How long does load development take you?

ANATION · Jan 19, 2020

Just curious. I have two Model 70 Coyote lights, 22-250 and 6.5 Creedmoor. The 22-250 was sub MOA with almost every 55gr or below bullet I have loaded for it with 40gr VMAX over 3031 being the most consistently accurate at a .58 MOA average for over a dozen groups and multiple groundhogs. Took under 100 rounds to find this bullet/powder combo. My 6.5 Creedmoor, at around 100 rounds, is only spitting about 1.2 with all my loads combined. I do shot MOA with it but it’s not consistent. These two guns are not my only reference point. Over the dozen or so rifles I’ve loaded for the past ten years I always could find consistent groups in under 100 rounds, or at least acceptable for my purpose. Perhaps I’m expecting too much from the gun.

Bfh_auto · Jan 19, 2020

10 shot ladder at 300.
5 shot groups at 5, 10, 15, and 20 thousandths off the lands.
I then shoot one 5 shot group .2 gr under my chosen charge. One at my chosen charge, and one .2 over.
I then drag out my chronograph and shoot over it so I don't pick a bad load because of chasing velocity.
If I can't reach the lands, I pick a seating depth and find a load within about 20 rounds.

sparkyv · Jan 19, 2020

I use OCW, so typically 3 x 7 loads (plus 3 sighters) at 100yds, then 5 confirmation rounds of the optimal load in triplicate (plus 3 sighters) at 300yds, and tweaking seating depth if needed is another 10 to 20 rounds. So 55 to 65 rounds...sounds about right.

jmorris · Jan 19, 2020

Sometimes it is almost instantaneous, with other stuff, it’s never ending.

.58 MOA at 3 yards would be more than sufficient for some stuff but wouldn’t even put you in the top 10 at further distances for other uses.

My development generally ends when I am satisfied with the results weighed against the intended use.

ArchAngelCD · Jan 19, 2020

I have found amazing loads in as little as 1 loading with 5 rounds and only 1 powder. In some guns, I'm still looking.

JFrank · Jan 19, 2020

ANATION said:
Just curious. I have two Model 70 Coyote lights, 22-250 and 6.5 Creedmoor. The 22-250 was sub MOA with almost every 55gr or below bullet I have loaded for it with 40gr VMAX over 3031 being the most consistently accurate at a .58 MOA average for over a dozen groups and multiple groundhogs. Took under 100 rounds to find this bullet/powder combo. My 6.5 Creedmoor, at around 100 rounds, is only spitting about 1.2 with all my loads combined. I do shot MOA with it but it’s not consistent. These two guns are not my only reference point. Over the dozen or so rifles I’ve loaded for the past ten years I always could find consistent groups in under 100 rounds, or at least acceptable for my purpose. Perhaps I’m expecting too much from the gun.

I read the other day a post from a fella , said that as soon as he had things figured out he found a barrel that proved him wrong.
Hope that’s not too cryptic....

Blue68f100 · Jan 20, 2020

Some guns/calibers are easy to find loads for. Others not so. I've narrowed down a load in as little as 50 round, then loaded some proof loads to confirm. I've also had some that I ended up using 5 different powders and bullets before I found something it liked. You just never know till you start.

Jim Rau · Jan 20, 2020

Some times it works out on the first attempt, and others can be very frustrating and take days.

Varminterror · Jan 20, 2020

For my PRS match rifle last season, I finished load development in 30 rounds. It could have been 10, as all shots followed the trend - Triplicate of an 10 round Satterlee test.

jmorris said:
My development generally ends when I am satisfied with the results weighed against the intended use.

This.

Allen One1 · Jan 20, 2020

I have one right now that seems to shoot anything pretty good. Every time you increase the powder by .2 the velocity goes up, there are no defined flat spots. I ran through a range of 2.5 grains and everything was pushing through a 1 inch hole.

So now I'm going to load up and run an OCW test on it and see if I can see something that stands out. I know about where I should be velocity wise based on my old barrel and the tests I have done have shown me about where that is so I have a range to play in.

