Load development

[ropeNshoot]

When y'all are working up a new load, do you begin with powder charge or seating depth?

 

[flashhole]

I begin with bullet selection matching it to the barrel twist and use the recommended seating depth.

Then powder selection and work towards the Dan Newberry Optimal Charge Weight.

Then work on seating depth.

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

When y'all are working up a new load, do you begin with powder charge or seating depth?

depends on the bullet, when you list that we can tell you. Lots more to it than just one or the other. Research is king brother.

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

When y'all are working up a new load, do you begin with powder charge or seating depth?

I make sure the rounds fit both the mag and the max oal for the rifle and run the charge up from a safe start at say 10% down and work up until I hit where I want velocity, accuracy, and pressure wise.
I'm one to buy a bigger hammer instead of swinging like a fool so I don't try for "new frontiers" and get to rated book speeds and call it a day.

 

[ropeNshoot]

Thanks for the prompt replies.

This is kind of a general question but I'm thinking specifically of the .22-250. The rifle in question is a Rem 700 SPS Varmint chambered in .22-250. The bullet is Speer 52gr JHP and the powder is Varget.

 

[ropeNshoot]

Oh yea, twist is 1 in 14"

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Thanks for the prompt replies.

This is kind of a general question but I'm thinking specifically of the .22-250. The rifle in question is a Rem 700 SPS Varmint chambered in .22-250. The bullet is Speer 52gr JHP and the powder is Varget.

Pick a seating depth and do a charge weight test, if that dont get you what you want swap primers, still no joy then seating depth, wth is wrong with this thing, swap the powders, still not happy case brand, not there yet new bullet.

 

[ropeNshoot]

I was thinking 10thou. Too short/long? What do y'all think?

 

[8andbait]

I like to start .010 from the lands, if that length fits the mag then I do an OCW. Then I verify the OCW, then I fine tune with seating depth. One other factor I use at the beginning is to be sure I have the bullet diameter seated in the neck. For example my 6.5 creedmoor seated .010 from the lands is only in the neck of the brass about .160 not the .264 I wanted so I seated the bullets so there was .260 in the neck which put me at a .110 jump. I did an OCW at that depth and found a great node at 43 grains, no need to monkey with seating depth.

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

I like to start .010 from the lands, if that length fits the mag then I do an OCW. Then I verify the OCW, then I fine tune with seating depth. One other factor I use at the beginning is to be sure I have the bullet diameter seated in the neck. For example my 6.5 creedmoor seated .010 from the lands is only in the neck of the brass about .160 not the .264 I wanted so I seated the bullets so there was .260 in the neck which put me at a .110 jump. I did an OCW at that depth and found a great node at 43 grains, no need to monkey with seating depth.

+1... the bullet has to be in the neck deep enough to square up (1 caliber or so), even if it means more jump to the lands. Not usually a problem with lr pills, but a varminter can get bit by this.

 

[ropeNshoot]

Thanks for all the help guys. This has saved me lots of time and grief.