YOUR method of working up a load:

[fatelvis]

After reading countless threads and articles about this subject, I was curious as to how most of you go about working up a load on a particular rifle. Assume you have a new rifle, or a fresh build, and all new components. You will be loading for F-class competition. Please make it step-by-step, and as short and concise as possible. Thank you for your input!

 

[Depart123]

I find max load, at max length, back off 2% and start seating deeper in .005" increments.

 

[Richard Coody]

i like that.

define max length. touch or jam?

now this is for a target single load rifle. i pick bullet/powder combo and start with hard jam. find optimum powder charge. then do seating test. then take those results and.refine powder.charge.

you can easily reverse seating depth test and optimum powder charge and wind up in the same place.

 

[ShootDots]

1.) Once you have decided on a cartridge, decide on what bullet(s) you are going to use in that cartridge; 2.) Do as much research on it as you can get your hands on; 3.) Get a reamer made for cartridge and bullet(s) you have just decided on; 4.) Use a powder MOST applicable to cartridge and bullet(s) you have decided on; 5.) Start about 2 grains BELOW what you have learned MAY BE MAX, and slowly work up to that point! 6.) Certain bullets have a propensity to shoot better MOST, not ALL of the time, in certain locations; EXAMPLE: Most Berger Hybrids I have found like it between say 15 and 20 thousandths OFF the lands. I START there. 7.) Now that you have your rounds loaded up, go to 300 yards for testing; 8.) Shoot 5 shot groups with each charge weight; 6.) Find the "flattest" and most consistent group. You also do this over a chronograph; 9.) Now do a seating depth test from INTO the lands 12 thousandths to right at 25 thousandths OFF, if you are shooting the aforementioned Hybrids in a single shot competition rifle; 10.) If the rifle is shooting nice, but NOT QUITE GOOD ENOUGH, groups with under say 12ft.e.s.s, start a diagnosis procedure: 1.) different primers; 2.) a different neck tension(s), these will usually "fix" small "problems".. IF your rifle will NOT shoot GOOD ENOUGH, it's either THE POWDER or THE BULLET! Try one>>>but ONLY one! You never change more than one thing at a time! It has been MY experience that if you can't get a rifle to shoot, no matter what you do in say 300 rounds, get a new barrel! Don't waste expensive components on a tomato stake!

 

[dcali]

At 100 yards on a calm day, preferably with wind flags:

1) Pick a powder charge that gives near max pressure for a seating depth about .020 off the lands according to QuickLOAD. Use whatever non-magnum primer you can get a hold of (for a .308- mileage may vary).

2) Test seating depths at +15,-5,-20,-40 try more if none of these are good. Skip +15 if you are paranoid about sticking a bullet, but you are probably going to miss out on a good load.

3) pick the best one and dial the tuner until groups are small and round. First 3 shot groups, then a few 5 shot groups to verify.

4) STOP when it’s as good as it gets. Don’t chase 1/4” groups with a 1/2” rifle.

If no tuner, try more finely spaced seating depths (every .006 or so) and try a few charge weights at the best one. If you need the practice, make a grid charge weight vs seating depth of and fill it with 4 shot groups. Seating depth and charge weight are usually more or less, but not completely, independent. You may be able to squeeze out a little better load but at the cost of shooting a lot. Verify anything with a few 5 shot groups.

In short, buy a tuner. It will pay for itself in no time. Also buy an arbor press so you can do a final seat at the range. This will pay for itself too.

 

[JFrank]

After reading countless threads and articles about this subject, I was curious as to how most of you go about working up a load on a particular rifle. Assume you have a new rifle, or a fresh build, and all new components. You will be loading for F-class competition. Please make it step-by-step, and as short and concise as possible. Thank you for your input!

For F Class
Send a PM to Granite 1 and whatever he tells you - do it!

 

[Depart123]

i like that.

define max length. touch or jam?

Neither touch nor jam. I load for repeaters, so my max length is either max magazine length or a length that gives me at least 3/4 of a full caliber still in the case neck, whichever is shorter.

 

[rardoin]

Neither touch nor jam. I load for repeaters, so my max length is either max magazine length or a length that gives me at least 3/4 of a full caliber still in the case neck, whichever is shorter.

Just a note....O.P. stated loading for F-class....single load only so magazines don't apply.

 

[powderbrake]

Assuming you have loaded before, you have chosen all your components and powder.

1) Determine the correct sizing of the case by the stripped bolt (Wheeler) method. (record and repeat after a few firings)
2) Determine the touch point of the bullet ogive to the lands by the Wheeler method. (Record this number, and repeat after 50 rounds to get touch point with all the burrs etc burned off)

3) Review favorite loads on this forum, and consult a loading handbook. Start your first loads a few grains below that number W.

4) load 3 each of W, W +.5gr, W+ .1gr, W + 1.5gr, W+2.0gr, all at TOUCH. (no jump. no jam)

5) @100 yards or more, record temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, WITH A CHRONOGRAPH, fire these loads for group. record velocities with the group data.

6) based on group and velocity results, repeat items 4&5 with powder spreads with .1 gr increments around your best group.

7) based on group results, repeat items 4 & 5 with bullets seated +.005, +.010, + .015, -.005, -.010. -.015 from TOUCH . ( you can go as far as you want on the "jump", but I have some "jam" on all my loads , even the 105 hybrids) ( +.015 may be getting into range of sticking the bullet in the bore when extracting an unfired load)

8) based on group results, repeat 4&5 with seating spreads of +.002, +.004, -.002, -.004 around your best group.

9) do a ladder test at full range with the seating depth selected with a powder increment of .1 grains to determine long range load.

 

[Depart123]

Just a note....O.P. stated loading for F-class....single load only so magazines don't apply.

I have done it for single shots also, my process is the same. In fact, I just got back from pressure testing a series of charge weights for my single shot 338AX, but I still don't touch or jam. I'm .050" off with this particular rifle.