Speed or accuracy first when testing handloads.
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jmorris
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It depends on what I am loading for and what I expect out of it but #1 is always function.
Everything else is after that.
The only time speed is before accuracy for me is if there is a power factor I have to meet or a velocity floor for a bullet to work.
Then I get to that point and develop from there.
Everything else is after that.
The only time speed is before accuracy for me is if there is a power factor I have to meet or a velocity floor for a bullet to work.
Then I get to that point and develop from there.
Last edited:
bihj
Member
In no particular order, accuracy, accuracy, and then accuracy.
Don't care about speed.
Don't care about speed.
AJC1
Member
I load for consistency. If I'm shooting 200 yard targets with 357 or 45 colt I want a charge with an es less than 20. For 600 yard varmit Silhouette I like single digit. Then I check group size and play with seating depth on rifle...
irishlad
Contributing Member
I get 5 shot groups I'm happy with 3 separate outings and then shoot em through the chronograph and see what the SD, ES and velocity is.
kmw1954
Member
I am only shooting paper targets and they don't care how fast the bullet is but I do care where the X-Ring is. The closer the target the smaller the X-Ring.
Blue68f100
Member
nettlle
Contributing Member
Accuracy and economy in that order. The published speeds given in the reloading manuals are good enough for me.
Bill_in_TR
Member
Well my prime objective with virtually any round is accuracy. That being said I use the chronograph to assess the accuracy potential. I am not chasing higher Velocity. I am chasing lower ES and SD. I believe that the lower those numbers are the higher the accuracy potential is. So I guess my answer is I am concerned with both velocity and accuracy.
Charlie98
Member
Depends on what I'm loading, and why.
.45ACP for fast target shooting, simulating factory ammo, then I want the velocity to approximate that of factory. At combat distances, accuracy doesn't matter... it's not like any reasonable load with a good bullet isn't going to produce reasonable accuracy. If you are target shooting... accuracy may trump velocity, depending on the distance to target.
Blasting ammo for my AR's or M1a? Again, I want to simulate factory or surplus ammos. The quality of the bullet does play a part here, because the ranges are further than, say, a .45 pistol... and a poor quality bullet will deliver sub-par accuracy when compared to factory, or even surplus.
Ammos for my bolt gun? Accuracy takes precedent, but the velocity has to be there, too.
Loading cast bullets in rifle? Again, I need a specific velocity window to operate in... and I hope when I meet it, the accuracy is there. If not, I have to dink with the load a little, to see if I can find the accuracy node while at the same time maintaining a velocity expectation.
I tend to think of velocity as a part of the overall puzzle... not the denominator. A velocity reading can provide you some information on the load you are testing, besides just the velocity.
.45ACP for fast target shooting, simulating factory ammo, then I want the velocity to approximate that of factory. At combat distances, accuracy doesn't matter... it's not like any reasonable load with a good bullet isn't going to produce reasonable accuracy. If you are target shooting... accuracy may trump velocity, depending on the distance to target.
Blasting ammo for my AR's or M1a? Again, I want to simulate factory or surplus ammos. The quality of the bullet does play a part here, because the ranges are further than, say, a .45 pistol... and a poor quality bullet will deliver sub-par accuracy when compared to factory, or even surplus.
Ammos for my bolt gun? Accuracy takes precedent, but the velocity has to be there, too.
Loading cast bullets in rifle? Again, I need a specific velocity window to operate in... and I hope when I meet it, the accuracy is there. If not, I have to dink with the load a little, to see if I can find the accuracy node while at the same time maintaining a velocity expectation.
I tend to think of velocity as a part of the overall puzzle... not the denominator. A velocity reading can provide you some information on the load you are testing, besides just the velocity.
BRatigan
Member
Accuracy is my most important criteria.
OS/N
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- Nov 2, 2023
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- 253
Accuracy
Sometimes things like this come to mind:
- if I have to load my 22-250 to this speed to be accurate (say 2800 fps), whats the point just use the cheaper to load 223.
- for hunting with my 357 carbine in thick cover, speed is more importaint for the energy but it is still accurate enough for hunting.
- on the other hand when I load for my 25-06, I load the most accurate suitable bullet and don't even chrono the load. At the longer ranges bullet placement is king and if you can't hit the mark whats the point of having the fastest load.
