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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Reloading
Load work up...seating depth test first OR charge weight first?
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<blockquote data-quote="RockyMtnMT" data-source="post: 1406361" data-attributes="member: 7999"><p>My method is very close to JE. I personally like to shoot not load develop. I also like to get done with as little resource used as possible. Accuracy is a word defined many ways too. The rifle is a big variable here as not all rifles are created equal.</p><p></p><p>My goal is to find a load at top end that is also at 100% case fill without compressing. I don't like compressed loads for the most part. A little crunch is not always bad.</p><p></p><p>I rely on the chrono heavily during load development. I load develop at my longest oal that is convenient for the rifle. .02" off the lands or to fit the mag. Then when or if I do make a seating depth adj there is only one way to go. I work up my load one charge one shot at a time. I use the same aim point for each charge weight. I like to see uniform increase in vel for each increase in charge weight. If this is not uniform I will change powder. I watch the target for accuracy. If it is all over the place with each increase in charge weight I am suspect and often will make a change in powder then. The biggest thing here is uniform or predictable increases in vel for the increase in powder. I like to predict the vel for the next charge prior to the shot. When the vel increases predictably it almost always finishes with very good sd.</p><p></p><p>I like to find where pressure starts to show and then back off from it. That way I know that I am not too close to high pressure. Some rifles do not show pressure well. The vel is another indicator of high pressure. If your vel is off the chart so is your pressure.</p><p></p><p>Once I find the top end I will shoot 3 or 4 more to see that sd is good and get an average vel. I then get rid of the chrono (magspeed). Now I will shoot for a group. If accuracy is not good (relative term) I will then adj seating depth shorter. And shoot groups at the adj seating depth. If the first two shots are not good there is no point in shooting a 3rd. It won't make the group better. I do this until the accuracy is there.</p><p></p><p>With our bullets it is very rare that I make a seating depth adj. They don't need it.</p><p></p><p>Like JE I expect to be done load developing in a relatively low number of shots. I usually find my charge weight in less than 6 shots, another 4 for vel, 3-5 more for a group and zero the rifle. I am almost always done at this point. If I have to change powder it could add a few more shots.</p><p></p><p>Side note. Most cartridges I make 1g changes in charge weight. Small cartridges with less than 40g of powder I may go to .5g. I never mess with tiny charge weight changes. Only in my 17 Hornet, it only takes 10g of powder.</p><p></p><p>As a bullet maker it would be better for me to advertise a load development that takes hundreds of rounds but I would rather see my customers enjoy shooting accurately rather than waste time and money chasing a load.</p><p></p><p>Steve</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="RockyMtnMT, post: 1406361, member: 7999"] My method is very close to JE. I personally like to shoot not load develop. I also like to get done with as little resource used as possible. Accuracy is a word defined many ways too. The rifle is a big variable here as not all rifles are created equal. My goal is to find a load at top end that is also at 100% case fill without compressing. I don't like compressed loads for the most part. A little crunch is not always bad. I rely on the chrono heavily during load development. I load develop at my longest oal that is convenient for the rifle. .02" off the lands or to fit the mag. Then when or if I do make a seating depth adj there is only one way to go. I work up my load one charge one shot at a time. I use the same aim point for each charge weight. I like to see uniform increase in vel for each increase in charge weight. If this is not uniform I will change powder. I watch the target for accuracy. If it is all over the place with each increase in charge weight I am suspect and often will make a change in powder then. The biggest thing here is uniform or predictable increases in vel for the increase in powder. I like to predict the vel for the next charge prior to the shot. When the vel increases predictably it almost always finishes with very good sd. I like to find where pressure starts to show and then back off from it. That way I know that I am not too close to high pressure. Some rifles do not show pressure well. The vel is another indicator of high pressure. If your vel is off the chart so is your pressure. Once I find the top end I will shoot 3 or 4 more to see that sd is good and get an average vel. I then get rid of the chrono (magspeed). Now I will shoot for a group. If accuracy is not good (relative term) I will then adj seating depth shorter. And shoot groups at the adj seating depth. If the first two shots are not good there is no point in shooting a 3rd. It won't make the group better. I do this until the accuracy is there. With our bullets it is very rare that I make a seating depth adj. They don't need it. Like JE I expect to be done load developing in a relatively low number of shots. I usually find my charge weight in less than 6 shots, another 4 for vel, 3-5 more for a group and zero the rifle. I am almost always done at this point. If I have to change powder it could add a few more shots. Side note. Most cartridges I make 1g changes in charge weight. Small cartridges with less than 40g of powder I may go to .5g. I never mess with tiny charge weight changes. Only in my 17 Hornet, it only takes 10g of powder. As a bullet maker it would be better for me to advertise a load development that takes hundreds of rounds but I would rather see my customers enjoy shooting accurately rather than waste time and money chasing a load. Steve [/QUOTE]
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Load work up...seating depth test first OR charge weight first?
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