Load development question

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heyrosco

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I'm not new to reloading, but want to make an actual effort to try and find a good load for the first time, instead of just using whatever works.

So, I've narrowed the field down to 2 bullets and 3 powders to try with my 223 rifle. I'm looking for input on where to start past that. According to the 3 different loading manuals that I have, their data is all over the map between the 3.

What do I load to make a choice between the two bullets to start with? Do I use the average starting charge weight (between the 3 manuals) and use the same for both bullets? Or use 1.0 gr under the lowest max load listed? Should I pick the best bullet using only one powder? I'm just wondering if I might miss a good node by not loading a bunch of charge weights with each bullet. That seems like just wasting a lot of bullets to find the best.

Am I better off picking between the 3 powders first before I choose between the 2 bullets?

I'm planning on shooting three 5 shot groups at 100 yds of each combination that I come up with. Once I've decided on the best bullet and powder, I'll do a ladder test and work from there.

Any help to make this no harder than it has to be would be welcome. Thanks.
 
I have a number of 223 rifles and each is quite different.

2 bullets and 3 powders is ok. Start at the START load for each, and work up in 1 gr increments. The groups will open or tighten to give you an idea of what works.

Take a load with good results and then experiment with bullet touching and then 10 and 20 thou off the rifling.
 
I like to ladder test. Essentially you start at your minimum load and load 1 round like that, then you load the next round .2gr heavier, the 3rd round is .2gr heavier again and so on and so forth until you have a box of ammo. Write 1-20 in black sharpie on each rounds case as you load them to keep track of each round.
When you shoot them off start with #1 and work up to #20 recording exactly where each round makes its mark on a second target while always aiming at the bulls eye. You will find that there is a range of powder charges that will seem to group together the best. For example #7,8,9,10..you then can refer back to what those rounds were loaded with and make further refinements to your load weight within that range.

After you find what powder weight works best you can then start playing with seating depth and crimp.

Repeat the process with the next powder and or bullet selection/type.
 
I thought firing more rounds was the fun part
I may do it wrong but I load 7 of each bullet and powder charge. Fire 2 then group the next 5. Move up .4grains and repeat untill I load to max. Take the tightest group and work on that combo. This is also why a box of 100 bullets doesn't last long with me
 
I usually start with the data in the Sierra manual, they list an accuracy load for a given bullet weight and is usually dead on. The H335 load for the 52 grain bullet is simply awesome in my Tikka. Same thing with the Nosler data, most accurate powders are listed for given bullet and powder.
 
It's a 700 SPS Varmint, 12 twist, 26" barrel. Got good suggestions from another post I made here, and have decided on SMK 52 gr and 53 gr VMax for bullets. I have BL-C(2), H4895, and H335 for powders.

manitou210 said:
let us know twist on rifle, and bullets you have to try & powders could save you some time
Click to expand...
 
I think this fella gives a pretty good explanation of ladder testing and what it can show you. For myself, I use 0.5 gr increments for the first series to tell me the zone I should look further into.

http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/
 
209jones said:
I think this fella gives a pretty good explanation of ladder testing and what it can show you. For myself, I use 0.5 gr increments for the first series to tell me the zone I should look further into.

http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/
Click to expand...

I use a variety of increments, based on the divisions between min and max load of the combination being used.
 
209jones said:
I think this fella gives a pretty good explanation of ladder testing and what it can show you. For myself, I use 0.5 gr increments for the first series to tell me the zone I should look further into.

http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/
Click to expand...

+1

My preferred method as well.

A lot has been written about both (Ladder and OCW), which makes researching easy.
 
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