Nodes and bullet weights

[Carlos Danger]

As a function of cartridge development, once an optimum charge weight has been narrowed down, what are the chances the selected charge weight will be applicable for different bullet weights, up or down? Shooters seem to tout one particular bullet weight / manufacturer that seems to shoot well for them in that barrel but with various options available, how do you choose a bullet weight that works without sending hundreds of rounds downrange with ladder testing for each one?

I have a barrel that I think I've narrowed down to charge weight for a particular bullet but I want to see if lighter weights from different manufacturers perform better. Am I predicting ladder loads for each bullet weight I want to test or would it be possible to stay near a successful node for the bullet I have tested? Is a happy barrel a combination of charge and bullet weight, obviously with other factors involved?

 

[supercorndogs]

Different bullet, different brass, different powder charge.

 

[Doom]

It would be unusual to find a charge that worked for different weight bullets.

 

[Steel head]

In my 7 saum I actually use the same charge of R26 for Berger 190’s and Berger 168 classic hunters.
I’m not trying to push the 168’s hard though.

 

[MarinePMI]

There’s a ongoing theory (which I tend to agree with) that each bullet has a designed/preferred speed (and rotation rate) at which they perform best. Rarely do bullets of different weight, in the same caliber, share a common node that is practical (using the same charge weight). It happens, but not very often.

Steelhead mentions one, and another I can think of is with Lil’gun in a 22 Hornet. For whatever reason a 12-13gr load will work for just about anything in 30-45gr bullets. It’s a oddity, that’s for sure.