that I want to be velocity wise, perhaps 27 grains, and I keep going up, with FL sized cases, until bolt lift tells me to stop. For this exercise, I use a seating depth that is longer than touching, which depends on the bullets ogive shape. For more tradidional shapes, I like marks that are about half as long as wide. For double radius ogives, the marks will be long, but light. At the conclusion of this test, during which I have shot carefully, paying close attention to the flags, I note any clusters,which indicate a range of charges in which point of impact did not change much with the changes in charge weight. My next test will be at the middle charge in one such group. I will wait for the most favorable condition and shoot two shots as rapidly as I can accurately load aim and fire the second shot. If I think that the flags were stable, I will consider that these two shots tell me if I am close. If I am, they should overlap pretty closely. If there is paper between them, I will consider that I may be between nodes and depending on whether I have the ability to go hotter (based on the pressure test) I will jump up or down about a half grain. I base this on Gene Beggs' estimate that for the typical 6PPC nodes are about 1.2 grains apart. If I see paper between two well executed shots that seem to have been shot in the same condition, I assume that I am between nodes. If the shots are closer, but show more vertical than I would like, I will increase the charge by .2 grains or so, and shoot another fast two shot group. Once I have something that looks promising, I will test with more shots per group. Usually I clean every 25 rounds, less with dirty powders, and make sure to foul the barrel afterwards with a couple of shots. Good luck. Let us know how it goes. Try to avoid the old load five of each thing. If two look ugly, adding more won't make it smaller.

 

[SS427]

Thanks guys. I have something to start with now.

 

[BoydAllen]

Let us know how it goes.