Load work up steps

[Buck268]

I'm getting ready to start a load work up for my STW and really want to get persice on each step. I already have a base load that I've been using prior to my new build that I'll start with.

My question is: Do you start with the powder adjustment 1st or do you start with seating depth then go to powder adjustment?

 

[Rich Coyle]

I'm getting ready to start a load work up for my STW and really want to get persice on each step. I already have a base load that I've been using prior to my new build that I'll start with.

My question is: Do you start with the powder adjustment 1st or do you start with seating depth then go to powder adjustment?

Some do it one way some the other. I run them up to pressure and then establish an over all length. I always use Federal 215 Magnums because they are the hottest. Once the length is established I change only the primers. I've seen primers cut groups in half.

 

[Wedgy]

The answer is the classic "it depends".
It depends on a lot of things, for example if you are limited by mag length. If you are shooting the Berger VLD's they recommend seating depth first at the lowest beginning charge. Their hybrids aren't as sensitive to seating depth in my experience. As the previous reply I generally start with a ladder test to find my pressure ceiling and nodes then fine tune with seating depth. Some bullets, like Barnes copper, seem to like a bigger jump like 0.040-0.060" than others. What bullet are you using ? Maybe somebody can chime in what has worked for them.
Good luck and keep us posted.

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Trying to find the COAL that puts you in the sweet spot by moving .002 to .010 will take so long the barrel may be worn out by the time you sort it out if you don't give up first. Since the sweet spot is .030 to .040 wide we recommend that you conduct the following test to find your rifles VLD sweet spot.
Load 24 rounds at the following COAL if you are a target competition shooter who does not worry about jamming a bullet:
1. .010 into (touching) the lands (jam) 6 rounds
2. .040 off the lands (jump) 6 rounds
3. .080 off the lands (jump) 6 rounds
4. .120 off the lands (jump) 6 rounds
Load 24 rounds at the following COAL if you are a hunter (pulling a bullet out of the case with your rifling while in the field can be a hunt ending event which must be avoided) or a competition shooter who worries about pulling a bullet during a match:
1. .010 off the lands (jump) 6 rounds
2. .050 off the lands (jump) 6 rounds
3. .090 off the lands (jump) 6 rounds
4. .130 off the lands (jump) 6 rounds
Shoot 2 (separate) 3 shot groups in fair conditions to see how they group. The remarkable reality of this test is that one of these 4 COALs will outperform the other three by a considerable margin. Once you know which one of these 4 COAL shoots best then you can tweak the COAL +/- .002 or .005. Taking the time to set this test up will pay off when you find that your rifle is capable of shooting the VLD bullets very well (even at 100 yards).

 

[Buck268]

Thanks to both for the info, I know I'm going way overboard for a hunting rifle but curiosity killed the cat. With my new custom 7mm STW my plan is to use Barnes 145 LRX. During my break in session with a Sierra 150 BT I had a grouping of .421.
I know Barnes recommends .050 off the lands and yes I will be limited to the length of the magazine box. My Redding Full Match Die set came in yesterday and I got 3 different neck size bushings to try along with the 2-10 thousands shell holder to play with.
Never considered playing with different primers lightbulb

 

[Rich Coyle]

Thanks to both for the info, I know I'm going way overboard for a hunting rifle but curiosity killed the cat. With my new custom 7mm STW my plan is to use Barnes 145 LRX. During my break in session with a Sierra 150 BT I had a grouping of .421.
I know Barnes recommends .050 off the lands and yes I will be limited to the length of the magazine box. My Redding Full Match Die set came in yesterday and I got 3 different neck size bushings to try along with the 2-10 thousands shell holder to play with.
Never considered playing with different primers lightbulb

I have a 6.5mm wildcat magnum. I use Barnes LRX 127. I found the sweet spot at .180 from the lands before I started using boron nitride from Dave Tubb. Now the sweet spot is .120 from the lands.

 

[FEENIX]

Never considered playing with different primers lightbulb

I did last year and the result might just surprise you as I did >>> http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f19/just-playing-different-primers-159193/

 

[jrock]

Since you have a base staring powder charge, I would do a seating depth test with that charge. Do a coarse one and a fine one, then go back to a fine powder charge test and that should dial you right in.

 

[Buck268]

I did last year and the result might just surprise you as I did >>> http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f19/just-playing-different-primers-159193/

I continue to be amazed at the little things that you take for granted and make a difference like this.

 

[Rich Coyle]

Buck268,

Here's some more primer info.

Savage 26" heavy cm barrel .223

Here are some loads with Varget and JLK 65 grain VLD's and different primers.

