How long for load developement

[catswithguns]

From the time you acquire a new rifle, how many trips to the range, bullet, powder, brass selection, etc. do you think you spend developing a load for that particular rifle that is satisfactory ? Just curious what many of you strive for and at what point do you stay with a load for a rifle. I know this is totally subjective based on the perfectionist tendencies of each individual. Hope that doesn't sound like too dumb a question?

 

[djskit]

In my experience, it depends on the barrel. For some new barrels, I load 5 or 10 starting loads just to get on paper and see how it groups - then get a load developed in 20-25 rounds. Some of my barrels have taken up to 200 to finally find a load (with the 2 components liste below).

Disclaimer - For my match rifles, I know I will be using H4350 and 139 Scenars in a 6.5 CR, so it really boils down to how many grains will be optimal. I don't have time to chase different powders or bullets. You could spend hours of range time and a couple of hundred rounds trying different bullets and powder combinations. I don't have time for that. Some do, some enjoy the process and thats fine.

When I find a load that is somewhere around 2800 fps and consistently at or below .5 MOA, I stop.

 

[Darkside-Six]

I'm pretty simular. 10-15...or however many it takes to get on paper and start grouping. Then I run a ladder test, 1 shot at each load starting from lowest to highest. that could be anywhere from 6-9 shots. I then look for nodes and try to find the best 3 shots out of the group. After this, I will go back and load 5 rounds of each load which is 15 shots. Out of those 3 groups I usually have my load. I would say 20-25 is a goo average for me.

 

[Graham]

How long for load developement

It depends on what load development method you use, and on your definition of 'satisfactory'.

 

[djskit]

It depends on what load development method you use, and on your definition of 'satisfactory'.

You've said so much with so few words....well done! "What are you looking to accomplish?" is an essential question when developing a load.

 

[Graham]

If you use a known load approach you usually need to do very little development.

For example, with my 6xc I used a known load: 39.5 H4350 with 115s. I used a bullet that likes to jump: DTACs. And I loaded them .005 from the lands. That one load worked from the beginning and never needed to be modified or changed.

 

[Chanonry]

One.

308, so well known. Do the thinking/research at home.

As per post above, if I am 2800+ and it is shooting to a standard that I can expect from that style of rifle then I am good to go. Even out of Sako hunting rifle I am getting 0.5 moa.

You can spend your life chasing very marginal ballistic gains that are not statistically proven in any case. If you look at the improvement in hit percentage for all that fiddling about, it isn't worth the hours of your life.

Depends on the game of course.

 

[waveslayer]

From the time you acquire a new rifle, how many trips to the range, bullet, powder, brass selection, etc. do you think you spend developing a load for that particular rifle that is satisfactory ? Just curious what many of you strive for and at what point do you stay with a load for a rifle. I know this is totally subjective based on the perfectionist tendencies of each individual. Hope that doesn't sound like too dumb a question?

I have been chasing my tail on this same issue as well. What I discovered is... less is more. I read some articles that the professional shooter says the only important thing is finding a Node, what powder you want to use, bullet and then stick to brass and primers that you will consistently use. As for case prep... only do neck uniformity and that is it.

As for how long?... I now just do an OCW test using .3 grain increments. I have developed 3 different loads for 3 different guns with one trip to the range. I just do my homework on powder and bullets to use as well as primers.

If you want to do all the case prep... load testing with different bullets and primers etc it will take you the life of the barrel and all the fun time just shooting your gun for fun.

Also you can play with seating depth and that will take you a total of 2 range trips in total to develop a load. OCW and the OCW with seating depths.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[catswithguns]

Before I started logging onto this site, I thought a rifle that shot MOA was quite accurate. Theoretically, if I'm figuring it correctly, a MOA rifle will shoot 10 inches at a thousand yards, .5 MOA, 5 inches and .25 MOA 2.5 inches. Ten inch plates at 1000 yards seems to be within the realm of what most precision shooters on this site feel is reasonably attainable.

So, that being said, I guess the general purpose of my question, is at what MOA do you find acceptable (if the rifle has that capability) to stop load development.

Thanks for the input so far, it is always interesting.

 

[waveslayer]

Well it depends on what you are shooting. What are you reloading for? Acceptable is up to you. 1 MOA is technically 1.047 inches so out to a 1000 is bigger then 10 inches.

My 6.5 Grendel shoots 1/2 groups at 300 yards... I call that acceptable for my gun. My 308 shoots .48" at 100 yards, is that acceptable?.. depends on my gun. My hunting rifle shoots a Lazzeroni Warbird at 200 yards with a 1.2" group. That is awesome for that hot round out of a pencil thin hunting rifle. It all depends on what you are shooting. If I had a GA Precision with 6.5 SAUM I would expect some awesome sub MOA groups past 700 yards...

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[Sterling Shooter]

I think John Feamster is still the guy working for the USAMU, loading their match ammunition. I believe he knows more about the science of handloading for accuracy than most. He wrote a book called Black Magic some years ago. I recommend this book if you can find it. It explores the methodology to producing match grade ammunition.