proper distance

[Swizale]

Hi all, I am new to reloading and was wondering, when testing new loads and to compare, what is the best or "official" target distance for checking a loads performance? thanks Folks.

 

[steve4102]

Depends, rifle, pistol, iron sites, optics, etc.?

 

[jwrowland77]

Rifle I start at 100 then go out from there.

Revolver I start at 25yd.

Pistol 7yds

 

[tightgroup tiger]

What JW said has always been my standard procedure.

If you have a new handgun that strange to you, you may want to start at 7-10 yds to see if the sights are close and to get used to the trigger and ergonomics of the grip.

If you are working up a new load with a handgun known to you to shoot well, then 25yds, at a bench, off a sand bag would be a good starting point. Takes a lot of human error out of the end result.

When I was would be sighting in a new scope, or working on someones problem child I would cover the whole 4x8 backstop with paper or corrugated box board so I had a clean backstop to work with. It saves a lot of ammunition in trying to see what accuracy problems your dealing with and in getting the scope on the target for fine tuning.

 

[Walkalong]

I shoot pistol rounds over the chrono at 5 yards at a target at 7 yards to get an idea if it wants to shoot, then farther (25, 50, and sometimes 100 yards), when I think I have something.

Rifle generally starts at 100 yards, unless I need to get a new scope on target, then I work out to it.

 

[LiveLife]

when testing new loads and to compare, what is the best or "official" target distance for checking a loads performance?

With new pistol bullet/powder load development, I start out at 7-10 yards to verify proper slide cycling/extraction/ejection and to get a "rough" idea of accuracy. Once I determine accurate loads, I will test them at 15-25 yards.

With rifle, 100 yards scoped.

With 22LR rifle, 25-50 yards. With accurate ammunition, then out to 75-100 yards scoped.

 

[judgedelta]

If your rifle is sighted in and you're shooting off a bench and if you can't get on an 8 X 10 paper at a hundred yards, you might want to go to a different load. Just sayin'...

 

[rfwobbly]

To me the main thought is to pick a distance you can use every time. Consider that it will do you no good to have notes on loads and group size if they are all shot at varying distances. That would lead to an "apples and oranges" situation.

 

[gamestalker]

I do it like JW77 does. Been working well for many years.

GS