Load development

[ovenpaa]

Does anyone have any favourite methods for load development, I have traditionally shot groups of three at either 100m or 200m and based on velocity and group size then experimented with bullet jump until I have what I thinks works best for my chosen distances. Great with a .308 and a decent barrel life but less than ideal for a potential barrel burner.

I have dabbled with ladder development before, has anyone tried it or have alternative methods of load development they would like to share?

[Sim G]

My method is to first decide on the powder, either with research or experience, but sometimes that can be well off! (When deciding on powder for the 7mm-08, I began with what gave me good perfomance in .308. But non of them went "over" very well!)

Only using published tables, I take my starting load a half to two thirds into the data and then load 10 round batches in 0.3gn increments. I usually stay well clear of maximum loads. I'll then shoot two, five round groups at 100. Those loads that then show best promise, I'll make another 20 of that receipe and shoot a further four, five round groups. If it still shows the best promse, then I'll tickle around with the COL and once the sweet spot is found, that's it for that caliber.

I only use CCI primers for all the cartridges I load for (except for the Remington large pistol I got as a gift) and my brass is really whatever is at hand. (I've had some great results using PPU in .223!) The load development I always do with neck sized brass only as that's how most of my ammo is loaded anyway.....

I don't start at the starting load because of a situation years ago when .40 S&W was quite new...... went for a starting load, cranked out 500 rounds and it wouldn't cycle the slide of an HK USP! Likewise, I haven't come across a caliber yet that gives it's best when driven at maximum velocities.

[Robin128]

Some of the loads recorded on here over the last few months tell me that the book has been thrown away, as regards max loads...especially those shooting to 1000 with a 308win. It seems to me that more attention is given to distance to land and blown primers/cases.

Come on...be honest.

[ovenpaa]

Some F/TR shooters are pushing .308's to in excess of 3000fps these days in order to get to the target at above transonic speeds, to do this requires long barrels and high pressures so yes you are hitting them hard to achieve such MV's

[Robin128]

I was surprised about the improvement in accuracy re distance to lands and worked up 2 thou at a time...in my 26" Rem 700 police rifle ... 15 thou did it...223rem

26.5gns N540 69 MatchKings CCI400...flat primers, one blown so backed off powder to 26.3gns COAL 2.267" Land contact was 2.282" with Stoney Point. Same holing at 100.

Limit of mag foiled distance to lands with 308win...so 2.800" was it...could have gone much longer, but work up advisable re powder.

The magazine will often limit OAL on Winchester and Rem's and I would always say build to length and then hand feed for accuracy.

[Sim G]

Some F/TR shooters are pushing .308's to in excess of 3000fps these days in order to get to the target at above transonic speeds, to do this requires long barrels and high pressures so yes you are hitting them hard to achieve such MV's

Trying to get a cartridge to do something that it was never intended for just doesn't sit right with me..... 3000fps from a .308! What weight bullets?

Reminisant of the practical pistol day and pushing 9mm and other "smallbores" at +P++ pressures to make "major".....

[ovenpaa]

155 grain

[Alpha1]

I know nothing about long range shooting I normally shoot on ranges that are limited to 300 yds and quite often only get to shoot out to 100yds.
So no point in me loading for long distance shooting.
But since visiting the forum you have got my attention I wouldnt mind a trip to diggle may be when the weather improves to see what you are up to.
But I must admit this buisness about burning barrels out short barrel life etc getting guns built to order how do you fund it.
My whole collection probably isnt worth the cost of a long range purpose built rifle.

[Dangermouse]

Ovenpaa asked me on the "show me yours" post if I had any plans on load development.

Starting out fresh again I believe the decisions are many dimensional, with almost an infinite number of variables to experiment with,

Which Brass
Brass Length
Which primer Manufacturer
What size primer
Which Bullet Manufacturer
Which Bullet design
Which Bullet weight
Should you coat the bullet
Which Powder manufacturer
Which Powder speed
How much Powder
Bullet Seating depth

And I am sure that there are many other variables, all the time your barrel is changing and the seasons roll past.

To try and stay sane, I will start off with Viht 550, with a SMK 175 HPBT in LAPUA Brass with large rifle primer. Powder will of course be worked up gradually.

Still to order the brass and some SMK's, so it will no doubt be a couple of weeks yet before anything happens. I have another project on at the moment which will take me up to second week of March and demands the majority of my time,

DM

[TobyH]

I'm just about to start this all over again with my new rifle (s). So its good to see what the feelings are. My plan is to try and get as much fixed before hand as I can to limit the variables.

I was talking on another forum about this and established that when you get to COL and powder loads its always going to be difficult. From what I understand if you change the powder load you can change the COL requirement at the same time. So which do you set first?

I suppose in reality when you get close to the ultimate powder load the changes are going to be quite small and therefore the COL differences will be minuscule?

I've also heard that the gap to lands can be huge (relatively speaking) from 90 thou gap to 20 into the lands. Are these figures realistic?

Going back to Ovenpaa's original post, is there a 'best process' to follow for making the developement as efficient as possible. I.e. getting rid of the biggest variables first.