Load testing advice

tactical_tech

tactical_tech

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I'll start of by saying I've only been in the reloading/precision shooting scene for about a year, so far it's been a great success. On my first day out with my first reloads and new rifle I achieved a 5 shot 0.6" group at 100yds.

So far this has been how I do my load testing. I'll load my rounds in .5gr increments from minimum to just under maximum. I will load 10 of each. At the range I will shoot 5 rounds of each charge at 100yds then the other 5 at 300yds. Then I'll inspect my groups and pick the best from 100yds and 300yds. Usually the best group at 100yds and 300yds are within 1gr of each other.

So here's my questions. Is there much point to doing load testing at 100yds, I've read a lot about doing load test at least the 2-300yd range. However I've also read that at the farther ranges the shooter is likely to be the weak link. For the most part when I examined groups at 300yds I mainly paid attention to vertical dispersion as horizontal was likely my doings or wind.

Should I keep doing what I'm doing or would I be better off shooting 5-10rnd groups at a median distance of 200yds.

I also do plan on trying a ladder test sometime in the feature. I also do my shooting sitting at a bench using either a bipod/front rest and a rear bag.
 
If you have enough trigger time in and you're a confident shooter that has rifle in "neutral" when load testing it might be time to do ladder tests. This will give you quick results and allow more powder variations to be tested with less rounds through the tube. Google ladder tests and pick the one that suits you. Ladder tests work best at the longest range possible limited by seeing actual bullet holes. Ladder tests are a great way to eliminate vertical dispersion.
 
I find 100 yards to be a very "useful" distance. I can see the holes easily. It's a short walk to replace targets. It's long enough that differences in performance will likely be visible.

It is important to test at longer distances, but I do all my initial testing at 100. If two or more loads seem identical at 100, I will test at longer ranges to sort things out, but I find 100 yards to be very useful. I always test my final load at several longer distances to be certain about what is happening.
 
My VERY humble opinion:

It depends on the type of shooting. If you shoot around half inch at 100 yards with a .308 the group will not tell you much,
it's just a ragged hole. Increasing the distance will open it up for better study and comparison.

If you are shooting a hunting rifle, 100 yards may be perfect, if it suits your hunting range (I'm not a hunter).

For load development, I do something similar to what you described.

I load 10 rounds of each weight, shoot 5 rounds at 200 yards then measure and decide on the next step.

Shoot the 5 remaining rounds at 300 yards and measure, study, criticize my shooting as required.


The leftover rounds are put in my so called "dirty-up" box and used as such.
 
300+ and beyond for my load development. I only check my loads at 100 when the work is done just to see how they look at that distance. I've seen a few loads at 100 yds while plinking that caught my eye and they turned out to be poor performers when tried at distance.

Plus many guns/loads do well at 100-300 but performance can fall of badly past that distance.
 
tactical_tech said:
I'll start of by saying I've only been in the reloading/precision shooting scene for about a year, so far it's been a great success. On my first day out with my first reloads and new rifle I achieved a 5 shot 0.6" group at 100yds.

So far this has been how I do my load testing. I'll load my rounds in .5gr increments from minimum to just under maximum. I will load 10 of each. At the range I will shoot 5 rounds of each charge at 100yds then the other 5 at 300yds. Then I'll inspect my groups and pick the best from 100yds and 300yds. Usually the best group at 100yds and 300yds are within 1gr of each other.

So here's my questions. Is there much point to doing load testing at 100yds, I've read a lot about doing load test at least the 2-300yd range. However I've also read that at the farther ranges the shooter is likely to be the weak link. For the most part when I examined groups at 300yds I mainly paid attention to vertical dispersion as horizontal was likely my doings or wind.

Should I keep doing what I'm doing or would I be better off shooting 5-10rnd groups at a median distance of 200yds.

I also do plan on trying a ladder test sometime in the feature. I also do my shooting sitting at a bench using either a bipod/front rest and a rear bag.
Click to expand...

What are your loads for? Big game hunting? Varmint shooting? Benchrest? Service Rifle? F-Class? My initial feeling is that provided that level of accuracy is maintained out to the maximum range of your shooting, groups crowding half minute accuracy would be difficult to improve upon. Of coarse if extreme accuracy for its own sake is the point of the exercise, and your rifle is actually capable of shooting tighter, that's another matter. If your groups tend to be round rather than linear, if your zero coincides with the center of the group, I'd say you're there, and except for answering "what if" questions, no exploitable improvement will be found. Clearly your loads are very uniform and your choice of powders are appropriate, and your marksmanship, provided these results are repeatable and not based on a single event, is outstanding. The only question left to ask is if the bullets are appropriate for the intended purpose.
 
Boomer said:
What are your loads for? Big game hunting? Varmint shooting? Benchrest? Service Rifle? F-Class? My initial feeling is that provided that level of accuracy is maintained out to the maximum range of your shooting, groups crowding half minute accuracy would be difficult to improve upon. Of coarse if extreme accuracy for its own sake is the point of the exercise, and your rifle is actually capable of shooting tighter, that's another matter. If your groups tend to be round rather than linear, if your zero coincides with the center of the group, I'd say you're there, and except for answering "what if" questions, no exploitable improvement will be found. Clearly your loads are very uniform and your choice of powders are appropriate, and your marksmanship, provided these results are repeatable and not based on a single event, is outstanding. The only question left to ask is if the bullets are appropriate for the intended purpose.
Click to expand...

I'm just a target shooter doing it for fun, no competition or anything yet. So far I really enjoy the idea of precision shooting and making a load specific to my rifle to get the most out of it. I've got a few different powders and bullets so just trying to see which combination nets the best result. As for repeatability, I haven't been able to duplicate the 0.6" group yet, but have had many groups in the 0.7- 1moa range.

I'm more or less curious to a new way of load testing that may streamline the process. I think maybe ladder tests at 200yds might be something to try, or would 300yds be better. Worried about being able to properly see bullet holes at 300yds though.
 
Since your groups at 100 are sub MOA, what I would do is shoot at 300 to see if that level of accuracy stands up further out. Be aware though, that hint of a breeze that you could ignore at 100, might open up your group at 300, but if your group at 300 is 2" or less, you're in good shape. The more things you try the more you'll learn, and it keeps shooting and loading interesting, so go for it. Then think about 500, then 700, then . . .
 
Groups at 100 are of no value in getting good results at longer ranges.

But most guys don't shoot loner ranges, so it does not matter.

I do my load development at 300 or 500 (whichever is available that day) and then confirm the promising loads at 900 and 1000.
 
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