My load development methods have been refined quite a bit.
From group shooting at 100 to long range Audette ladders the wanted end is the same; a long range load that shows no vertical stringing. I've started doing something that is working well and seems to be a more direct route to find "The Load" for my rifles.
Loading complete ladders at the home bench and shooting them at the range always leaves loaded ammo that you need to pull bullets from and dump powder. Instead, I simply charge the cases at home, take the press to the range and seat bullets there. I seat a couple at the starting charge and shoot them at the longest range possible to try to quickly find a load with no vertical. After I shoot 2, if they show promise, I seat more one at a time of the same charge until they either convince me that it is "The Load" or show vertical. I move on to the next set of charged cases if too much vertical exists.
The problem lies with being able to see the impacts. I started by shooting a 36"x36" steel plate to do this. The black painted plate showed the hits well but I had to drive down and repaint it if "The Load" wasn't right. This is inconvenient unless you are the only guy using the range!
I found some YouTube videos of homemade Shoot 'n See targets. I kinda used their ideas but simplified the process a tad. I taped a black trash liner on some sheets of cardboard, painted them flat white and stapled them to the F-class frames. At 600 yards it is easy to see your impacts through your scope. The paint flakes off around the bullet hole and shows the black plastic bag. Great contrast. I think they may work way out to 1000 yards with a good spotting scope.
I am at the end of my A-Maxes for the Creedmoor. I had 600 Scenars and also a box of the new Hornady 140 BTHP Match bullets I wanted to test.
From group shooting at 100 to long range Audette ladders the wanted end is the same; a long range load that shows no vertical stringing. I've started doing something that is working well and seems to be a more direct route to find "The Load" for my rifles.
Loading complete ladders at the home bench and shooting them at the range always leaves loaded ammo that you need to pull bullets from and dump powder. Instead, I simply charge the cases at home, take the press to the range and seat bullets there. I seat a couple at the starting charge and shoot them at the longest range possible to try to quickly find a load with no vertical. After I shoot 2, if they show promise, I seat more one at a time of the same charge until they either convince me that it is "The Load" or show vertical. I move on to the next set of charged cases if too much vertical exists.
The problem lies with being able to see the impacts. I started by shooting a 36"x36" steel plate to do this. The black painted plate showed the hits well but I had to drive down and repaint it if "The Load" wasn't right. This is inconvenient unless you are the only guy using the range!
I found some YouTube videos of homemade Shoot 'n See targets. I kinda used their ideas but simplified the process a tad. I taped a black trash liner on some sheets of cardboard, painted them flat white and stapled them to the F-class frames. At 600 yards it is easy to see your impacts through your scope. The paint flakes off around the bullet hole and shows the black plastic bag. Great contrast. I think they may work way out to 1000 yards with a good spotting scope.
I am at the end of my A-Maxes for the Creedmoor. I had 600 Scenars and also a box of the new Hornady 140 BTHP Match bullets I wanted to test.
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