Developing a load?

[Max Owner]

From what little I know about reloading; speed (or velocity) is important for consistancy. Hence a chronograph. A way of telling if you are getting consistant powder volumes.

 

[jethunter]

Who wants to shoot groups of minimum charges? Complete waste of time.

Its a starting point, and thats it. Highly unlikely that anyone would hunt or target shoot with a minimum load, so who cares how it groups in your rifle?

If a guy was loading for a .300WM, and his 180gr partition loads shot 3 into one hole at the minimum charge, giving 2700 fps, what the hell good does that do? Might as well get a .308.

Yeah, if he increases the velocity to 3000 fps he'll get about 30 yds greater range without hold-over. Thats a "Big Deal" on paper but it doesn't mean much in the real world.

 

[maynard]

From what little I know about reloading; speed (or velocity) is important for consistancy. Hence a chronograph. A way of telling if you are getting consistant powder volumes.

You get consistant powder volumes by weighing every charge, however case volume is another factor that some people don't think about. I know plenty of long range shooters that have never chronographed their load nor do they care how fast it is. As long as it groups at 1000 yards no one cares if it leaves the barrel at 2950 fps or 2875fps as long as they are all close to the same velocity.
Some long range shooters look for that magic number in fps to stay supersonic out passed 1000 yards. The load I have developed for my .308 using 155 gr bullets is very accurate and I had no idea of how fast it was nor did I care. Just for ####s and giggles I did chronograph the load and found it shot 2940 which just so happens to be around the magic number guys are looking for with this grain bullet. More good luck then good management I would say. Velocity really doesn't mean anything as long as the results are what you are looking for.