What's your method for load development?

dusticles

dusticles

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I see the Rockies!!
I've lazily settled on the following but I'm curious what you guys find successful.

I'll load a dozen to check for pressure. Typicall start 2 grains under max and throw single loads in .2 or .3 grain increments. Shoot them in a quick ladder at 200 yards and keep an eye on speeds and vertical to see if there is an obvious window.

If I do find a window I'll start there in .2 increments, loading 5 of each powder charge to shoot in OCW. If I dont find an obvious window I'll load in .3s to span a couple grains and again shoot 5 of each in OCW.

I've had good luck but maybe I'm missing something else that will help at those distances 800 yds and out? My goal has always been to find a charge weight that holds POI with some leniency of .1gr +/-
 
200 is too short to tell you what happens at 800.

Barrel harmonics determine grouping, and it takes distance for the full effect to show up.

I prefer 500 yards for testing, but will use 300 if I only have access to a short range.
 
I check the Nosler and Sierra manuals for their most accurate loads in the weight range of the bullet to be loaded and use that as a starting point.
Sometimes the powder mentioned is not in my locker so then make comparisons where velocity is similar with a powder I do have.
Load three or five and if that is not suitable . . . start over or increase the powder charge in .5 grain increments if velocities are low.
It might be hit or miss but most times it has been a plus.
With my 22-250 IMR 4064, 4320 and 4895 and 60 grain Sierra HP I could not tell the difference and have loaded all three at various times.
During a Marksman Match at 400 yards it scored 200-16X (good for second place ) but my partner had 200 20X. The "X" ring was 2".
It has served me well with 243, 250-06, 270, 280 30-06 and 338 Win Mag.
 
What do I have for components.
What do the manuals and web sources list for said components.
Take an average of the data, often throwing out un characteristic highs and or lows.
Start about a mid point between starting and max loads.
Depending on case size, run test loads at .2 grain(small case) .5 grain (medium to large non Mag cases) .7 grain (for large cases) steps to the max charge average.
Load no less than 3 initially for loads, shoot groups at 100 y/m to begin with.
Measure case head expansion once back home.
If case head expansion is good, take the best looking loads from the first tests, and load 5 or 6 of each load that needs re visiting. Shoot those loads a 300 or 200 depending on the cartridge etc. Note good groupers, back and load more of the good ones, maybe 10 each, look for repeatability at distance, maybe chrony, here.
 
It's a crude method, slightly taken off OCW, but ''seems'' to work for me, we'll see once I try out my new rifle and caliber this week.
Using this I repeatedly shot sub 1/2 moa 10 shot groups at 300M.

Load a few a bit on the low side going up, example in 308 I knew I didn't want to shoot under 42gn of Varget, first time I load for a new barrel I load 1x at 41.0, 1x at 41.5 and 1x at 42.0g, initial sight in plus checking for early pressure signs if my setup didn't play well for whatever reason.
20 thou jump, I never played with this,
load 3 of each in 0.2 or 0.3gn increments.
I do 1x visit at 100M and then everything else is done at 200M,
Shot plenty of 900M shooting this summer, and my 200M loads worked very well out there, maybe just a coincidence, or maybe has to do with setting ballistic app properly?
 
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