Pointless to do load development with limited components?

[Sogan]

I have plenty of Varget (36 pounds) and #8 of 8028. However, I only have 200 75gr ELD-M for my .223 bolt gun.

With a limited amount of bullets is there any point to try and develop a load now or should I wait until I can get 4-5k bullets from the same lot? If I do it now, is there going to be a big change in my load or will I just have to load +\- .1gr and see if I’m still in my node?

If I do work on development now, once I get more bullets do I just try make sure that they are jumping the same distance as the last lot?

 

[Dogtown]

I'd do the load dev now and enjoy shooting it. Then just confirm the load when you get more bullets - the difference lot to lot shouldn't be dramatic (oh wait, you're shooting Hornady bullets).

 

[spife7980]

Id rather do a good enough quick load and shoot them now as well if that means youre not going to be shooting at all until. Otherwise once you get the new lot youll never shoot em.

Edit: 23.5-23.8 xbr .020 off the lands.

 

[Newbie2020]

Pick a charge wt to achieve your desired mv then tune seating depth in 30 thousandth increments as per the Berger method. Then go shoot.

Tune the seating depth to the powder charge not the other way around.

@Dthomas3523

 

[Newbie2020]

Dont waste powder primers and bullets doing a powder ladder test.

 

[jakelly]

@Newbie2020 where is this advice coming from? That’s not great advice.

 

[jakelly]

Use the bullets you have to map the barrel harmonics and internal ballistics with what components you have. When you get the new lot, you’ll be within spitting distance of optimum.

 

[CK1.0]

Tune the seating depth to the powder charge not the other way around.

Yep.

 

[Halfnutz]

@Newbie2020 where is this advice coming from? That’s not great advice.

He tagged the source. @Dthomas3523

 

[Sogan]

Pick a charge wt to achieve your desired mv then tune seating depth in 30 thousandth increments as per the Berger method. Then go shoot.

Tune the seating depth to the powder charge not the other way around.

@Dthomas3523

Are you just hoping the SD/ES is good or is the jump really going to help those numbers tremendously if they are not good at the start?

 

[CK1.0]

I think what he's getting at is that load development doesn't have to be long and tedious and/or eat up a bunch of components...

The "Picking a speed + finding your jump = done method" totally works (you just have to have your powder/scale-game together so the charges are consistent).

(JMHO, but ES/SD is more a reflection of how consistent one's powder charges are and how consistent one's neck tension is... the closer one can craft each round to be as identical to the next as can be, the lower those numbers go.)

 

[KnowNothing256]

I was in the same boat with 147gr ELDM in my 6.5CM; I ended up buying a bunch of 140gr HPBT because I could actually get it, then sold the ~200 ELDMs to someone who had more.

Consider switching bullets if you can actually get something else; dunno about 0.224, but 6.5mm Match Burners have been turning up fairly regularly, and so have the 140 HPBT.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

One technique I have tried is to build loads using 2%-5% less charge than listed max. I have largely found my pet load in that range.

Starting with 3rd lots, do pressure testing first. If pressures are acceptable, do accuracy testing with 9 rd lots, 3rd groups.

Yes, it's true that 3rd groups are not statistically as accurate as 5rd groups. But the goal here is to get a moderately good shooting load without depleting the supplies.

Sacrifices need to be made in dire circumstances such as these. Loads may not be optimal, but they will likely be adequate, and often shoot better than factory loads.

Someday, maybe soon, it could be that round that saves your life. It's likely to be more accurate than MilSurp loads.

Perfection is for times of plenty.

 

[NiteQwill]

Pick a speed. Load in the area. Shoot.

Load development can be done in 10 rounds.

 

[308pirate]

I love watching people get wrapped around the axle.

 

[acudaowner]

with that much varget you could be loading for a nice long while just need the other items bullets which are pretty easy to get primers the other real hard item to find and brass . saw primers for sale last week while visiting the hospital again but at least we were able to grab 4boxes of srp and 5 lrp . best of luck to you it can be done but it's up to you how much effort your willing to put in to get the items .