Okay so looking to see what others are using for their load development as far as how many shots per group? When testing loads and what is your methodology on how you choose your load. 3 shots? 5 shots? 10 shots? Do you start with one then move to larger amounts? I am mainly interested in target loads.
Give this a quick read. You can go through some powder and bullets. Some folks could theoretically burn through a barrel finding a load.
http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/ocw-instructions/4529817134
Me personally no more than five for rifle. Ten for handgun.
Sent from my P00I using Tapatalk
http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/ocw-instructions/4529817134
Me personally no more than five for rifle. Ten for handgun.
Sent from my P00I using Tapatalk
Rifle 3 , pistol 5 when checking for accuracy is what I do. My practice rounds are the same as my SD rounds as near as possible. Rifle rounds are all hunting rounds so no practice rounds. My Ak's get what ever rounds I can throw at them LOL generally Tulammo and Wolf cause I have found them to be reliable.
I don't know if I do it right or not. I start at the bottom of the powder charge range and load 3 rounds. I increase the charge by 0.3 grains and load 3 more. I do this throughout the published load range until I reach the maximum. I shoot these rounds, sighted at the same spot, and look for those powder charges with the tightest grouping. After finding these "nodes", usually two or more, I work on each side of the node loading 3 rounds, down and up at 0.1 grains, and then shoot the rounds to find the load with the tightest grouping. That powder charge is where I choose to load in the future. Caution - it's different for every rifle, even if the same caliber.
When I'm out doing load development I generally load up 5 rounds each with different powder charges; say 42, 42.3, 42.6, 42.9. I'll shoot 3 rounds for group and 2 rounds across the magneto speed for muzzle velocity. If I have a charge weight that shows promise I'll load up 5 each with differing bullet seating depths and shoot all 5 for groups hopefully finding one or more batches that shoot great. After I've settled on one particular load I load up 50-100 rounds, shoot 10 across the chronograph and gather data at varying distances while periodically shooting a few across the chronograph checking to see if they have sped up or slowed down with a hot barrel. The only truly "group" shooting I do is at 100 yards (5 rounds). If I can hit a 5" gong out to 500 yards and an 8" gong from 500-945 yards consistently I call GOOD on that load.
You will find that a 1 shot group will yield the best results when measuring group size. If you must shoot more than one shot, just pick the one closest to your point of aim as your good shot and call the rest fliers. What I'm getting at is you can talk yourself into having the perfect result. Sometimes you just keep measuring and dividing until you get an acceptable result. This method saves components and time.
Yep, one shot on a cold bore is what a hunter needs to develop their load. If your a paper puncher, first shot is to foul the bore and heat the barrel, then you shoot for group.
I think there is something to the cold bore shot being shooter induced. I know that mine is always off on the first shot, but my wife (who is new to precision shooting) doesn’t have that problem. Nor do my rifles have that problem when locked into a vise.
I think I just need more practice.
as to load development I can only speak to small calibers like 223/5.56 and Grendel, but I like loading 10 rounds of ascending charge weights, firing them and looking for flat spots in velocity. If I find a node where the velocity stays within 10fps for 2-3 shots I focus on that node for development. Then I’ll start shooting groups.
I think I just need more practice.
as to load development I can only speak to small calibers like 223/5.56 and Grendel, but I like loading 10 rounds of ascending charge weights, firing them and looking for flat spots in velocity. If I find a node where the velocity stays within 10fps for 2-3 shots I focus on that node for development. Then I’ll start shooting groups.
I like the cold bore first shot method BUT I don’t often have enough time to shoot once then wait 15 minutes or more to shoot another round especially when I have about 3 groups of 5 that I want to shoot now if I had a range at my house where I could shoot then do something else while I wait for the barrel to return to normal temperature that’s definitely the way I would do it
Several years ago at Lex I saw a guy unpack the following
Battery powered fan
Funnel
Small cardboard box full of clamps
He spent 20 minutes setting it all up after every shot and said it only took 5 minutes to cool his barrel instead of the 30 minutes he normally took.
I kept thinking bring a 22lr and plink while it cools down.
Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk
Battery powered fan
Funnel
Small cardboard box full of clamps
He spent 20 minutes setting it all up after every shot and said it only took 5 minutes to cool his barrel instead of the 30 minutes he normally took.
I kept thinking bring a 22lr and plink while it cools down.
Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk
