First reload test range day!

death-junky

death-junky

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So I went out and tried my first batch of reloads, worked my way up to max load as stated in the Lyman manual. No pressure problems what so ever at max load everything looked real nice brass and primer wise. It was an interesting work up I started at a 10% reduced charge and worked my way up in .5 grain increments 4 shots per step. The bullets I used were 190 gr Berger VLT hunting, Federal match 215 large rifle magnum primers and H4831SC powder. I started at 65.5 gr and noticed they fired an inch low and 2.5 in to the left but were under an inch group. As I worked my way up from 65.5 gr to 67 gr they were shooting all in the sub moa range but after that from 67-69.5 the groups opened up to about 2" then boom 70 grs the group was 3 through 1 hole and 1 "flyer" 3/4" away from the cluster from 70-71 grains the group were all well under an inch then from 71.5-73 grains they were all around an .75 to 1.25". I had made 12 more rounds at 71 grains as thought this is most likely where i would end up but these all had a different COAL to try get the bullets close to the lands. I did 4 @ .080 4 @ .040 and 4 @ .010. The .080 made a 1" group .040 was 3 bullets through the same hole with 1 only 1/4" from the cluster (super happy with this load) and the .010 was 4 shots in .6". So that was my first reload range session I'm really happy overall. Only problems were it was super windy and I forgot my lead sled at home so the grouping data might be a bit off. The good groups I did shoot I did feel very comfortable with them but some of the others may have been a bit tighter if I had the sled. I'm super disappointed with the Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph I couldn't even get it to work once all it did was read error....
 
Punctuation and lack of paragraphs aside, congratulations. I remember my first range day with my own loads. Very exciting. Couldn't get the smile off my face for days...

By my count, that's 76 rounds for testing that one load. Very patient of you. Might I recommend you increase your spread between charges a bit. Saves on components. (ie 4@65.5, 4@
67.5, 4@69.0, 4@70.5, and 4@73.0 You still get to see the 'node' and you can go home, load up in 1.0 or 0.5gr increments around that and go shoot those another day,)

And get your chrony working...that's really important information in developing a good and safe load...

But I'm still smiling thinking about my first day...
 
on a large cartridge like the 300 i would go up in one grain increments to save time. put one grain in your scale pan its not much try half a grain on your scale. a 65 grn load one grn is one 65th of the total weight. on a 223 it would make a difference one grn.
 
chappy said:
on a large cartridge like the 300 i would go up in one grain increments to save time. put one grain in your scale pan its not much try half a grain on your scale. a 65 grn load one grn is one 65th of the total weight. on a 223 it would make a difference one grn.
Click to expand...

Ya, now I know what too do and look for I can do 1 gr increments rather then .5. I was playing couscous because this was my first time reloading and didn't want to blow my face off. Now I no at 73 gr of powder there are no pressure signs at all in my rifle I can work around that. Start at 70gr rather then 65.5. Would save a lot of time and money.
 
I generally run 1% increment steps in load development, which for a 300wm would be 0.7gr steps. For finding pressure, a guy could be a bit more aggressive around 2% (1.4gr steps)
 
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