How do i develop a pet load?

[northernlights78]

I'm wanting to develop a pet load, or a load specific to my rifle. I would like to know the fastest and most economical way to do this. Right now, i know my Remington 700 SPS Tactical really likes the Sierra 155 grn. Norma Matchking.

My idea is to take 5 of the different powders that i have and load up about 10, middle of the road loads (min/max) with these powders with this bullet. I would then go and shoot groups with these loads at separate targets. I would then see which powder my rifle likes the most with this particular bullet, and go about tweaking the different powder amount with this bullet. 1 bullet, 1 powder. Then i would know what loads to take to the range for target shooting. I could do this for different bullets, including the perfect hunting round. My friend says im putting to many variables into my process. Im going to get lost in my data. He says only try maybe 2 powders with different powder amounts, and then start to eliminate from there. What process is best? And, am i even on the right track?

 

[James2]

Some manuals name the powders or powder that gave the best results in the testing they did. Some even call it the accuracy powder. This is a good powder to start with. I don't think it necessary to try 5 or more powders to find one that will do what you want it to do. That is after all what a pet load is, a load that will do what you want it to do, in your rifle. A lot of this testing work has already been done for you. You just need to make some fine adjustments to get it to work well in your rifle. Of course you are welcome to experiment all you want. That is one of the great things about loading your own.

 

[918v]

Minimize your variables. If you like 155's, then get some Hodgdon Benchmark and go for it.

My LTR likes Hornady 168 A-Max on top of 44.4grs of Varget, 2.810" OAL, WLR primers.

 

[Remmy700]

I have a sps tactical as well and I have tried several powders and bullet combo and my best combo so far is 168gr Amax match with 43.7gr of varget and lapua brass set out to 2.950 .010 off the lands. I have changed stock to an LTR stock, and with mark 4 16x M1 scope she will always print .5 or better groups If I do my part. On my good days just one ragged hole. Hope this helps.

 

[rfwobbly]

1) Decide on a bullet. If you have no ideas, then take a pole here of online users of that gun and ask. Often usage (hunting, target, economy plinking) will narrow the field considerably. A bullet may lead you to 1 or 2 specific reloading manuals.

2) Consult reloading manuals and see what powders they recommend, but especially the bullet manufacturer's manual. Again, an online pole will help. Sometimes it's simply a matter of settling for 1/4" larger group so you can use a powder you have in stock for another rifle. Try to remember: It's YOUR pet load. That may mean that availability in your area, or economy concerns outweigh what won the last Palma match.

3) Because of YOUR distances and YOUR rifle, your pet load will vary from everyone else. So at that point you'll need to make up 5-6 rounds each in suitable load increments to go out and test on new targets at your distance. Don't worry about "bullseyes"; shoot for groups. You can always adjust the sights to make your groups find the bullseye later.

If you are hunting, then a certain minimum velocity may be required.

 

[BADUNAME37]

There typically is not really any "fastest" way to gain an accurate load unless you happen to stumble across something that your particular gun really likes and as a result you are getting one ragged hole at 100 yards.

Usually, the more you experiment, the tighter you will get your groups. However, there is a point of diminished return. If you will never shoot past 45 yards, what good is a load that is a tack-driving load at 200 yards? For you, it would be a complete waste, if 45 yards is where all your bullets will be hitting the target!

The further you are from the target, the more work which typically needs to be done to pull tight groups. However, there are many loads that will shoot well out of certain guns, without all the experimenting. That is when you fire ten shots at 100 yards, make one ragged hole and be glad you found something the gun likes! Then go buy the rest of whatever it is while you can!

 

[northernlights78]

Thank You all for your help. It seems i have some work cut out for me.

 

[Coltdriver]

Go look up Optimum Charge Weight and follow the method.

It will get you to an optimum load for your rifle relatively quickly.

And it ain't work if you are havin fun!

