Load Development... what’s your process
- Thread starter Country Bumpkin
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stljc2
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sorry I posted this twice. I'm new to this site and it'sa steep learning curve for me.
Bbear
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- Mar 13, 2007
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- 318
Some rifles I do similar to most - shoot 2 at each load and look for a flat spot in the velocity. I have also used the 2 or 3 shots at horizontally placed dots and look for a 'level' spot/range. Then I have also done the 3 shot groups.
Just depends on what it takes to get that rifle to shoot well enough.
Just depends on what it takes to get that rifle to shoot well enough.
stljc2
Well-Known Member
I'm not dogging on it. It's just what I do. If you want to do 2 or 3 shot groups have at it. Didn't mean any disrespect.
stljc2
Well-Known Member
Right now 100 yds. As it were I working on two different calibers (.260 Rem & .308 Win.) with a third waiting in the wings. When I get close to nailing it down I'll move out to 300 yds and tweek from there. Yes I give it about 3 min between shots (if it's cool enough out) and 5 if it isn't..or at least enough to cool it down so I can keep my hand on the barrel without a problem.
Cheers back at ya friend.
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2005
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- 119
Two shot groups work pretty good for me too. Why? No group size will be smaller than the first two shots. Wow, think about that for a minute........Doing load development at 100 yards is really a waste of time and materials. You won't see vertical stringing at 100 yards. At least shoot at 200 for finding promising loads, then fine tune at 300, then finally at 500 to confirm you've got the correct load.
Eagle eyes 17
Well-Known Member
Anyone having issues with copper fouling from certain powder loads ?
stljc2
Well-Known Member
Well ok then. You just do your thing and I'll do mine. Personally I don't consider a 5 shot group a waste of time or material. I don't shoot often enough to be consider myself "professional". With that said it gives me a bit more info on sd, es and velocity. In load development, just my opinion, the more info you have the better off you are. The 100 yd shots are just to see what the load is doing. An important step when your dealing with a new bullet (type, manufacture, new powder type or any change in components. There's always the dreaded "flyer" you sometimes get to deal with. If the 2 shot group gets you where you want to be..have at it. For me I'll stick with my 5 shot group. No disrespect intended.
I'm thinking two shots can't even be called "a group". Seems like the definition should entail three or more shots. If you shoot two shots, you've shot "a pair"...not "a group". What if you shoot one shot? Is that a 'one-shot' group? There has to be some threshold. One shot with a cold bore at a target is the 'test for hunting' shot. Two shots at a target is merely getting you two thirds of the way to "a group". It's like an incomplete...
You see what I mean.
You see what I mean.
I get what you are saying. But if you shoot two shots over chrono with an SD of like 2 and its one nasty hole I am not a betting man but if I was I would bet money that might be an area to explore further. Same thing goes if you shoot two shots and its already an inch group then you know that is area not to explore further. I defeinetly verify loads with 3-5 round groups after this first process and usually several times before I commit to that being "the one".
I can see how a two shot "start" toward a group could get you excited or leaning toward depressed, but I just don't think it is meaningful without at least a third shot to confirm the first two were the real deal or...just a fluke.
Usually on a three shot group the third is the fluke cause the shooter gets to excited about the first two lol
OMG...so true, lol! Almost wish I couldn't "see" the group until I was done. Then I couldn't mess it up.
