What Powder Increments, When Load Develpment?

[GEOFF.223 83]

starting load development here and just wondering best way to start

 

if max load is say 26gr and min is 22gr should i do

5 at 22 gr

5 at 23gr

5 at24gr etc etc

 

then when i start getting good groups take it down to the 0.1increments or 0.5

[riohog 5,701]

half a grain either way till your happy with the grouping ,

[charlie caller 3,654]

Yes I usually start midway ish then go up in .5 increments, so start at 23 then slowly work up to max charge, fire a five shot group with each loading and when you find the magic number STOP,do not chase it or you will waste powder and stress yourself, good luck have fun.

Edited June 11, 2013 by charlie caller

[GEOFF.223 83]

a few guys that load near me say they find that they got better accuracy around the minimum charge ??????

[charlie caller 3,654]

All rifles are different mate, generally but not always the better the bedding/stock fit is you will probably find the better loads up near maximum,however most rifles usually get best accuracy near the centre of the range, you will have to suck it and see mate, just take your time, nice steady five shot groups, and you will find the best one, but as I said before STOP,you can always play with seating depth if you must

[dicehorn 38]

starting load development here and just wondering best way to start

 

if max load is say 26gr and min is 22gr should i do

5 at 22 gr

5 at 23gr

5 at24gr etc etc

 

then when i start getting good groups take it down to the 0.1increments or 0.5

 

Are we talking 223 or perhaps 204 ?

 

Given your min and max and assuming one of the above calibres, I would suggest you start around the 23.5 gr mark using the OCW method and go up in increments of .3 ( so make up batches of 4 of the same weight and starting at 23.5 then on to 23.8 etc till you have 6 lots of 4 going from 23.5 to 25.00.

 

Don't forget with the OCW method you fire the 1st bullet at the target marked 23.5 then fire your 2nd shot using the 23.8 on the next target and keep doing this until you have fire the 6 bullets all at different weights then you go back to the first target again using the 23.5 gr bullets keep going till you have fired all bullets before you can judge what weight will suit your barrel.

 

If I was to stick my neck out I would suggest all 24 bullets are seated 30 thou back from the lands. This may sound like a lot of bullets to fire, but it will give you the opportunity to get used to your rifle/trigger pull. Give plenty of time between shots.

 

Oh - there are a few instructional vids on Utube re OCW that will give you an insight into why this method works when developing loads.

 

The below picture of three targets was after I had finished doing the 6 target OCW method, I selected the one I thought was the most promising (at 150 thou back) and then altered the powder slightly and gave the lands jump a further 30 thou (to make 180 thou) This was for a friends 6.5.

 

 

Peter

[GEOFF.223 83]

 

 

starting load development here and just wondering best way to start

 

if max load is say 26gr and min is 22gr should i do

5 at 22 gr

5 at 23gr

5 at24gr etc etc

 

then when i start getting good groups take it down to the 0.1increments or 0.5

Are we talking 223 or perhaps 204 ?

 

Given your min and max and assuming one of the above calibres, I would suggest you start around the 23.5 gr mark using the OCW method and go up in increments of .3 ( so make up batches of 4 of the same weight and starting at 23.5 then on to 23.8 etc till you have 6 lots of 4 going from 23.5 to 25.00.

 

Don't forget with the OCW method you fire the 1st bullet at the target marked 23.5 then fire your 2nd shot using the 23.8 on the next target and keep doing this until you have fire the 6 bullets all at different weights then you go back to the first target again using the 23.5 gr bullets keep going till you have fired all bullets before you can judge what weight will suit your barrel.

 

If I was to stick my neck out I would suggest all 24 bullets are seated 30 thou back from the lands. This may sound like a lot of bullets to fire, but it will give you the opportunity to get used to your rifle/trigger pull. Give plenty of time between shots.

 

Oh - there are a few instructional vids on Utube re OCW that will give you an insight into why this method works when developing loads.

 

The below picture of three targets was after I had finished doing the 6 target OCW method, I selected the one I thought was the most promising (at 150 thou back) and then altered the powder slightly and gave the lands jump a further 30 thou (to make 180 thou) This was for a friends 6.5.

 

 

Peter

 

Yea agree the lapua website recomends .2gr increments but .3 shouldn't be any worse off.