Barrel may still be speeding up and I switched to new brass for the velocity tests but I have a match in 2 weeks that I need to be ready for.

murf · Jan 20, 2020

how does your creed load stack up to premium factory ammo (such as federal gold medal match)?

it may be the rifle, or the loose scope, or ….

luck,

murf

ANATION · Jan 20, 2020

Haven't tried factory yet. I would like to try the Federal Berger OTM. I love the gun and I've found a good whitetail load with 143 ELD X. (1.08 groups should kill any whitetails considering the distances I shoot) I wanted more from the Sierra 130gr TMK. I am going to try the incremental OCW approach.

1-12 INF (M) · Jan 20, 2020

You're never really done, you just quit working on it.

jmr40 · Jan 20, 2020

Most of my load development involves researching what others are using. Every single load that I use is one "borrowed" from others. If you find that X grains of Y powder and a brand Z bullet in 308 is working for a lot of people chances are it will work for me too.

Nature Boy · Jan 21, 2020

Here’s my process

18 rounds for powder charge (Modified OCW)
18 rounds for seating depth
15 rounds for primer
20 rounds at distance to verify

71 rounds total

Allen One1 · Jan 21, 2020

Nature Boy said:
Here’s my process

18 rounds for powder charge (Modified OCW)
18 rounds for seating depth
15 rounds for primer
20 rounds at distance to verify

71 rounds total

Nature Boy
What does your primer test consist of 3 rounds each of 5 different primers?

JFrank · Jan 21, 2020

Allen One1 said:
I have one right now that seems to shoot anything pretty good. Every time you increase the powder by .2 the velocity goes up, there are no defined flat spots. I ran through a range of 2.5 grains and everything was pushing through a 1 inch hole.

So now I'm going to load up and run an OCW test on it and see if I can see something that stands out. I know about where I should be velocity wise based on my old barrel and the tests I have done have shown me about where that is so I have a range to play in.

Barrel may still be speeding up and I switched to new brass for the velocity tests but I have a match in 2 weeks that I need to be ready for.

Here’s a thought for you, [ when the seating depth is “on” lots of powder charges look good, on the other hand if your seating is off no charge will improve it]
J

gnappi · Jan 21, 2020

jmorris said:
Sometimes it is almost instantaneous, with other stuff, it’s never ending.

.58 MOA at 3 yards would be more than sufficient for some stuff but wouldn’t even put you in the top 10 at further distances for other uses.

My development generally ends when I am satisfied with the results weighed against the intended use.

+1

Chuck R. · Jan 21, 2020

I use a modified OCW also:

20 rds initial powder charge testing
15rds for seating depth
May or may not check different primers.

JFrank · Jan 21, 2020

1-12 INF (M) said:
You're never really done, you just quit working on it.

I agree, sometimes I’ll get to a stopping point , then resume a couple months later. My 6 Br tuning is an on going affair.

Nature Boy · Jan 21, 2020

Allen One1 said:
Nature Boy
What does your primer test consist of 3 rounds each of 5 different primers?

It depends. Sometimes I’ll do 3, sometimes 5, like this test

Captcurt · Jan 21, 2020

Nature Boy said:
It depends. Sometimes I’ll do 3, sometimes 5, like this test

View attachment 886199

You need to get rid of that rifle. It is totally boring putting all the bullets close together like that. BORING!

Nature Boy · Jan 21, 2020

Captcurt said:
You need to get rid of that rifle. It is totally boring putting all the bullets close together like that. BORING!

The wind at 600 yards keeps it interesting

JFrank · Jan 21, 2020

Nature Boy said:
The wind at 600 yards keeps it interesting

Wind!
You stop talkin that crazy ..

Walkalong · Jan 21, 2020

Nature Boy said:
It depends. Sometimes I’ll do 3, sometimes 5, like this test

View attachment 886199

Nice, I have seen a pic of one of your first twenty tests, but can't remember where it was.

How long does load development take you?

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