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

pick a bullet/powder combo and then do what's called a ladder test to determine what charge weight will put your bullet exiting the muzzle at the barrel's node

 

[k4swb]

How I Developed One of My Pet Loads

Years ago when Winchester Super Lite powder came out and was advertised as the cleanest burning powder I switched from my favorite 12 ga load to WSL. It was true, this stuff was really clean burning and I thought it would be great if this worked in some of my handgun loads. Alas there was no loading data for WSL for handguns so I carefully examined numerous shotgun powders close to the same burn rate that did work in the calibers I wanted to load for and after much research jumped in to develop my handgun loads with WSL. This was totally trial and error. Thankfully the errors were limited to a non cycling semi-auto and some really light loads in the revolver and I never stuck a bullet in the barrel.
Bullet seating depth was easy. Use whatever it took to work. Primers were whatever I had on hand. I did start out with some good sorted cases but mfg stamp wasn’t considered. Working my way up I found the sweet spots for both handguns, loaded and shot quite a few with no ill results. Maybe I was just lucky but I think knowing a lot about reloading by that time, I was making fairly good educated guesses.
Eventually the reloading manuals caught up with me and the published data and my data were almost exactly alike. One manual actually listed powder charges slightly higher than mine but I already knew that was too high in my gun so I was completely satisfied. I have since done this with other cartridges with similar results. Sometimes the manuals never list the powder I found to be excellent in some of my loads. No manual can possibly list all the combinations that will work safely and reloaders miss out on some excellent loads by not experimenting.
Without some of us experimenting today’s and tomorrow’s shooters would be missing out on some very fine cartridges. WSL has been discontinued and I have almost used my last grain so I switched to another powder that also doesn’t have a lot of published data. There is some but mostly not with the bullets and primers I use.
At least this time I didn’t have to start completely from scratch. Maybe next time I will again have the joy of developing my perfect pet load and beating everyone else to the punch.

 

[northernlights78]

Finished testing the powders

Well im all done testing the powders. I tested the powders with a 155 grn Sierra HPBT Match King. I shot from 100 yards through a Remington 700 SPS Tactical. I fired 10 rounds, then let the barrel cool for 10 mins. or so. Then i shot the next set. Here are the results



5 powders, 5 targets



The H322 doesnt have the best tightest group, but there are quite a few in the red. The IMR3031, has a descent group, but theyre all an inch or more high. (Is that because the powder burns hotter?)



The IMR 4831 has another descent group, but they fall low and to the right. (why? lower pressure?) The IMR 4895 seems to be the best group, and the most accurate. But take a look at this...



The H4895 is a little high, but look at that group. Theres 10 shots there, but i can only count 7 holes.

Well let me here some feedback. I dont know whether to stick with the current IMR4895 load, or try to improve the H4895 load.

P.S.- Heres the link for those targets to print. Theyre gridded in 1" increments. Just click a target, click FILE in the top left, click PRINT. http://www.reloadbench.com/pdf.html

 

[murf]

use the imr4895 powder and try different primers. may tighten up a little more. after that, you can play with seating depth. isn't this fun!

murf

 

[doorman]

I did a load workup this past weekend for my LR-308. I only had 15 168 gr SMK bullets and the rest were 168 gr Hornady match bullets. I started with the minimum charge according to Sierra #14 and worked up in .3 grain increments.

Now, Sunday at the range was quite windy. I would say sustained wind at 15 with gusts to 20. The wind was quartering from right to left, basically coming over my right shoulder. The range to target was 100 yards.

I started with 42 gr of Varget and loaded five round groups to 44.7 gr. I ended up with 50 rounds to shoot.

As you can see from the pictures were I will do some tweeking from 43.8 to 44.1. The rounds were loaded to max length to fit the 10 round magazine which was 2.8125.

 

[k4swb]

When working up a load, never worry about where the group is as long as it is fairly close. This can always be moved by sight/scope adjustment. BR shooters don't aim where the bullets land on the target. It is better to aim at a clear aiming point and let the bullet impacts be slightly off.
Looks like you're off to a very good start. Are you having fun yet?

 

[northernlights78]

Yes, this is very fun! Luckily my range is only 17 min. away. I was actually thinking of building a travel bench to reload at the range. Just an idea though...

 

[BADUNAME37]

I agree, work on the 4895 loads!

I couldn't count the number of days I would go outside, perfectly calm, load up my truck, drive 20 minutes to the range and get out and blustery winds all over the place, OR get all set up ready to shoot six strings of loads and get back to the gun on the bench and then the wind starts, or the wind starts riight after I start shooting!

ARRGGHHH!

Of course, I cannot read wind like the old pros, so I pack it in and go back another day!

An indoor 200 yard range would be nice, made with 3' or 4' diamter concrete tiles laid horizontally from my basement out. Keeping water and roots out would be the problem. A pulley system could send the targets out. A small cart, possibly on a track to send my body out to the end if needed would be good, too.

We're talking $5,000 minimum before all would be said and done the right way!