Continue load development?

[jdubrr]

I just got my rifle back from the gunsmith: Remington 700 6.5 CM new Bartlein 5R stainless barrel, blueprinted action. I put together a mild load to break in the barrel and zero the scope, and this "test" load is shooting great. I also put together a 10 round OCW test but this test load @42 grains of H4350, Hornady LR primer brass, with 130 grain Berger hybrids seated to standard 2.8 COAL / Base to Ogive is 2.1790 is sub 1/2 MOA. From the OCW test I wouldn't have picked this load for further testing.

Questions is do I need to continue testing other loads? I just target shoot no competitions.

 

[Steel head]

What’s the ES/SD?

 

[jdubrr]

What’s the ES/SD?

this is for the 42 gr load.
SD: 20
ES: 40

 

[Steel head]

SD: 20
ES: 40

I’d keep looking.

 

[ShtrRdy]

That's a nice group but if you want to use this at long range it would be better to find a charge weight that gives a smaller SD.

 

[Olen_4504]

i fixed your graph for you lol

based on just that graph i'd explore that 42.3g

that graph shows you exactly why you have less than satisfactory SDs/ES at 42g.

either side of 42.0 is dramatically different speed. you want to find that flat spot (42.3)

 

[antithesis]

I guess I am confused. You created a break-in load with the intent of doing additional load testing. You are happy with the performance down range.

Do you need to do additional testing? The obvious answer is no as you did not need to do anything other than load and shoot to begin with.

If what you really meant to ask is something along the lines of can you get more out of the rifle if you keep searching, the answer is yes. However, if you are only shooting 100 yards the improvements are going to be minimal at the target. If you are going longer distances you will almost definitely want to spend more time.

 

[jdubrr]

I guess I could have worded my question a little better but the coffee didnt kick in yet. Thanks for all the replies I should have mentioned that this round is hitting targets out to 1125 yards. The range doesnt let anyone walk out past 200 so I cant see any long range groups.

I will load up some more rounds and see if they have better ES/SD.

 

[Olen_4504]

I guess I could have worded my question a little better but the coffee didnt kick in yet. Thanks for all the replies I should have mentioned that this round is hitting targets out to 1125 yards. The range doesnt let anyone walk out past 200 so I cant see any long range groups.

I will load up some more rounds and see if they have better ES/SD.

load up a few of 42.3g and see how that goes. i bet it'll tighten up those velocity spreads.

but don't forget - once that barrel breaks in and speeds up - you might have to back off that charge a bit to get back into that velocity node.

 

[A&8's]

If you like it, shoot it.

Chrono it and keep notes. After the barrel speeds up, match the speed and you should be back in the game.

OR, dive deeper into the rabbit hole, like the rest of us. lol

 

[clcustom1911]

Shit, that magical break in load you made is clearly doing well. I'd shoot it for at least 250-300 rounds, checking speeds every 100 rounds or so, then go from there.

 

[Dev L]

My final load with 140 ELDM, same brass, 42.0 grains H4350, was my lowest SD along with 41.9 grains. That 130 Berger has more case capacity but shoots well at 42.0 for me too. You can get lower SD with more powder with the 130. My SD with 41.9 and 42.0 was 7 and 9 for 10 shots. Straight swap to 130 put me at 16.

 

[RegionRat]

Your sample size is way too small to establish an SD or an ES, but if the ES is already too wide in a small sample, it almost never gets better with a bigger sample.

It is really too bad the range doesn't allow you to put paper down range, or better yet, allow competent shooters to use an electronic target downrange.

If you think you will do more load development, study up on the real meaning of those velocity statistics and what they mean and don't mean. If you have questions after that, don't hesitate to ask.