Typical Process for Dialing in a Load for a Rifle Caliber?

[Point_Taken]

What I'm getting at, is say I want to dial in my 30-06, what is the typical way of dialing it in first? Which variables do you change immediately and others do you keep constant.

So if I want to develop a hunting load for my 30-06, I'll probably keep the weight of my bullets the same based on the game I'm hunting. From there should I first start adjusting the amount of the charge on the same type of powder, or do I use the same charge and try that across different brand powders? Then at what point to I start adjusting OAL?

Thanks for all the input you guys may have

 

[dgod]

I yield to the EXPERTS...

 

[Blue68f100]

There are basically 2 methods used, Ladder and OCW (optimum charge weight). With both methods you only change 1 variable at a time, normally the powder charge. Your powder charge is varied normally by 1% of max. Drop back 10% and start stepping up. Normally you will find a node in the 95%-98% range and there will be a lower node, if your started low enough. With ladder you looking for the tightest group. With the OCW you looking for the group that is tightest to the POA. OCW is aimed at the most consistent grouping with in a small spread in powder charge. Not requiring a super accurate powder dispense, ±0.2-0.3gr change. Normally they both will get you to what your looking for. The ladder is easier for a new hand loader to do, but neither is difficult.

Example for ladder. Powder range is 35.0- 42.0 gr.
10% from max would be 37.8 gr.
1% is 0.42gr
Now you start loading 3-5 rounds using a 0.4 gr step I like to do larger steps till I get to 95% of max just to save on components

38.0
38.4 or 38.5
38.8 or 39.0
39.2 or 39.5
39.6 skip
40.0
40.4
40.8
41.2
41.6
42.0

Once you find the load that shots the best you work both side of the load to determine how big the sweet spot is.

Once I've found my load I then start playing with then OAL to see if it will tighten up .

Here is a link explaining the OCW Method

http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com

 

[Varminterror]

The easiest method, in 2018, which is an updated version of how we used to do it for generations before:

• Pick a bullet weight and bullet which suits your twist and application - let's say the 178 ELD-X in a 1:10" barrel for deer and elk

• Go online and google, "best powder for 178 ELD-X 30-06", or ask online at forums like this: you're going to get back results saying 4064, 4895, and 4198, 4831, RL22, a couple others (We used to have to talk to real people in person, which was typically no more reliable than asking online these days, but a much smaller pool).

• While waiting for responses, find the appropriate starting COAL for that bullet in your chamber by finding the lands with the bullet, then backing off an appropriate jump distance. In this case, with the 178 ELD-X, you should start 0.020" off of the lands. For monometal bullets, start 0.060" off of the lands.

• Pick a couple of these powders, and load a spectrum of charge weights with relatively generous jumps. For 30-06, you can typically make half grain jumps for the preliminary tests. Shoot a Ladder or OCW test with these, and use the results to determine the best powder AND the best charge weight window for further development. Let's say this revealed 4064 had the most forgiving window of charges from 47.0-48.5

• OPTIONAL - I consider this part of the process, but it wouldn't HAVE to be so - shoot all of your Ladder/OCW testing over the chronograph to give you a picture of your ES and SD. Incorporate consistency in velocity into your assessment. If you shot your Ladder/OCW at appropriate ranges, it should reveal excessive ES/SD, but I prefer to have the actual numbers.

• OPTIONAL - if you're not familiar with the methodologies, or simply want additional insights into your results, post pics online of your Ladder or OCW test to get advice on how to interpret the results.

• Perform a more refined Ladder/OCW to find a narrower band of charge weights which will give you the most consistent results. Use a 0.2-.3grn gaps (unless you're loading on a Prometheus, Sartorius, Mettler, etc), 0.1grn gaps won't tell you anything because your gear isn't precise enough to deliver on it - same can really be said for 0.2grn gaps. Using 47.0-48.7gn (max) from our first run, we load 47.0, 47.3, 47.6, 47.9, 48.2, 48.5, 48.7grn, and reshoot the Ladder/OCW. This will yield the window in which you need to be loading for that particular powder. Let's say life was nice and flat between 47.6 and 48.5, but 48.7 jumped a bit, and 47.3 fell, and the groups in 47.6-48.5 were nice and horizontal. This tells me I can load 48.0 with a half grain window on either side (I wish it worked that way).

