I'm new to the forum and have searched but haven't really found the answer to the question i have. Please don't slay me lol. Ok straight to it. I'm shooting a savage 111 L.H. .300 WM. i have successfully found powder nodes with other bullets and calibers. I started developing a load using. Hornady brass, fed 215m, RL 23 hornady eld-x 220 gn. im using satterlee ladder test at 0.2 grain increments. I have at 68.4= 2761, 68.6= 2750, and 68.8= 2764. I haven't seen a drop like thisin the middle of a possible node. My question is would you load and test this area. oh while testing i load 5 shots with 0.1 gn increments. that node shows an ES= 14, SD= 6.01 and average 2758. Thanks in advance for the help
Analyzing a powder node
- Thread starter wildjokerls1
- Start date
If you are using one shot per charge weight it is not enough of a sample size. I have seen what you described in my testing and did the test again and didn’t find the same flat spot. If you listen to Franks latest Berger podcast (The Everyday Sniper Podcast: Berger No BS BC Part 8 Reloading) they discuss this. Podcast couldn’t have come out at a better time for me as it reassured what I’ve just found and gave me a few more pointers.
I’ve had two loads developed successfully with a 1 shot per charge satterlee.
I now do a two charge test.
Depending on the accuracy of your powder throw and brass prep you have to be realistic on the results.
From what you describe on the high end and low end I suspect you found a node and the middle charge was a anomaly.
I personally would load 10 at the middle charge and test vertical and ES.
I now do a two charge test.
Depending on the accuracy of your powder throw and brass prep you have to be realistic on the results.
From what you describe on the high end and low end I suspect you found a node and the middle charge was a anomaly.
I personally would load 10 at the middle charge and test vertical and ES.
As stated- You don't have enough info- But it looks promising. Having an ES of 14 when you are using 3 different charges is good. Load up more. It's not uncommon for a .1 or .2 higher charge to shoot a little slower than the last one- especially if you are not sorting everything by weight and volume. Probably just a combination of things working together... I'd now load up 2 of each and go up by .1
Not unusual to see a drop - as a matter of fact, I love seeing a drop because it's a better indicator of a node. First shot could be on the high end of your ES, second low, third about where it should be - sort of what happened here. I do double ladders for just these scenarios and for validating the node. Then I do groups to narrow in, and finally a bunch (~20) at the load I selected.
This is, in my experience, really common to see drops in Magnums doing .2 grain charges.
You have alot more powder, alot more case capacity, alot more chance for margin of error in every aspect. Not saying that's really an error its just a culmination of a couple factors being on the bottom of the Bell Curve.
I generally do .4 grains when I'm going to end up in the 70 grains range of charges. I've found some combinations can give you a real sawtooth effect at .2 grains and .4 gives you a lower frequency pass where it still has flats but you are in an upward trajectory.
You have alot more powder, alot more case capacity, alot more chance for margin of error in every aspect. Not saying that's really an error its just a culmination of a couple factors being on the bottom of the Bell Curve.
I generally do .4 grains when I'm going to end up in the 70 grains range of charges. I've found some combinations can give you a real sawtooth effect at .2 grains and .4 gives you a lower frequency pass where it still has flats but you are in an upward trajectory.
Thanks for all the great information. Got all the cases prepped and ready to start loading. I'll let you know what i come up with this time around.
Similar threads
