Trying different loads is fine... but don't be a slave to the chronograph... the primary goal is to put them where you are aiming... The difference on target (yote or paper) between 3100 and 3400 is negligible.
For a hundred plus years its been known that well bedded and tuned rifles, shoot best with full loaded ammunition.
Until recent years there have been a great number of rifle shooting matches between different military groups and law enforcement groups, such as the US Border Patrol versus the Texas Rangers, as an example.
In every case, each side would be using special match ammunition and all of this ammunition would be loaded to higher velocity than the standard ammunition their rifles used.
World class bench rest and long range shooters learned long ago to use ammunition that is loaded heavier than standard ammunition.
Warren Page may have been the greatest rifleman, ever. In his book, The Accurate Rifle, on page 152 he talks about loading the magnums, like the 7mm Remington, 300 Win and similar types, for long range shooting. He states loading can be explained with one word- Full. Then he states, "Standard practice is to load powders like Du Pont #4350, or H4831, or Norma 205 in the heaviest charges the individual rifle will handle behind the bullet used,---"
He also states the one word, full, is the way to explain loading for the 308 Winchester, even for 100 yard bench rest shooting.
Thus, it is not by accident that my rifles, which are always well bedded, shoot best with full power loaded ammunition.
