Currently working up loads for my 6.5. Have been working up a load for 123 scenars, 130 hybrids and 140 hybrids. Do other people do this or do they just pick one and go with it?
How many different bullets?
- Thread starter fvalmostthere
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pick which one you want to run based on cost, availability, and ballistics. if it doesnt shoot after powder and seating depth tests then move on to something else.
don't want to burn barrel life if i don't have to
don't want to burn barrel life if i don't have to
I have multiple bullets, powders and brass for all of my different calibers and cartridges. Experiementing and trying new variables is what is fun to me.
It can be a mess, even dangerous and confusing if you do not document very well.
It can be a mess, even dangerous and confusing if you do not document very well.
I like stuff to be complicated so I load for many calibers with lots of different bullets and powders. However if I was to be competing and/or in a hurry I would pick one caliber, and one bullet, and one powder, and stick with what works.
If you are a tinker type personality then you would probably enjoy loading different bullets and powders and primers etc.
so I would say go for it.
I have read some people pick one thing, it shoots an inch, they call it good and that's it.
I personally do what graham said, I pick the bullet/powder combo I WANT to work. test it, tinker, if it works then im done and if it doesn't then I try different powders and bullets.
so I would say go for it.
I have read some people pick one thing, it shoots an inch, they call it good and that's it.
I personally do what graham said, I pick the bullet/powder combo I WANT to work. test it, tinker, if it works then im done and if it doesn't then I try different powders and bullets.
I usually will measure a few different bullets in a new barrel. If it's a shorter throat I will test 123 & 130 grain, but I will find the nodes for both and keep it documented for the future if my favorite is difficult find or to use what may fit the range to be shot.
Yeah I am definitely a guy that likes to tinker. Getting low on the first batch of bullets I bought and I can't find the 140 hybrids anywhere so just thinking about grabbing more 123 scenars and getting good with them instead of working up 3 loads. Would be nice to have a 140 load ready for a windy day
I used to like to tinker, but now I just want an established load ASAP. I pick the primary components I want to use, then move down the hierarchy as needed.
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I usually pick one bullet and go with it, time and barrel life is short, why waste it on developing multiple loads when you can have one and just hammer with it?
Generally I use Berger bullets now as it's pretty easy for me to find a load that really shoots with them.
The only cartridge that I am currently tinkering with in regards to projectiles is my .300NM, as I'm exploring lathe turned solid bullets to see how they compare to their jacketed counterparts (Berger 230's).
Generally I use Berger bullets now as it's pretty easy for me to find a load that really shoots with them.
The only cartridge that I am currently tinkering with in regards to projectiles is my .300NM, as I'm exploring lathe turned solid bullets to see how they compare to their jacketed counterparts (Berger 230's).
I too will tinker, I shot out my first 223 barrel just tinkering with loads and seeing what I could make work or not. But I love it! Youll find that some combinations run great right off the bat no matter what you do with them, I call that luck. Some will never work, thats bad luck. Some you just have to tinker with a bit.
My comp gun is a bit more critical on barrel life so I found a load that I wanted to shoot and luckily it shoots as well as I want it to shot so I have never really messed around with it other than a quick verification that its still shooting well before I load up each batch of 200. I recently found that they liked to be seated .005" out further this batch.
My comp gun is a bit more critical on barrel life so I found a load that I wanted to shoot and luckily it shoots as well as I want it to shot so I have never really messed around with it other than a quick verification that its still shooting well before I load up each batch of 200. I recently found that they liked to be seated .005" out further this batch.
I'm in the one bullet , one powder, crowd. But, I've worked up loads using two other powders and three other bullets. I did this in the event that I could not buy my favorite bullet or powder (out of stock situations)
, I'd have alternatives that shoot just as good.
, I'd have alternatives that shoot just as good.
if your shooting 123s in a CM you can EASILY get 3050fps with them so run the numbers in your app and then shoot both on a windy day you might be surprised at how little difference there is...i was/am and i shoot them in a 6.5x47 at 3020fps and the big plus with the lapuas is you can always find them in stock and if you buy in bulk you can save a lot of money.
i love to play with different loads but i shoot out 2 barrels a year as it is so tinkering ends up costing me another 1/2 a barrel or so so my annual barrel cost ends up at $1525 instead of $1300 so i keep the tinkering to a minimum now.
I used to tinker with different bullets/powders. But I've learned my time is better spent shooting than it is researching components and reloading. Now, I pick a bullet/powder and hope it shoots. If it doesn't, I'll find another bullet. If it does, load shoot, repeat.
I develop a load that works. Then play around with a second load with my number 2 bullet so that I have a back-up ready in case i run into availability issues with my #1 choice.
I have plenty of same lot brass and powder for the moment.
I have plenty of same lot brass and powder for the moment.
Yeah I'm approaching 3050 with them and am thinking about just going with them because I can get them. The 130 hybrids are running just over 2900 and the 140 hybrids are like 2820
I will go to the Reloading Depot to look for trends on bullet/powder usage and start from there. Then I review my reloading manuals, pick a combo I want to use and try it out.
I go to Berger’s stability calculator: http://www.bergerbullets.com/twist-rate-calculator/
And figure out a narrow range where I want to be (on the heavy end of stable). I’ll figure it for a Berger and then compare lengths to similar Sierras and Hornadys to get close enough and then develop loads from there.
And figure out a narrow range where I want to be (on the heavy end of stable). I’ll figure it for a Berger and then compare lengths to similar Sierras and Hornadys to get close enough and then develop loads from there.
Life is too short to use just one bullet and I have too much ADD to settle on one that shoots 0.250" groups because there just might be another bullet/powder combo that will shoot 0.200" groups out there.
Some are shooters, some are tinkerers, some are both - its all good and its supposed to be fun.
Some are shooters, some are tinkerers, some are both - its all good and its supposed to be fun.
I agree in general, and I enjoy load development and the feeling of finding the perfect tune to the rifle. However, if you shoot a lot of competitions in the summer and you're honestly trying to find time to reload your brass (which can be a challenge between work, life, and consecutive weekends of competition); settling on components that are proven to work without further development is key. By that I specifically mean that you are loading a bullet (buying in bulk) that is on a consistent velocity node with low SD and ES and shoots under a minute for a 20-30 shot group, and you can do 250-500 at a pop without going to shoot or needing to do anything other than confirm your lands are where they're supposed to be.
Maybe you can't get there the day before to check zero and fine tune (although I try to make this a habit if possible). Making everything repeatable and predictable is the key.
In this respect I want my hand loading to be as boring as possible.
Maybe you can't get there the day before to check zero and fine tune (although I try to make this a habit if possible). Making everything repeatable and predictable is the key.
In this respect I want my hand loading to be as boring as possible.
Thanks guys, I am going to finish out developing all 3 loads as I am close with all 3, but once I have them I think I am just going to buy 123 scenars and run with them. I can't find the 140 hybrids in stock anywhere and it looks like I am going to be right around 3050fps with the 123's vs 2915 and 2830 with the 130 and 140 hybrids. Running some numbers is looks like only about a .1 mil difference in wind out to 900 yards but the elevation is about .3 and .6. I know wind is trickier than elevation but I live in the northeast where long shots are few and far between
