Taking into consideration the 4 components that make up a loaded round
Primer, case, powder and bullet, then take into consideration there are so many different primers out there, hundreds of types of powder out there, many different cases out there, a staggering amount of different companies making bullets, each with several lines of bullets, each line with several different bullet weights. Then you have a range of powder charges you can try from each type of powder. The possible combinations are practically limitless.
Even if you break it down to the two features effecting accuracy/consistency the most, powder and bullet, there are still a staggering number of combinations.
I suppose much of the work has been done for us by the publishers of reloading manuals, but that obviously can't account for your specific gun.
How do you find the most accurate load for your gun? Do you pick a powder, then try it with several bullet types and weights, find on average the most accurate bullet and then try it with several other powders?
I'm chasing an accurate load for a .22-250, so far I have used 5 bullet types excluding the factory ammo. (Hornady 55 grain polymer tipped, flat base V-Max; Sierra 45 grain pointed soft point, flat base Varminter; Sierra 50 grain polymer tipped, boattail BlitzKing; Sierra 52 grain BTHP Matchking and Sierra 55 grain. BTHP Gameking.) The powder has been H380 at 4 different charge weights for each bullet. I've thought about trying Hornady 55gr. A-Max and Nosler 50gr and or 55gr. ballistic tips. I've got IMR 3031 and IMR 4064 as well, but I am not sure I want to go out and buy several other powders to test with, while I don't mind the time spent testing since it is fun, I am worried about how much money I could spend on this and burning up a significant portion of my barrel's life finding the perfect load.
I've decided to take my two most accurate loads so far, the 52 gr. SMK HPBT with 38Gr H380 (.875", .5" excluding possible slight pulled flyer) and the 50 gr. Sierra BK with 39Gr H380 (.49") and load a full box of each and then shoot 4, 5 shot groups with each to pick a winner.
Primer, case, powder and bullet, then take into consideration there are so many different primers out there, hundreds of types of powder out there, many different cases out there, a staggering amount of different companies making bullets, each with several lines of bullets, each line with several different bullet weights. Then you have a range of powder charges you can try from each type of powder. The possible combinations are practically limitless.
Even if you break it down to the two features effecting accuracy/consistency the most, powder and bullet, there are still a staggering number of combinations.
I suppose much of the work has been done for us by the publishers of reloading manuals, but that obviously can't account for your specific gun.
How do you find the most accurate load for your gun? Do you pick a powder, then try it with several bullet types and weights, find on average the most accurate bullet and then try it with several other powders?
I'm chasing an accurate load for a .22-250, so far I have used 5 bullet types excluding the factory ammo. (Hornady 55 grain polymer tipped, flat base V-Max; Sierra 45 grain pointed soft point, flat base Varminter; Sierra 50 grain polymer tipped, boattail BlitzKing; Sierra 52 grain BTHP Matchking and Sierra 55 grain. BTHP Gameking.) The powder has been H380 at 4 different charge weights for each bullet. I've thought about trying Hornady 55gr. A-Max and Nosler 50gr and or 55gr. ballistic tips. I've got IMR 3031 and IMR 4064 as well, but I am not sure I want to go out and buy several other powders to test with, while I don't mind the time spent testing since it is fun, I am worried about how much money I could spend on this and burning up a significant portion of my barrel's life finding the perfect load.
I've decided to take my two most accurate loads so far, the 52 gr. SMK HPBT with 38Gr H380 (.875", .5" excluding possible slight pulled flyer) and the 50 gr. Sierra BK with 39Gr H380 (.49") and load a full box of each and then shoot 4, 5 shot groups with each to pick a winner.
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