yards to do load development
- Thread starter rebs
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nakneker
Gold $$ Contributor
For smaller cartridges I start at a 100. I have goals in mind when I start, I don’t shoot competition so Im probably less string than some when it comes to what they want out of their load. My goal is typically 5 shots at .5 Moa at 100, single digit SD and ES of 20 or less. Once I reach that at 100 I’ll move out to 300 and see what it’s doing. Sometimes you find your perfect load at a 100 isn’t holding up at 300. When that’s the case I’ll start tweaking things but usually it holds up at 300 and I’m done. I’m using my 223s and other smaller cartridges for varmints and fun. I’d imagine competitors do things a bit more extensively than I do.
Benchrest shooting with a scope
100yds is a practical distance. Most important is the use of wind indicators(flags...3 or more preferably).
If it won't shoot at 100yds,it won't get better downrange.
BTW...If you have a PERFECT load at 100yds and it doesn't hold up further downrange,the trouble is not the load....the trouble is beyond 100yds....wind.landscape,etc.
Don't fall into the trap of chasing ES/SD's. The only stat that matters is what's on the score board(target).
Good luck and stay safe.
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Never seen a better group at 500 yds. than the group at 100 yds. The bullet does not magically correct itself after 100 yds.
I do all my testing and load work at 100 yds, I mainly shoot 600 yd matches and it’s been working fine. It would be nice to be able to test at 600 but I don’t have close access to a 600 yd range. I tried 200 yd testing and didn’t like the variables mainly weather. Someone said on this forum “ I’m not looking for a weather report I’m looking for a good load.”
100 yards for the last 50+ years.
Reason is that the longer the distance, the more the shooter error is magnified. 100 yards seems like an effective distance compromise for load development.
Also important is selecting days where mirage and wind are minimal. Also, I avoid attempting to do too much testing in one range session so as to avoid shooter fatigue and loss of concentration.
In load testing, placement of the rifle consistently on the front / rear rest is essential. I use masking tape on the stock as a reference mark, so the rifle is placed at the same position for each shot. I also set up the front and rear rests, so the rifle is level with the target, i.e., not tilted up and down.
One also must avoid canting the rifle doing testing. The best front rest I've use is the Caldwell Tack Driver with the long "owl" ears. This helps keep the rifle from canting yet still allows free recoil.
Reason is that the longer the distance, the more the shooter error is magnified. 100 yards seems like an effective distance compromise for load development.
Also important is selecting days where mirage and wind are minimal. Also, I avoid attempting to do too much testing in one range session so as to avoid shooter fatigue and loss of concentration.
In load testing, placement of the rifle consistently on the front / rear rest is essential. I use masking tape on the stock as a reference mark, so the rifle is placed at the same position for each shot. I also set up the front and rear rests, so the rifle is level with the target, i.e., not tilted up and down.
One also must avoid canting the rifle doing testing. The best front rest I've use is the Caldwell Tack Driver with the long "owl" ears. This helps keep the rifle from canting yet still allows free recoil.
100 yards. When I'm doing load development, I want to know how well the load performs, not how good I am at reading wind, etc. Long distances bring other variables and will make it more difficult to determine if it's you, the load, or the environment.
I like to remove those variables for the initial load development as well as remove as much of the human factor as possible. So I use a front rest with elevation and windage adjustment and barely touch the rifle.
I like to remove those variables for the initial load development as well as remove as much of the human factor as possible. So I use a front rest with elevation and windage adjustment and barely touch the rifle.
When I shoot BR. ladders at one point of aim, for optimum charge or bushing test, primers etc. I like a bit of distance to the target to avoid a one big hole cluster f…k . I feel like i do not collect good data until I get some separation between impacts to ease the interpretation of results. Seating depth tests I “sometimes” use a shorter distance but not always.
Why is placement of the rifle on the rest and bags make any difference if your shooting free recoil? Not being a smartass just wondering. Doug
Schippergreg
Silver $$ Contributor
200yds if conditions permit, 100 if wind or mirage is excessive. Use wind flags 100% of the time.
The whole purpose if wind flags is so you can corelate conditions with POI. If you don't know what conditions you're shooting in,how can you accurately tell what you and you';re equipment are doing....you don't have any idea what caused the errant shot....you're just guessing. You,the gun,and the load may be capable to shoot zeroes,but the conditions may not allow it so you go changing things because you think it's pilot error.
Good luck and stay safe.
It is common for larger caliber rifles to shoot better at long range than they do at 100 yards. The phenomenon is called epicyclic swerve and it's pretty well documented. The bullets are actually orbiting the centerline of their path so to speak, and that motion settles down as you get further down range. I have not heard of this being a big factor in rifles smaller than 30 caliber so with the 223 I would think 100 yards is fine. But if your intended use for the load is shooting at 300 yards then that's where I'd develop my loads. You can have a great load at 100 yards with high SDs and you'll get a bunch of vertical dispersion further down range.
I know the purpose of wind flags, I've used them in PRS for years. That has nothing to do with initial load development. I want to first know how my load performs in conditions as good as I can get. I want to make sure my harmonics are right, I want to make sure when I'm doing a seating depth ladder at the range that the change I made to the load is the only thing that shows up on target.
After you have confidence in that load, then you can move to further distances, read wind flags and see how it performs at long range.
Schippergreg
Silver $$ Contributor
Without flags you don’t know if your groups have gotten smaller or larger due to a change in your load development or if it’s conditions. Load development without flags is crap shoot at best.
Who said there are no flags? I said I prefer to do my initial load development in the best conditions possible. My point was, at 100 yards wind has much less of an affect than it does at 600 yards. If you want to do your load development in the wind, go ahead. I was just answering the OP's question on what I do.
Schippergreg
Silver $$ Contributor
“I know the purpose of wind flags, I've used them in PRS for years. That has nothing to do with initial load development.”
When I read this I took it as you were advocating against the use of flags for load development. If i misunderstood, I apologize.
When I read this I took it as you were advocating against the use of flags for load development. If i misunderstood, I apologize.
No worries, of course I'm not advocating against flags...flags are imperative. During load development, I just want nice calm conditions. If there is a bit of wind, I'll do my best to wait until the flag is still before taking the shot...but a nice calm day with no wind is my preference.
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