Reloading Coaching Part Deuce!!! : please help me interpret load development data

[Gregor.Samsa]

Alright Fellas,

Thanks for the great help in my other thread getting me on track with brass prep ( https://www.snipershide.com/shootin...d-a-little-reloading-coaching-please.6983473/ )

I took my Tikka CTR in 6.5CM to the range today and ran the Satterlee 10 round load development test. I ran this test 3 times as I am not the best shot nor do I have any reloading skills so I wanted a larger sample of data to compare.

Shot at 100 yards
64F
very light breeze
100' above sea level
not sure barometer or humidity but was sunny and clear

My cartridge:
1X fired Hornady brass
FL sized with a 0.002" shoulder bump to 1.531" (in my comparator)
Case trimmed to 1.915"
0.002" neck tension
COAL 2.942" (just barely fits in my magazine)
CBTO 2.255" (in my comparator)
Jump to the Lands 0.085" - can't get any closer due to the whoreish depth of the Tikka chamber.
Bullets are Berger 140g Hybrids
Powder is RL16
Primers are Federal 215M (all LGSs were out of 210s)

Test Data: (powder grains, fps x3 tests, ES, SD)
39.9 - 2566, 2583, 2593 27 13.7
41.2 - 2652, 2668, 2725 73 38.4
41.5 - 2675, 2679, 2680 5 2.6
41.8 - 2708, 2695, 2699 13 6.7
42.1 - 2724, 2708, 2701 23 11.8
42.4 - 2726, 2737, 2742 16 8.2
42.7 - 2741, 2766, 2764 25 13.9
43.0 - 2827, 2781, 2780 47 26.9
43.3 - 2805, 2791, 2857 66 34.8
43.6 - 2819, 2820, 2829 10 5.5

The highlighted red chrono speeds represent what I feel are reloading mistakes. I accidentally spilled some powderinto the cases and dumped them, then re measured. I am speculating those chrono speeds with extreme spikes i may have not completely emptied the cases.

All shots were taken round robin style progressing from lightest to heaviest load. Each test was repeated about 10-15 minutes after the previous test. The barrel heated up towards the end but i was shooting for chrono speeds so I didn't feel this mattered too much. I did not see any pressure markings on the brass or other abnomalities. The 43.6 load had a slightly sticky bolt as did the 2857 for the 43.3 load.I wasn't shooting for groups, all shots were taken with a Magnetospeed Sporter. It was really crazy how large some of the groups were. I am wondering if I had a concentricity issue as the bullets are sitting pretty far out of the case. I don't have a concentricity gauge so this is pure speculation. the 41.8 group shot awesome though.

Please help me identify which loads to fine tune with further testing.

 

[Gregor.Samsa]

more groups

 

[ditter]

Anytime you can get single digit SDs, youre on the right path. you would need to re-shoot those red groups to get those muzzle velocities. I wouldnt concentrate so much on 100 yard groups for now. Use 100 yards to get your zero, but then If you move out to 300 yards and beyond, youll start seeing what really shoots well. Start with your lower SD loads.

 

[Gregor.Samsa]

Thank you. When I stretch out to 300+, should I shoot without the chrono attached or shoot 2 groups one with chronograph and one without?

 

[supercorndogs]

Concentricity is not causing that. What scope? Can you confirm its not futzed up? It might be time to grab some match grade ammo and diagnose why the rifle wont shoot? Shooting OCW with my magneto speed attached always seemed to change my results on target. The target will tell you everything you need to know for the first step in OCW. The SD and ES are more or less meaningless in the first step.

http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com

If more people read this and applied it, there would be far fewer questions. The problem with online advice, is that half the people giving it have never applied it. They just read something online or watched a five minute video they didn't understand. Best thing to do with questions this big, such as, "How do I develop a load." Are best taken to an expert. Luckily at least one expert, and his is the system I like to use, gave most everything you need to know, in one handy location, for free. Yes, you have to read it. But once you do, you will see how contrary some of the advice you get online, is to running an OCW test.

When you can't get closer you try more jump.

 

[Gregor.Samsa]

Scope is a S&B, no known tracking issues. It’s been sighted in on Hornady American Gunner 140s and seems to be right on the money when shooting that round. My dope is verified out to 750 yards with that ammo as well.

I’ve never developed a load tailored to a particular rifle before. I looked at the ladder test, OCW and the Satterlee method to evaluate test loads. The latter seemed to be efficient and straightforward.
I think my confusion is that the flat spots indicating nodes aren’t necessary correlated to the low ES/SD or better groups.
It looks to me like 2700ish seems to be a sweet spot but I’m second guessing all the info. Thanks

 

[Steel head]

41.5 is a well known load with H4350 and you can tune group size with more jump.
Your using R16 but getting same speed because of the tikka barrel.
That’s where I’d focus.

 

[Gregor.Samsa]

Thanks. I can’t get any more jump as I’m at the COAL limits to fit in my magazine. My Tikka has a really long chamber.

 

[Steel head]

Thanks. I can’t get any more jump as I’m at the COAL limits to fit in my magazine. My Tikka has a really long chamber.

Jump it more, shorter oal.
I’ve jumped hybrids over an eighth on an inch with 6.5 and 7mm bullets.

 

[Gregor.Samsa]

although I wasn’t shooting for groups specifically, 41.8 showed accuracya

Jump it more, shorter oal.
I’ve jumped hybrids over an eighth on an inch with 6.5 and 7mm bullets.

sorey, you’re right! I was thinking jamming. I will do that. Thank you!