• Load up a new matrix of bullets at 48.0grn, varying the seating depth in and out from your starting point - being mindful of your kiss/jam length. Vary by 0.005" in and out for a few steps, and shoot 5rnd+ groups. Let's say 0.020"-0.035" gave the tightest groups, and things spread a little at 0.015 and 0.040". So I pick 0.025" and lock in my seater.

Now you have a fully developed load, with a known ES and SD, forgiving powder charge, and optimized seating depth.

One item of note - if you have much vertical dispersion in your group during the Ladder/OCW steps, it's not likely ever going to shoot well. There are exceptions to every rule, but in general, if you have vertical dispersion, it's a powder problem. Horizontal spreads point at seating depth. It should go without saying, but WIND can affect both vertical and horizontal, so be sure you pick your days for load development, else your results will be meaningless.

 

[Walkalong]

Varminterror gave some good advise.

Pick a good bullet and powder for the caliber. Start low, work up in .5 Gr increments, find where it shoots well, tweak in between the charge weights. Don't shoot in the wind unless you know how. Wait for calm mornings or evenings.

Don't overthink it. KISS

Remember how you put a Giraffe in a refrigerator? Nope, just open the door and put him in.

 

[Demi-human]

The trick with Giraffe, is to make the left overs interesting! Different bullets keep it spicy!

or do I use the same charge and try that across different brand powders?

No! Not if you like sight anyway. The venerable thirty aught six has a large and varied charge range. From miniscule Blue Dot loads, to large payloads of Win seven sixty. Each unique and individual to the powder used.

 

[Driftertank]

I like ladder testing. The details have pretty much been covered.
My personal preference is to use .5gr steps with large rifle calibers,.25gr with small rifles or pistols.
I'm fond of Hornady bullets because in my experience they are fairly forgiving of OAL, and my personal experience is that most of their jacket-and-core rifle bullets (SST, SP, ELD) give good results between .020-.030" from the lands, and so i pick my initial COAL by rounding to the nearest whole .005" in that range, both to make remembering my proper OAL easier, and to allow for slight variations in swaging from one round, or lot, to the next. Example: my 7mm Mag M700LR with 162 ELD-M measures 3.454" to the lands, my loading OAL is 3.430", for .024" jump. It holds sub-MOA easily.
For powders, my top picks for .30-06 would be Varget and H4350, Varget for under 165gr, H4350 for above 150gr. Yeah, theres a bit of overlap there, but i would be surprised if you couldn't find a good load with ladders of either of those.

 

[Walkalong]

or do I use the same charge and try that across different brand powders?

Missed that. Absolutely not. Follow load data for each powder.

 

[z7]

I recommend finding the max seating depth first

Seat bullets long, like .005” off the lands or kissing

Then start the powder work up using the methods described above

Once you identify a decent shooting powder combo and decide to move to adjusting seating depth, only seat the bullet deeper in the case and increase the distance from the initial .005” off or kissing the lands, whatever you chose.

The reason is the pressure spike that can happen as you approach the lands. if you start with little or no jump and increase the jump you should not see dangerous pressures as long as you are working with the load data minimum overall length

 

[Nature Boy]

I've settled on this process for finding the best load

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...velopment-results.822638/page-4#post-10732374

It should give you a good idea where your node is using 18 rounds + a few for foulers. There's some tweaking after but it's a very practical (only need 100 yards) and efficient way to get you most of the way there.

 

[Slamfire]

The easiest way is to ask good shooters what they use and start there. That's what I have done, simply let others do all the leg work and copy.

