Load Development and Testing

[Hawk45]

Know the basic process but have a few questions on how you guys usually do things.

I see two major factors in getting things tailored for my rifle as finding the proper jump/jam to the lands that my rifle likes and second what powder charge. So I was wondering where you guys start? Should I find a change first then start testing different COL's? Or should I use one charge and try to find what jam/jump to the lands my rifle likes? I wasn't sure which one would have the bigger impact as far as group size (though I figured charge, and could be wrong).

Second, I was wondering if when you are testing loads you use a bipod or an actual bench rest type setup to take out as much of the "human error" factor as possible? I don't have a very good bench setup as I usually shoot off a bipod and rear bag (that is too small, so I use my fist in a ball to adjust).

Thanks,
Hawk

 

[SPAK]

Re: Load Development and Testing

Here's one method that has worked fairly well for me:

http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/

I started at .020" off the lands and started testing for my optimal charge weight or ocw. After I found my OCW I ran strings at .015" and .025" off the lands and didn't find any significant difference in my accuracy. Your results will likely vary depending on your components and rifle.

I do my testing the way I would shoot, bipod are rear bag. I'm much more accurate shooting prone than off the bench. But that's just what works for me...

 

[paulnyc]

Re: Load Development and Testing

Frogman-

At what distance are you shooting?

 

[SPAK]

Re: Load Development and Testing

Per newberry's method, 100 yards is sufficient. But I start out at 100 yards and then move to 300 yards to fine tune. Further than that I think the environmentals would start to have more effect. I like to do load development early in the morning before the wind starts to pick up.

Any long distance load should be shot at the furthest distance you plan on shooting.

The only thing I do different is I use a chronograph with all my load development. Newberry's method doesn't seem to think that it's necessary, but I do it anyway.

The stickies in the reloading forum on Long range handloading by Tresmon are good reads... I would go through them as well...OCW is just one method, it's not the end all be all of load development.

I've heard of guys that work up to a sticky bolt then back down two grains and that's their load development. Doesn't work for me personally, but that's what they do and it works for them.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Load Development and Testing

Test the way you intend to shoot the resulting load. Same support, same distance(s), same targets, same time constraints, etc.