what do to with an "off" load development day

[dgeesaman]

I'm still new to reloading, playing with a 6PPC-USA. My basic approach is to load some rounds at home, wait for a quiet weekend morning to shoot them, and repeat. Last week I worked up some seating depth ladders and shot some ragged-hole groups in the process.

This week I worked up even finer seating depth ladders around last weeks' good groups. I was hoping to finalize the load but in fact, the groups were not as good.

The reloading advice I get never mentions what to do when progress takes a turn for the worse. I'm inclined to do the last session (fine seating depths) all over again and chalk it up to my limited abilities to read wind.

 

[CharlieNC]

Yes, it happens. During the development process I always include a control, with known previous performance, as a reference to provide solid evidence that unexpected results were either me or the test items.

 

[dgeesaman]

Yes, it happens. During the development process I always include a control, with known previous performance, as a reference to provide solid evidence that unexpected results were either me or the test items.

Heh, I'm still figuring out a suitable accurate control load.

 

[expiper]

gooseman,,,you are learning why benchrest shooters load their ammo at the range and after each target,,,,what works an hour ago at 60* may/will not work at 75*,,,,when the groups are like a competitive rifle is capable of shooting and a .1" change in group size nearly doubles the group it is important to be able to adjust the load,,,,if you are shooting a factory/hunting rifle and 1" groups the difference is usually negligible .....you are dreaming if you think you can load-em at home and shoot bug holes every time you go to the range,,,Roger

 

[chkunz]

You are probably just seeing the variability in the data you get with loads.

 

[CharlieNC]

Heh, I'm still figuring out a suitable accurate control load.

Control doesn't need to be the best possible, but a reasonable reference point. Especially since that point is one that you want to improve upon. Shooting the same load day after day is quite informative to reveal the human inadequacies, especially for a prone shooter like myself. Have you heard of the dot drill? One target with a number of 1/2 to 1 moa dots; shoot one dot, stand, get back down to rebuild position. In a matter of minutes you can see a lot about how much your personal methods influence the results. I'm sure similar exercise exists for bench shooting. In fact this is one of the factors that compels Dan Newberry to promote shooting in a round robin fashion with the OCW method.

 

[coford]

In load development I've found that some days are diamonds and some are turds! If you have a bad day and don't get the results you expect just enjoy the fact that you are out burning powder and try again on a different day. Follow your instincts and repeat the experiment. If your loads don't work the second time out then you might want to go in a different direction.

 

[ClassCat]

Dgeesman,
I am a Benchrest shooter, and have been at it for about 20+ years. there is an advantage to loading at the range,and adjusting from group to group.
You may consider going to the range with 4 Loads. 2 with a stick powder like V V 133 and 2 with a ball powder like LT-32, on the jam and 15 off the jam. Pay attention to the flags, Note the Barometric pressure, humidity , and Temp.
The gun will tell you what it likes on that day.

 

[dgeesaman]

In load development I've found that some days are diamonds and some are turds! If you have a bad day and don't get the results you expect just enjoy the fact that you are out burning powder and try again on a different day. Follow your instincts and repeat the experiment. If your loads don't work the second time out then you might want to go in a different direction.

That's pretty much where I'm at with this now.

For the BR competitor with suggestions, I'm shooting a factory gun with no-turn neck. It doesn't to me much good to develop loads that only work with constant adjustment. We have some HV and LV BR competitors at my club and if I want to take a walk down that path to oblivion they will certainly help.

 

[ClassCat]

That's pretty much where I'm at with this now.

For the BR competitor with suggestions, I'm shooting a factory gun with no-turn neck. It doesn't to me much good to develop loads that only work with constant adjustment. We have some HV and LV BR competitors at my club and if I want to take a walk down that path to oblivion they will certainly help.

There is NOTHING generic about what you are attempting,Just part of Load development.

 

[Webster]

I'm still new to reloading, playing with a 6PPC-USA. My basic approach is to load some rounds at home, wait for a quiet weekend morning to shoot them, and repeat. Last week I worked up some seating depth ladders and shot some ragged-hole groups in the process.

This week I worked up even finer seating depth ladders around last weeks' good groups. I was hoping to finalize the load but in fact, the groups were not as good.

The reloading advice I get never mentions what to do when progress takes a turn for the worse. I'm inclined to do the last session (fine seating depths) all over again and chalk it up to my limited abilities to read wind.

Buy Tony Boyers book "The Book of Rifle Accuracy". There are a few on Amazon. A must read. Don't expect a factory rifle to perform like a real BR gun. I'm a varmint hunter but I shoot a lot of non-comp BR. I have 2 Rem 700 both with Jewell triggers and a Kreiger Varmint wt barrel. One a 6BR the other 6BRX. They both shoot better than my skills. It's important to be aware that the group size is a combination of a good rifle, good load shooting skills and reading conditions. Your group size may not be related to how good of a load your shooting. I shoot off a bipod with a rear sandbag. Anything over a .400" group I consider bad load or I am having a bad day. Groups under .350: are normal.

I can shoot bad groups one week with my favorite load and the next week they are all around .300" or a little smaller. Sometimes I get lazy and don't do little things like sliding the rifle forward and back to make sure the rifle tracks verticle. Need to align the v-notch of the bag. Make sure the bipod legs are locked forward with a little forward push from the shoulder.

 

[nmkid]

Don't get too worried. I've been chasing that carrot for 40+ years. One thing I (and many others) have learned. When things start going south...Change ONE thing at a time until you get back on track.

 

[spclark]

I'm still new to reloading, playing with a 6PPC-USA....

The reloading advice I get never mentions what to do when progress takes a turn for the worse.

Probably because there's really no one thing to do (maybe besides call it a day and go find a bar?) that will flip the switch back to that last, good group.

The longer you've been reloading the sooner you'll realize there are good days then there comes a Good Day... with maybe a not-so-good one once in awhile to remind you you're a human being.

I don't shoot BR so my tolerances are maybe a little looser.

Still, shooting 1,000 yards with 155 grain 308 bullets out of a rifle fitted with iron sights & a sling, it's of no small comfort knowing those 9's & 10's that are still inside the height of the X-ring (10") come from careful load work-up and ammo prep.

The X's? I just smile quietly to myself.

Take good notes. Include info on weather for your days' testing. Eventually you'll see patterns forming that'll give you some experience to fall back on when things suddenly go south.

And keep at it.