Load development help

Ivanna

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Hello when I saw the Hornady podcast it kinda changed how I do my load development. First I think of the best components: bullet, powder, cases. I use a combo of ladder - to find best pressure. Then OCW - loads and nodes after find 2 best powder charge after ladder, high charge and low charge. Finally 10 round groups of each charge then find mean radius as per Hornady.

First time load development for 25 creedmoor with h4350, 134 eldm and hornady once fired from factory ammo from my rifle. In past I would shoot 100 yards and groups. But this time as above I did the ladder at 300 yards. From 39.8 to 41.8 total 11 charges.IMG_2231.jpeg
The top orange circle target I was sighting in as I usually shoot 100. First it shot very low 5 inch and 1 inch right as you see the shot inch and half the largest red center square. Second shot high and left next shot high and right and last shot almost bullseye on orange circle. All these sighters I used the starting lowest charge which I’m going to not use. 4 shots bottom left square to start and 6 shots bottom right square. I had thought that 300 yards I would see more of a vertical string. There was a bit the last 4 shots as you can see it slowly creeping up as charge increased. As a whole this is showing very good loads. Also no pressure signs even with highest load of 41.8@2877.

I ended up choosing 40.4 @ 2783 and 41.2 @ 2832. Both charges are in the shots touching. I will try some 10 shot groups with each and get mean radius.

But I’m thinking just using the higher charge 41.2 doing 20 shot group and calling it a day.

Thoughts?
 
Sounds like you have it under control to me.
I typically choose the higher speed if the accuracy is about the same for a couple of charges unless it's near max. Then I'll take the slower.
I try not to push my barrels too hard.
Maybe I'll get a few more rounds out of them.
 
You shot a 1/3 MOA group at 300 yards?
Am I reading that right?
Ya but I was cheating the rifle is so heavy chassis and weights on the bench no movement, free recoil my check is barely touching and my trigger is 3-4oz. My first time shooting past 100 as my first time doing ladder testing. Yes very happy. But looking at the groups how do you get 1/3 moa.
When I look at the smaller left group I would say it’s all in the square which is 1 moa if it was 100 yards. Does it change as you go past 100 yards?
 
Ya, 1 MOA ia 1 inch at 100.

1 inch at 200 is 1/2 MOA
1 inch at 300 is 1/3 MOA etc etc.

You'll have to forgive me, but I'm skeptical as this is well beyond what 99.9% of rifles are capable of.

A 1 MOA group at 100 is fantastic and quite possible with a great rifle and consistantly good ammo.

A 1/3 MOA rifle is practically unbelievable.
 
A 4 round .35 MOA group is completely resonable from a heavy quarter caliber rifle.

Op, how heavy is the rifle? Curious to run it through Litzs top gun theory

These small caliber heavy rifles with modern bullets really make tight groups trivial
 

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I’ll have to weigh but I’m sure it’s heavy as it’s acc elite with internal and external weights, buttstock weight and bag rider weight. Also the barrel is straight contour 26 inch and heavy preece stinger muzzle break.

I was watching on you tube that Eric cortina was shooting smaller than my groups at 600 yards and that’s with .284. But that’s Cortina.
 
I’m finding that the action, barrel and components today are so much better than just 10 years ago.
It’s all about the shooter and weight. Heavy rifles mask the bad shooter. I suck with hunting rifles. But once you practice how to shoot I notice the groups shoot much better and consistent. Also when reloading high accuracy scales that $$$ are the best for accuracy sd/es. Scales with many zeros and when I reload I take so much time to make sure that the scale reading is not fluctuating making sure each charge is the same. I use a&d scale.
 
4 shots is a pretty small sample
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