What do you do when you are in load development?

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savage M110 BAS

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I am new into reloading. Yesterday I had my first range session with approx 60 different loaded .308 rounds.
155 Berger VLD
168 Berger VLD
168 A MAX

I started with load at 40 grains of Ramshot TAC and slowly increased powder (by .5 grains) to the max pressure of 42.7gr checking for pressure signs with each piece of brass I shot.
By the end of the day I collected all my data and went home to look at my groupings.
I had groups that measured from .501MOA to 1.5MOA at 100 Yards. I am curious as to what my next step would be in load development?

Let’s say I attained the .501MOA using a 168gr Berger VLD with 42.5grains of powder. Would I now want to load the same bullet with 42.4, 42.3, 42.2 and 42.6. 42.7 and 42.8 grains of powder?
What would be my next step in load development?


PS i was loading with a OAL if 2.800''

Also, at my max grain load of 42.7 I saw no signs of pressure on the brass. Does this mean it’s safe for me to slowly increase the max pressure load?
 
savage M110 BAS said:
Let’s say I attained the .501MOA using a 168gr Berger VLD with 42.5grains of powder. Would I now want to load the same bullet with 42.4, 42.3, 42.2 and 42.6. 42.7 and 42.8 grains of powder?
What would be my next step in load development?

Also, at my max grain load of 42.7 I saw no signs of pressure on the brass. Does this mean it’s safe for me to slowly increase the max pressure load?
Click to expand...

Try to narrow down to the most accurate powder charge. If your going above max listed loads be very aware of pressure signs and do it in the smallest increment you can measure with. Im not at all saying you should do this, But If I was going to, That is how I have done it. You might not need to, Check you groupings and watch when they start to open up.... it might be for instance that they start opening up at 42.6.....

After you find the most accurate powder charge, I typically fine tune OAL. Kinda in the same manner as the powder charging tests.... Make several different rounds varying OAL and watch the groups...

Hope this helps, Happy Shooting!
 
The smart thing is only change one variable at a time. Keep a record of all results you may want to go back and change something and try that load again. Looks like your on the right track.
 
What would I do different in load development is only shoot the first half dozen rounds for record in an afternoon. I think that if you were to record the # of rounds fired before each group,you would, on average, notice your groups opening up as the round count increased. The results you record for reference would be scewed. That load that you shot a 1.5" in.group( and are going to discard) after 45 rnds might in reality have been a .5" group with your first half dozen shots

If you want to shoot 60 rnds in an afternoon , by all means, carry on for the enjoyment of it, just do it for practice,not for testing records.
 
I don't know how much usable data you'll get @ 100 yds IF you intend to shoot "precisely" at say 400 yds.

Much of my "good" 400+ yd development load doesn't always look the "best" when tried at 100 yd. However if 100 yds. is where you will usually shoot for "precision" placement then you may be ok, it won't always translate to longer distance however.

I try to never load develop under 300 yd. If the wind is too bad for 300-400yd I just cancel rather than develop at 100yd.
 
I would love to load develop at 500+yards but my problem is that there is no range that could accommodate that distance around me. The closest range is Volks range which is Military and law enforcement only. At my summer house in Osoyoos i can get up to 800Yards, up in the mountain on crown land. But 2 months of the year doesn’t cut it for load development. All my Supplies are back at home.

Does anybody know of any good shooting spots in the lower mainland of Vancouver BC?
 
...and then there's the use of a chronograph.

I have what I believe is a good load for my rifle, but I wonder if theyre a bit light, so I'd like to check them with a chronograph.

Thoughts on this next step in load development?
 
I would find where your lands on your rifling start, and load the bullet .020 less then that, i have found the best, after that i play with charge weights 0.3 grn at a time till i narrow them down to what 3 are looking the best, then reload and see if they work the same again and fine tune from there. I have even by mistake taken .020 off the case neck length so i was .030 under max and it tightened up my groups, most likely changed neck tension and the pressure curve.
 
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