I will get a bullet and powder recommendation and use the bullet weight, adjust the powder charge, and see what happens along the way. The 30-06 is easy, it has been around since 1906, there are a number of combinations that are staples. Powder staples are IMR 4895, IMR 4064, and IMR 4350. For a M1 Garand, it is hard to beat a 168 SMK with 47.0 grains IMR 4895.






I have been shooting outstanding groups with that combination out to 600 yards, in gas guns and bolt guns, for decades now. A very popular load for bolt gunners was a 168 SMK with 55.0 grains IMR 4350. Recently I have been developing loads with 150 grain Fusion pulled bullets. I copied some loads. A lot of shooters use 59.0 grains IMR 4350 with a 150. I started at 57.0 grains, then shot 59.0 grains. Both shot very well out to 300 yards though the 57.0 grain load seemed to cluster a bit better. It will take more rounds to determine if what I saw was real, or an artifact of small sample size. I have found, as others have found, that the 4350 powder works exceptionally well in 30-06 bolt guns, if you are looking at maximum velocities. So, I think that is a good place to start.

I want bullets that are jump insensitive. I had too many buds walk away from bullets that shot like a house a fire till the throat moved, and then the combination puked. I don't like seating near the throat. If you ever shot at Camp Perry, there you be, shooting long range and then the range would have to stop, because some fisherman was in the impact area. Everyone would have to unload and wait till the Bay Police chased the boater away. If your bullet was jammed in the throat, when you extracted your round, the bullet stayed in the throat, powder would be every where in the action, and you had to find a cleaning rod to knock out the bullet. Have some experiences like that and you learn to keep the bullets off the lands.

So, I started with a known load, something that ought to shoot well. With a good shooting rifle:



shoots well at 200 yards



Shoots well at 300 yards. And I now have zero's with the new scope on top.



Well how do Federal fusion pulled bullets do at 300 yards:

reasonable with 57.0 grains AA4350



Seems to have promise with 59.0 grs, will need to shoot more to really sort this out.



I have no idea where that eight came from, but this load has promise.




Try the load in a different rifle



known load shoots well at 200 yards



holds the ten ring at 300



has promise



probably a good load.

 

[snuffy]

I only use a ladder to climb higher than ground level. O.C.W. is a bastardization of the ladder system.

The base foundation of the ladder system is 1. A well built bolt action rifle. 2. A very solid bench. 3. A solid rest front and back ,(not a rolled up coat on the hood of your car). 4. A target with a very easy to see mark--,, bullseye. 5. At least 200 yard range. 6. a calm day with consistent light ,( gray day, full sun or partly cloudy shoot when either full sun or sun is behind a cloud). 7. Skills for shooting a bench rest style of shooting.(can you shoot small, consistent groups with another gun?)

When I was learning to handload,( 1972), I used the old tried and true incremental powder charges for about 5-6 groups. These were usually 5 shot groups. All groups were fired the same day, and within an hour. I would start with a clean barrel, the first group was seldom the most accurate, so it fouled that clean barrel, no cleaning took place during testing. I often start 1 to 1.5 grains above recommended starting load in several manuals, because I've NEVER seen that low powder charge to be accurate.

I almost always shoot over a chrono to add to the data for that load. Velocities show a lot about the powder--bullet--primer-, and case combination.

The groups are then measured center to center to see where the accuracy node lies. Refining the best powder charge in the next range trip by hovering around that node,, another 3 group test to see if it CAN be refined.

As for what bullet to choose, that is the main reason to do the test in the first place. What purpose will it have? As for makers, I've been a Hornady fan since the first loads I made. I DO use Nosler bullets for a few loads, actually for a while I used nothing but Nosler ballistic tips. But the wasted meat from bullet fragmentation caused me to return to Hornady.

Some loading manuals will say which of the loads tested for a particular bullet was to most accurate. That can be a good place to start.

 

[Bfh_auto]

After I find what I think is my load. I like to load .5 low, one at charge and .5 over. I shoot this to see what temp changes will do to poi. If it's acceptable I keep it.