First load dev today: .243 and 87gr V-max

[Chips26]

Rain stopped with enough time to get my first load tests done today.
Gun specs: Howa .243 Bravo, 18.5" barrel.
Load specs: Hornady 87gr V-max, Fed brass, COL 2.182" (ogive) .02" off lands, H4350 boom juice.

Best groupings were on the lower end of the powder charge spectrum, 40.7, 41.6, 41.3 and 42.5gr.
Overall pretty happy with my first handloads, next go round I'm going to try some deeper seating depths.

Disregard the garbage in the upper middle, had the gun zeroed for my suppressor.

 

[ShtrRdy]

Congrats on your first reloads. When I look at the results of shooting a series of different powder charge weights I look at where the group is located, and in particular, if there are a few adjacent charge weights that group in the same general area. I'm not really seeing that in your groups.

I agree with your choice of charge weight increments. 0.3 grain should show you when a good load is being fired.

 

[Chips26]

Congrats on your first reloads. When I look at the results of shooting a series of different powder charge weights I look at where the group is located, and in particular, if there are a few adjacent charge weights that group in the same general area. I'm not really seeing that in your groups.

I agree with your choice of charge weight increments. 0.3 grain should show you when a good load is being fired.

Good to know, thanks for the input, didn't really think of that. I know this may be pretty general and probably depends too much on the bullet and rifle, but in what increments do shooters usually start doing seating depths? .005"? , .01"? , .02"? I know I'm pretty far off with the book value right now.

Piggybacking off of that, if I kept the seating depths the same now and increased powder charge, that would be an avenue to explore to as well correct (checking for pressure signs of course)? For example my last charge was 43.1gr, which is .3gr short of the book max. But with a longer COL, I could push past that?

 

[ShtrRdy]

Good to know, thanks for the input, didn't really think of that. I know this may be pretty general and probably depends too much on the bullet and rifle, but in what increments do shooters usually start doing seating depths? .005"? , .01"? , .02"? I know I'm pretty far off with the book value right now.

Piggybacking off of that, if I kept the seating depths the same now and increased powder charge, that would be an avenue to explore to as well correct (checking for pressure signs of course)? For example my last charge was 43.1gr, which is .3gr short of the book max. But with a longer COL, I could push past that?

At this time in my reloading adventure I like to use 0.010" steps in seating depth. Berger Bullets wrote a paper stating that you should be able to use 0.030" to 0.040" steps in seating length. The book value for seating depth is so you can use it in any rifle.

You have the right idea with Cartridge Overall Length and powder charge. Most reloading data are on the conservative side. So you may be able to use more powder than is listed as maximum.

I asked for some help on a load development that you might want to look at:

Next step?

What charge weight do you think I should try next? I usually see a more well defined "sweet spot" when doing a OCW test. This is a .308 Win using a 175 gr SMK and IMR-4064

www.longrangehunting.com

The seating depth test is at post #21 if you just want to look at that. Or take it from the top.

Good luck with your loading experiments.

later ....... part of this load development effort relies on the shooters ability to shoot small groups. I struggle with this when trying to find the "best" load. But just be aware that part of what you're looking at in the results may be shooter induced.