Shoot your groups at 100 or 200 yards for load development?

[David Milisock]

I guess it depends on what you're shooting groups for. I zero at 100, move straight to 300 and shoot groups. A 1" low or no wind group at 300 may be awful in the wind due to velocity.

A prime example is my 223, 55 grain bulletts shoot great at 100 one ragged hole. No wind at 300 1", increase the wind 3 1/2" and I can miss the head of a groundhog. 3,200 FPS.

New load 40 grain at 100 yards occasionally better than 1/2". The 300 yard groups no wind 1 1/16", windy days and the groups are 2". 3,900 FPS.

 

[sparky123321]

100 yards for initial testing to determine which bullet and powder combination shows the most promise. I always start with "at least" 2 different powders and 4 different bullets. Very time consuming, but if I hadn't I would have written off many barrels over the years as unacceptable. Amazing what the right combo can do. Normally one combo jumps out from the others and makes the decision a no brainer.

100 or 200 yards with no wind for further powder charge and seating depth testing depending on how tight the groups are.

200 yards with no wind for final testing because I'm always looking to achieve just a ragged hole at 100 yards.

 

[JEFFPPC]

I do 98 percent of my load development with 2 shot groups. If they repeat back to back on 2 different days.....good to go.

 

[sparky123321]

5 shot test groups for me, but whatever works for you. I will say a 5 shot .25 MOA group says a lot more to me than a 2 shot .25 MOA group.

 

[Falfan2017]

100. Just keep in mind no vertical is acceptable at 100 cause it will blow up at long range if you have even two holes north and south of eachother

 

[HogWild]

Initial load development I do at 100. Once I find the node and tuning is done, I'll confirm at 200, 300, 400, 600.

 

[perazziguy]

@tom and @Alex Wheeler both a lot of testing at distance, like a real lot. They are posting test results on the 300 NMI and the 338 NMI I think over on the big boomer page. Check it out it is interesting stuff!

 

[JEFFPPC]

I do 98 percent of my load development with 2 shot groups. If they repeat back to back on 2 different days.....good to go.

I am looking for flat .1 After I am getting that I ck with 5 shots. Looking for 1.5 area or less.. My prep is not based on shooting lots of practice groups. I work of off....Was a competitive at the last match. Usually shoot a match every weekend and more often than that 2 matches April thru September and single match weekends into early November. I enjoy competition, shooting happens to be where I can still be competitive in my 70's. To me 25% is the rifle, 25 % is luck of the relay conditions, and 50% is how I shot it at a particular match. Once load is developed I only use the tuner for adjustments.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Its easier to eliminate more variables at 100. You can confirm at distance if you like

 

[JFrank]

For me it depends on the rifle, my 30-30 lever gun or the kids 270wsm each have different missions than a LR comp rifle.

 

[Skeet69]

Seems like when everyone talks about load development, it's mostly at 100 yards. I'm thinking 100 yards might actually show what the load is doing rather how good I shoot. Just a thought though.

How your load shoots is important. How good you shoot is even more important if you are using the little numbers on the target for scoring.
Mike B

 

[Lefty Trigger]

I gave up on 100 yards a long time ago, too many loads that shot perfectly and then fell apart at 200 and beyond. If I can get consistent grouping that will hold tight at 200 then it will most likely carry on out. We only have a 300 yard range but access is limited to it but the 200 yard range is almost always empty because all of the Chris Kyle wannabe's are over on the 100 yard range shooting everything from rapid fire AR's to 50 cal.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Do you guys generally prefer to shoot your load development groups at 100 or 200 yards. I've been hand loading for a few years and have always done my load work at 200 yards. I always thought it was better to see what the load at 200 yards as 100 yards seems like a little close. From what I'm reading, seems like I've been doing wrong. I alway thought 100 yards was too close. Thoughts?

500-600 yard load development for me. Almost never shoot at 100 or 200 anymore unless doing initial sight in on a scope.