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What is the best way you have found to work up a load for accuracy? I have been leaving everything the same except seating depth then will try powder weights. Is this the best way or should I get powder right first? My thoughts are if I got powder first then changing seating depth could increase pressure too much? Just looking for suggestions from you Target and varmint guys.
I'm working up a load for my 6BR, wanted to get it done in as few shots as possible. Started with a Ladder test figure out the powder. After 2, 10 round ladders I came up with 29.8 - 30.1. Then shot some 5 shot groups and settled on 29.9 grains of varget, shooting 2.981" and a 3.032" 5 shot group, with 3 of the shots under 1". All this was done at the longest range I have access to, 600 yards. Total rounds fired so far is 50.
Next will be seating depth, I will go to the range this weekend with rounds load at .005 increments of OAL and see if I can tighten it up some.
I try to start with components that I know will work. This load is Lapua brass, berger 105's, CCI BR4's and Varget.
specific range you are intrigued in? Some great long range loads are horrible at short range. If you do not need the speed You can find a always find a good spot in the 1/3 powder capacity range. Full throttle is harder to hit.
I start with powders first at the factory COL , once I find the best load there , its time to start working out with the COL .
This has worked fine for me to this point , also I most often find that the best groups happen before I hit MAX load , dead is the same @ 3100 fps or 3300 fps , so no real reason to push the ragged edge in most case's .
stimpy
I always set my seating depth at .015 off the lands to start andn then I find the right powder and charge weight. I shoot 4 shot groups to save barrel life but will follow it up witha 5 shot to "Prove" a load. Once I find the powder and charge I move the OAL .005 at a time to fine tune.
Check out this site for information on working up loads. I have found this method to work well. http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/
Thanks for the suggestions. I want to get the most velocity as I can. Looks like you all change powder first then seating depth. I'm just scared my optimal powder charge will be right at max and changing seating depth might increase pressures. I got my groups to 0.6 in now maybe changing powder charges and/or powders will get me under 0.5 in?
I am having a shoot out in a few months out to 500 yards with coworkers who all have remington 700 sendero. I can't lose.
Why do you need more velocity? You have a .5" group going and 100 fps makes almost no difference at all. Your wasting your time trying to squeeze more speed out that load IMO. I would be looking to make it a .25" group ILO of a .5" and let the velocity chips fall where they fall.Quote:
Originally Posted by jgerrington
+1 what Capt Finlander said. Tweek your seating depth to see if you can shrink the groups.
I have to agree. If your goal is accuracy at 500 yards, 100 fps muzzle velocity plus or minus is meaningless.
uj
Find a node first and then play with the seating depth.
Your node is most likely always going to be lower than your max load.
I haven't loaded for any serious target shooting in a while, but what I used to do for single loading
is just start off jamming VLD bullets maybe about 5-10 thou, and jump flatbase bullets about 15 thou, find for a node
then play with seating depths.
Some folks start off with the bullet touching the lands, some jump.