How much load development is too much?

[Jack Master]

How much load development do you all do? How much becomes too much?

I have a new TIkka 6.5 creemoor and will be hand loading for it. I am thinking I want to use H4350 or Superformance with Hornady 130 or 140 ELDs and benchrest primers or magnum primers for the superformance. Should I pick a powder and primer and get enough for 3000 rounds then test bullets or is it worth trying the multiple powders and primers... and Bullets?

Plan A - Multiple options
H4350-BR primers-130s
H4350-BR primers-140s
Superformance-BR primers-130s
Superformance-BR primers-140s
Superformance-mag primers-130s
Superformance-mag primers-140s

10 rounds each for ladder test.
10 rounds each from best of ladder test for grouping

This adds up to 160+ rounds is it worth doing?

Plan B - Pick powder and primer and stick with it
Powder-primer-130s
Powder-Primer-140s
10 rds ladder tests
10 rounds for best of ladders
40 rounds total.

How much load development do you all do? How much becomes too much when it comes to testing powders and primers?

 

[acudaowner]

not sure if it fits but it seems to in my mind. you can find that mystical perfect to you load if you keep trying if you give up is that ever the way to be?

 

[demolitionman]

You know it’s too much when you burn your barrel out just doing load development. . . . Ask me how I know ??

 

[isofahunter]

I am done in 15 to 25 shots in most cases. I like shooting more than reloading.

 

[Supersubes]

I’d leave out the magnum primers and the superformance. No need for either. You’ll likely find a very good load with either of those bullets along with the H4350/BR primers.

 

[XLR308]

Honestly and maybe I'm just lucky or that damn good ??, I have never went more than a 100 rounds developing a load for a rifle.
Once in the 1/2 MOA range I stop dicking with it and shoot it, occasionally later on I will experiment with seating depth changes but that's about it.

 

[Aggie]

A simple answer is when you think that the load is accurate for your needs. I tried different loads when I shot metal silhouettes in IHMSA competition. That said, I was always looking for an even better load and caliber constantly.

It often boiled down prior to reliable internet sales on availability of the right bullets (brand and weight), powder, and primers. To some extent this remains true.

 

[ShtrRdy]

You can learn on all the experience of others for this cartridge. Use H4350 and the 140 hr bullet. If you have brass that has a small rifle primer then use the CCI Magnum, #450

 

[TF160 Guy]

When I first started precision reloading I created of paper matrix of options and variables for load development. I was open to many brass, powder, projectile, and primer combinations. I realized that I would probably need a new barrel before I found the "perfect" load.
With time I became partial to certain brass, projectile and primers. Powder became the variable depending on availability. This reduced my search to about 100 rounds. I found the Quick Load program a help particularly if I wanted to do some "what if's"
Another consideration is the cut of the chamber. If you build a rifle first decide on the cartridge and build the rifle. Again, this is where Quick Load is helpful.

 

[Jack Master]

I’d leave out the magnum primers and the superformance. No need for either. You’ll likely find a very good load with either of those bullets along with the H4350/BR primers.

Use H4350 and the 140 hr bullet.

I was thinking about trying the superformance for velocity reasons. I have read and heard the Tikka barrels are slow and am hoping the superformance can gain the extra 100 fps that Hodgdon and Hornady boast about. Also dropping the the 130s will help velocity. Do you think the H4350 will be able to get to the 2750 fps (in a Tikka) which is where everyone says the 140's have a sweet spot?

Thanks everyone for the replies.

 

[isofahunter]

If you are looking for speed out a 6.5CM take a look at RL 16. The development I mentioned above was for 140 ELDM, same powder charge of 16 was 115 fps faster than 4350 in my rifle.

 

[Steel head]

I always try to develop a low node with cheaper bullet load and a high node with high BC bullet load.

After that I’m often tinkering with other bullets, powder and primers.

I’ve learned a lot about 223 and 260 over the years so I don’t need to shoot large ladder tests with them, I can usually guess a good start point and get dialed fairly quickly.

I somewhat enjoy load development and trying new methods and stuff.

 

[Supersubes]

I was thinking about trying the superformance for velocity reasons. I have read and heard the Tikka barrels are slow and am hoping the superformance can gain the extra 100 fps that Hodgdon and Hornady boast about. Also dropping the the 130s will help velocity. Do you think the H4350 will be able to get to the 2750 fps (in a Tikka) which is where everyone says the 140's have a sweet spot?

Thanks everyone for the replies.

I would ignore what others think is a sweet spot and just find your load. 2750-2800 is just where most people’s safe maximum ends up being. There’s nothing magic about that zone. Isofahunter brought up RL16. While my experience with it doesn’t exactly match his, it is a great powder, and I prefer it over h4350 these days.

 

[ShtrRdy]

What length barrel is the Tikka? I think the people who say 2750 is a sweet spot are running a 26" barrel.

 

[Jack Master]

What length barrel is the Tikka? I think the people who say 2750 is a sweet spot are running a 26" barrel.

24" barrel

 

[Brandon05_88]

Find a load that consistently drops 5 rounds in or under 1/2" with single digit SD, and shoot it.
You can chase those 1/4" 5 shot groups with under 5 SD, but the above will do nearly everything you need to for PRS style competitions.

 

[Sig Marine]

I’d leave out the magnum primers and the superformance. No need for either. You’ll likely find a very good load with either of those bullets along with the H4350/BR primers.

You would be extremely fortunate to plan and find "the perfect load". You may stumble upon it but there are too many powders, primers, bullets, seating depths, etc.. to actually plan ahead and test for it. Most of us do our homework and rely on what others are having success with in regards to components, loads recipes and muzzle velocity nodes. H4350 has been to "go-to" powder for this round, along with the A-Maxes (it has been replaced with the ELD-Ms), since Hornady introduced it in their factory ammunition. I don't know the specs for the reamer Tikka uses but if it's SAMMI, the freebore, will to some degree, dictate the bullets that will shoot throughout the life of the barrel.

As suggested many times on this forum, select a powder and a bullet and do your testing. If you find a load that shoots well, you can refine it by trying a different primer and/or seating depth. Others have mentioned above, if you get a load that will shoot a 5-shot group of .5 MOA or better, go shoot. Remember, accuracy trumps speed; you'll miss more targets from bad wind calls than bad ammunition at this point.

 

[47guy]

with 140ELDMs and H4350 50 rounds is to much load development....ive seen several different rifles shoot with 41.5g of H4350 and 140g ELDMs .020 off the lands...the 6.5 creed is very easy to load for.