Narrowing down a node: .1 or .2 grain increments?

[Winny94]

I identified a few possible nodes for my 6.5cm, but i was jumping in .4 increments. To narrow in on them, would i be best off using .1 or .2 gr increments? Using an RCBS chargemaster, which rounds to .1/gr.

The 3 charge weights I want to explore closer are:

40.6
41.8
43.6

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

.2

 

[86alaskan]

.2 for sure, how much barrel life do you want to use chasing a .1 node when the powder handler rounds over?

 

[EchoDeltaSierra]

Based on personal experience with 3 rifles and 4 barrels 6.5CR seems to have a node around the 42.0 mark and another around the 43.0-43.5 mark. If you think you want to mess with the 40.6 load, save yourself some money and switch to 308. As for the 42 node, load at 42 +/- .2 or .3 grains. I suggest doing the same at 43.2.

Assuming a sub-24" barrel and 140gr pills, 42 range should be 2625-2675fps area, 43 will be more towards 2800fps.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

I only run .2 in .223,
308 I run .3
300wm .5 same with 338LM

 

[Winny94]

Based on personal experience with 3 rifles and 4 barrels 6.5CR seems to have a node around the 42.0 mark and another around the 43.0-43.5 mark. If you think you want to mess with the 40.6 load, save yourself some money and switch to 308. As for the 42 node, load at 42 +/- .2 or .3 grains. I suggest doing the same at 43.2.

Assuming a sub-24" barrel and 140gr pills, 42 range should be 2625-2675fps area, 43 will be more towards 2800fps.

Other than your velocity numbers, you are pretty close with what my rifle is showing (its a 16.5" bbl).

I think im only going to focus on the middle and upper nodes.
For the middle node and the data I have, a good range seems to be 41.3-41.9 and the upper 43.3-43.9.

My question now is; which number of shots per group/load increment would be best?
.2 increments (4 groups of 3 shots = 24 total shots)
.2 increments (4 groups of 4 shots = 32 total shots)
41.3 | 41.5 | 41.7 | 41.9
43.3 | 43.5 | 43.7 | 43.9

.3 increments (3 groups of 5 shots = 30 total shots)
.3 increments (3 groups of 4 shots = 24 total shots)
.3 increments (3 groups of 3 shots = 18 total shots)
41.3 | 41.6 | 41.9
43.3 | 43.6 | 43.9

 

[EchoDeltaSierra]

My question now is; which number of shots per group/load increment would be best?

I have a tendency to preform a bit more validation, so others suggestions my vary, that said, I’ll load 10 shots at each charge and shoot two series of 5-shot groups. I’ve found that provides a far better understanding of performance and once I’ve done that, the rest of my shooting is done at distance.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

I load 5 per, but only fire 3. Once the best group is confirmed after all loading are shot to pressure, I'll fire the last 2 into the same loading. If they fall within that same group, that is the load. I'll refire the same loading as soon as they are reloaded an if it's the same group size I'm done looking.

 

[bjay]

.3 would be my minimum fo all cartridge

 

[Ranger188]

.2