Questions about charge weight test plan

[bluebie]

Hey Guys,
I've got all my cases and stuff ready for powder and bullets. I've measured everything and have my seating die set to 0.010 off the lands. I'm shooting 6.5creedmoor. The hornady manual suggests charge weights for 140gr projectiles from 35.6gr-41.6gr. I'm hoping to shoot a maximum of 150 rounds, mostly because that's how many rounds I can fit in the number of ammo boxes I currently have.

Anyway, I was thinking about the following possible test plans. Here they are along with my justifications of why this may or may not be a good idea. Please let me know any thoughts you might have about what might be best, or if I'm missing another good option. Note: I do not have a chronograph or a sled, so I'm going to be setting my rifle up on a bench with sandbags under the handguard and butt to get it as stable as possible, and just passing my judgements based on group size at 100yds.

I'll be shooting 140gr ELD-Ms out of a 26in 1:8tw barrel.

1. 2x 5shot groups weights 35.6gr-41.8gr with a step of 0.3gr between loads
Pros: hits my 150 round max, lots of shots per charge weight for better averaging, and tests the entire recommended range as well as 0.3 above max.
Cons: A lot of bullets and powder to burn to only test 15 loads. May be leaving something on the table if pressure isn't reached at 0.3 above max.

2. 1x 5shot groups weights 35.6gr-43.9gr with a step of 0.3gr between loads
Pros: Under 150 round max (110), tests a wider range above max and may allow to find pressure and more velocity. Less time consuming than #1
Cons: Less rounds per charge weight compared to option #1

3. I'd also considered eliminating some of the lower charge weights from my test completely. Reading some of the threads here about reloading for 6.5creed, it seems that most people are able to find 3 velocity nodes, and will stick with the 2nd or 3rd nodes assuming there is no pressure.
Pros: less shooting/loading, eliminate the less desirable lower node
Cons: Might be leaving some accuracy on the table in the event that my gun really likes the lower velocity for some reason.

Do you guys have any thoughts on these options? Or suggestions on another path to take? Thanks so much.

 

[spife7980]

Load up 40-43 in .3 increments with 4 shots per charge and run an ocw. http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/

 

[Rthur]

Something to consider on load development:


R

 

[Deleted member 113831]

This exact load work up has been done about a bazillion times. I can save you a bunch of work and tell you to use 41.6 grains (assuming H4350) and adjust seating depth in .005" increments until you see it come together.

This load shows up so often, in so many different rifles, it has become a reference load for this combination.

I am in the middle of a similar test with 308 win here: http://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/175-nosler-rdf-load-work-up.6935180/#post-7633836

It might be intersting to you.

 

[Juggerxxx]

Yes look for group size but also maybe just as important as group size; point of impact location and shift. If I my best group is way different than a charge above or below that charge then I will consider another tight group that Is in the middle of similar POIs.

I don’t see where you listed what type of powder you are using. Did I miss that?
If it’s H4350 then I have found ~42.0gr to work in three of my rifles with the 140gr eld and Hornady and starline Brass.
My suggestion is not the normal safest suggestion so take it with a grain of salt. Start at 41.0gr and stop somewhere around 42.5 with five shot groups in either 0.2 or 0.3gr increments. Then decide what charge looks best and then use that same charge to perform a seating depth tests in 0.005” increments for another ~50 rounds. This is what I do every time and after 100 rounds I have a load I can trust. Just make sure you keep everything consistent!

 

[bluebie]

Thanks everyone. Yeah, I'm using H4350, should have mentioned it. Sounds like nobody is really running the super low charge weights with the 140gr elds, so I'm gonna go ahead and start at 40gr of H4350 and work up from there. That should be a big time and consumables saver, thanks for the advice.