- for target shooting its all about accuracy. I only chrono those if I see pressure signs or need to rough out the tragetory.
Don't know if that helps but that's my point of view.
Sometimes things like this come to mind:
- if I have to load my 22-250 to this speed to be accurate (say 2800 fps), whats the point just use the cheaper to load 223.
- for hunting with my 357 carbine in thick cover, speed is more importaint for the energy but it is still accurate enough for hunting.
- on the other hand when I load for my 25-06, I load the most accurate suitable bullet and don't even chrono the load. At the longer ranges bullet placement is king and if you can't hit the mark whats the point of having the fastest load.
- for target shooting its all about accuracy. I only chrono those if I see pressure signs or need to rough out the tragetory.
Don't know if that helps but that's my point of view.
Captcurt
Member
When I started loading I pushed the envelope on all of my rifles. Max loads, neck sizing, testing powders and bullets. Now I full length resize, find a load that shoots bug holes, and don't worry about speed. That doe that I shot last week didn't know the difference between a 110gr bullet at 3500 fps or the 245gr that was pushing 1500. DRT
bullseye308
Member
I'm a target shooter only. I load for accuracy and I make a load for each gun to get the best out of each one. I have 6 different 9's an have 4 loads in 9mm, 3 223/556 rifles and each one has a load for it. I also only have access to a 100 yard range, so that plays into it, if I had access to 500 like I'd like, Id break out a chrono and worry about ES and SD.
Chuck R.
Member
Agree 100%
Honestly I want both accuracy and velocity, and there's no reason for the most part that I can't have it.
Using OCW method, which starts with Load Book "Max loads" for it's entry point for calculations, I most of the time end up with the velocity and accuracy I'm looking for anyway. So within that normal batch of test loads, I might have an overall spread, slowest to faster load of about 60FPS. All fall within the range I'm looking for.
It doesn't mean I'll scrap and accurate load to gain 40 FPS on a 3000+ FPS cartridges, but it also doesn't mean I'll stick with 2900 to gain a .10" in group size, when I know I'm going to use it on a 6" kill zone.
I use the heck out of my chrono, not just for the MV, but for ES and SD. An accurate load at 100yds, with a high ES and SD that goes to chit at 500+ isn't what I'm looking for most of the time. Usually a high SD indicates there's an issue somewhere in my process.. I also want multiple MV readings at varying temperatures, so if I'm shooting off the bench or often prone practicing, the chronograph is up and running.
Form this morning while verifying zero's, now have another data point at 47degrees.
Nature Boy
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- Apr 21, 2015
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- 8,282
1. Accuracy
2. Accuracy
3. Precision
4. Accuracy
5. Speed
2. Accuracy
3. Precision
4. Accuracy
5. Speed
I agree on hunting loads. I mostly target shoot but I did develop an elk load to mirror Federal Fusion. Great shooting spot and bench. Totally envious. Mine is not too bad either but I don't have a pond as a view.Agree 100%
Honestly I want both accuracy and velocity, and there's no reason for the most part that I can't have it.
Using OCW method, which starts with Load Book "Max loads" for it's entry point for calculations, I most of the time end up with the velocity and accuracy I'm looking for anyway. So within that normal batch of test loads, I might have an overall spread, slowest to faster load of about 60FPS. All fall within the range I'm looking for.
It doesn't mean I'll scrap and accurate load to gain 40 FPS on a 3000+ FPS cartridges, but it also doesn't mean I'll stick with 2900 to gain a .10" in group size, when I know I'm going to use it on a 6" kill zone.
I use the chit out of my chrono, not just for the MV, but for ES and SD. An accurate load at 100yds, with a high ES and SD that goes to chit at 500+ isn't what I'm looking for most of the time. Usually a high SD indicates there's an issue somewhere in my process.. I also want multiple MV readings at varying temperatures, so if I'm shooting off the bench or often prone practicing, the chronograph is up and running.
Form this morning while verifying zero's, now have another data point at 47degrees.
Chuck R.
Member
Again agree, TGT loads velocity is definitely secondary, but I still want the chrono stats.
It works out well, 50,100, 200 and 300 from my bench, 407 & 547 off my back deck and I have TGT's out to 760 when I shoot off the hay field.
I try to stay off the bench other than load development and zeroing. Punching paper bores the crap out of me, so I normally work on positions while ringing steel.