The powder charge of 27.5 grains usually produced velocities in the low 3200s in this 26" heavy barrel Savage .223. The primers used are as follows: Federal 205 and 205 M, Remington 7 1/2 Bench Rests, CCI BR 4 and 450 magnum and Winchester WSR. All groups used five shots at 100 yards.

Federal's 205 made three groups. They measured .519" @ 3220 fps, .962" @ 3224 and 1.216" @ 3210". The 1.216" group had a couple of fliers. They averaged .899" @ 3218 fps.

The 205 M from Federal is a match primer. There are records for four groups. They show groups of .709" @ 3224 fps, .726" @ 3224 fps, .644" @ 3224 fps, .757" @ 3227 fps. Their four group average was .709" @ 3225 fps. This primer produced the most consistent velocities that I have seen in any firearm.
Consistent velocities did not translate into the best accuracy, though.

The four Remington 7 1/2 Bench Rest primer's groups measured .744" @ 3211 fps, .682" @ 3211 fps, .676" @ 3224 fps and .682" 3223 fps and averaged .696" @ 3217 fps.

Winchester's WSR primers worked as follows: .582" @ 3220 fps, .399" @ 3249 fps, .830" @ 3219 fps and .812" @ 3219 fps. The average for WSR is .656" @ 3227 fps. All of the WSR primers were pierced by the firing pin.

The next primer is the CCI 450 magnum. It produced .684" @ 3200 fps, .546" @ 3207 fps, .711" @ 3234 fps, .544" @ 3219 fps, .806" @ 3191 fps and .525" @ 3218 fps. The average for the magnum primer was .636" @ 3211 fps.

The last one tried was another bench rest primer. It is the BR 4. We saved the best for last. The groups measured .492" @ 3245 fps, .477" @ 3250 fps, .441" @ 3245 fps, .452" @ 3232 and .460" @ 3229 fps. Its phenomenal five groups average is .464" @ 3240 fps. It also produced the highest velocities.

With the same rifle using the same powder firing the same bullet's groups with the "best" primer are half the size of the worst groups.

When I tried the 52 grain JLK's I tried only two primers: the Remington match and the standard CCI. After eight groups of five shots with each primer the standard primer's groups were about 3/16" smaller on the average than the match primers.

 

[Buck268]

Buck268,

Here's some more primer info.

Savage 26" heavy cm barrel .223

Here are some loads with Varget and JLK 65 grain VLD's and different primers.

The powder charge of 27.5 grains usually produced velocities in the low 3200s in this 26" heavy barrel Savage .223. The primers used are as follows: Federal 205 and 205 M, Remington 7 1/2 Bench Rests, CCI BR 4 and 450 magnum and Winchester WSR. All groups used five shots at 100 yards.

Federal's 205 made three groups. They measured .519" @ 3220 fps, .962" @ 3224 and 1.216" @ 3210". The 1.216" group had a couple of fliers. They averaged .899" @ 3218 fps.

The 205 M from Federal is a match primer. There are records for four groups. They show groups of .709" @ 3224 fps, .726" @ 3224 fps, .644" @ 3224 fps, .757" @ 3227 fps. Their four group average was .709" @ 3225 fps. This primer produced the most consistent velocities that I have seen in any firearm.
Consistent velocities did not translate into the best accuracy, though.

The four Remington 7 1/2 Bench Rest primer's groups measured .744" @ 3211 fps, .682" @ 3211 fps, .676" @ 3224 fps and .682" 3223 fps and averaged .696" @ 3217 fps.

Winchester's WSR primers worked as follows: .582" @ 3220 fps, .399" @ 3249 fps, .830" @ 3219 fps and .812" @ 3219 fps. The average for WSR is .656" @ 3227 fps. All of the WSR primers were pierced by the firing pin.

The next primer is the CCI 450 magnum. It produced .684" @ 3200 fps, .546" @ 3207 fps, .711" @ 3234 fps, .544" @ 3219 fps, .806" @ 3191 fps and .525" @ 3218 fps. The average for the magnum primer was .636" @ 3211 fps.

The last one tried was another bench rest primer. It is the BR 4. We saved the best for last. The groups measured .492" @ 3245 fps, .477" @ 3250 fps, .441" @ 3245 fps, .452" @ 3232 and .460" @ 3229 fps. Its phenomenal five groups average is .464" @ 3240 fps. It also produced the highest velocities.

With the same rifle using the same powder firing the same bullet's groups with the "best" primer are half the size of the worst groups.

When I tried the 52 grain JLK's I tried only two primers: the Remington match and the standard CCI. After eight groups of five shots with each primer the standard primer's groups were about 3/16" smaller on the average than the match primers.

Thanks, waiting for my new Radar unit to get here in June to start working on variables.