Load Development Help Please

E

edppcli

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GunNutz
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Hi All
I am just about to start some load development for a new to me Rem700 AAC-SD.
Bullet 178gr Amax. and IMR 4895 for powder.
Speer Reloading lists a max of 41gr of powder whereas Lee starts at 41gr and goes to 45gr for max load
My Plan is to load 10 at 40, 10 at 41 and 10 at 42gr. Shots at 100m
Any input appreciated.
Thx
Ed
 
Just shooting 3; 3 shot groups at each load. Looking for a general sweet spot, then Ill go to finer load development. I'm also using this procedure to get to know the rifle and chamber form the brass. I'll be neck sizing only on the next round.
 
I like a ladder test.
1 of each round
39.6, 39.9, 40.2, 40.5, 40.8, 41.1, 41.4 ECT.....

.3g increments up to what ever you want.

shoot at 200-300yrds.

mark each shot.

you will see a natural grouping. take the corresponding powder charges with those holes

somewhere in that spread you will find your most accurate load with those components.

you waste less bullets, powder, primers ect. you also slowly work your way up to finding your max load.

if you see pressure before you get threw your loaded rounds. pull the bullets


that's what I do anyway
 
Five or a mag load(4 for an M700) is enough. Go up in half grain increments too. And change targets for every load.
The ladder test really tells you nothing about how a particular load shoots. Tells you where a particular shot lands in relation to other loads.
Lee gets their data from Hodgdon. The Speer data is either wrong, misread or really old. Hodgdon gives 41 and 40.5 as a starting load, max of 45.0(C) and 44.7(C) for 175's and 180's respectively. No 178 listed, but 2 or 3 grains won't matter.
 
A ladder test doesn't tell all, but gives more than enough info to be useful.

If I load 41.5 then 42.0 with a 3" spread, I know not to load in that range. If 43.0, 43.5, and 44.0 are 1" apart, I know my load is there.

I ladder test to find my test loads. My test loads are .3gr increments, .2 for .223.

Fwiw, I just bought a new 700 in .308. I just wanted to shoot it, so I loaded 50 rounds at min. By doing this, I get my thrills, and "the bang factor" out if the way. Now proper load development is less a chore. For me, it is a chore.
 
sunray said:
Five or a mag load(4 for an M700) is enough. Go up in half grain increments too. And change targets for every load.
The ladder test really tells you nothing about how a particular load shoots. Tells you where a particular shot lands in relation to other loads.
Lee gets their data from Hodgdon. The Speer data is either wrong, misread or really old. Hodgdon gives 41 and 40.5 as a starting load, max of 45.0(C) and 44.7(C) for 175's and 180's respectively. No 178 listed, but 2 or 3 grains won't matter.
Click to expand...


It wont tell you a how a load will group. you are correct.
It will narrow the gap to what part of the spectrum to spend the time and money in load development.
Also you find you max load at the same time

if you take a staring load at say 40g and listed max at 44g.
5 loaded rounds ea in .5g increments.

9 combinations x5 rounds = 45rounds.

ladder test

40g to 44g in .3 increments = 14rounds

take your accuracy node.

load 3 rnds each either side = 9 rnds (test your groups from that)

ladder test = 23rnds


That's the way I look at it. try to keep the cost down.

BUT there is more then one way to skin a cat.
 
You should also try Varget, IMR4166, or BLC2. There has been good results from each. Also go to http://www.imrpowder.com/basic-manual-inquiry.html you can plug all the info in and it will spit out high and low end powder charges along with FP/S. Just dont always be worried about FP/S since every weapon differs slightly, you may get better range and accuracsy with a lower FP/S velocity.

I load 168 and 175g bullets from Sierra, Hornady and Speers.
 
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