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Long Range Hunting & Shooting
Newbie here with an introduction and a question.
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<blockquote data-quote="el matador" data-source="post: 1166247" data-attributes="member: 12193"><p>I would guess most people are finding their accuracy loads somewhere between 95% to 102% of the published max loads. That's a wide enough range to find a good accuracy node in most cases, provided you have a powder and bullet that your gun likes. Do not load max charges or above max charges without starting lower and working up! There are a ton of ways to work up a load but for me it goes like this:</p><p></p><p>Using a starting load I test seating depth (like you've done)</p><p></p><p>Then I test powder charges in roughly 1% increments from 95 to 102% of published max load. I like to load 3 rounds each at 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, and 100%. Then I load 1 round each at 101 and 102% for pressure testing, just in case I shoot all my groups and still have not seen pressure signs. Depending on what I see after shooting my groups I may repeat the test, focusing more on a specific range of powder charges. For example, if my best group comes at 97% I might do another test at 96, 96.5, 97, 97.5, 98. </p><p></p><p>If I don't get any good groups during the first round of testing I will usually try a different powder or bullet and repeat the test.</p><p></p><p>From these tests I hope to find out 1) What my accuracy load is, and 2) What my max pressure load is. I like to have my accuracy load at least 1% below max with 2-3% being ideal. That way I know I won't have issues when the temperature changes. </p><p></p><p>Once I have a load figured out I'll shoot some 5 or 10 shot groups over the chronograph just to verify that everything is good. If not I might tweak it a little.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="el matador, post: 1166247, member: 12193"] I would guess most people are finding their accuracy loads somewhere between 95% to 102% of the published max loads. That's a wide enough range to find a good accuracy node in most cases, provided you have a powder and bullet that your gun likes. Do not load max charges or above max charges without starting lower and working up! There are a ton of ways to work up a load but for me it goes like this: Using a starting load I test seating depth (like you've done) Then I test powder charges in roughly 1% increments from 95 to 102% of published max load. I like to load 3 rounds each at 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, and 100%. Then I load 1 round each at 101 and 102% for pressure testing, just in case I shoot all my groups and still have not seen pressure signs. Depending on what I see after shooting my groups I may repeat the test, focusing more on a specific range of powder charges. For example, if my best group comes at 97% I might do another test at 96, 96.5, 97, 97.5, 98. If I don't get any good groups during the first round of testing I will usually try a different powder or bullet and repeat the test. From these tests I hope to find out 1) What my accuracy load is, and 2) What my max pressure load is. I like to have my accuracy load at least 1% below max with 2-3% being ideal. That way I know I won't have issues when the temperature changes. Once I have a load figured out I'll shoot some 5 or 10 shot groups over the chronograph just to verify that everything is good. If not I might tweak it a little. [/QUOTE]
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