When you try and replicate factory

[FROGO207]

For me at least "full load workups" are on hold, at least until the primer situation improves with regards to availability. Not that I don't have enough already put back to shoot as much as I want with stock on hand presently.
Just going to stick to vetted loads for now.

 

[LiveLife]

replicate a decent or good shooting ammo. Do you do a full workup or just match velosity?

To me a "full load workup" is starting low, most times with min. book data, and going up as much as necessary. Load a few, shoot, record results. Then increase the powder charge depending on cartridge from .3 gr. to .5 gr load up a few, shoot, record. When a load looks promising, tweek the powder charge .1 or 2 gr either way and try again

While that's one option, I believe a better approach is focusing on identifying accuracy nodes for a particular powder used with a particular bullet at particular length that will shoot well in multiple rifles with differing barrel length, twist rates, harmonics/whip, etc.

I think OP is not asking for an accurate load for a particular rifle/barrel rather duplicating an accurate/match factory ammunition that will shoot well regardless what they are shot out of.

I have loaded for multiple pistols/carbines/rifles with different barrel lengths/rifling twist rates/harmonics and there are "reference" loads that shoot better than others and that load may not be the same as "custom" most accurate load for a particular barrel/length/twist rate.

Perhaps OP can clarify.

 

[AJC1]

For me at least "full load workups" are on hold, at least until the primer situation improves with regards to availability. Not that I don't have enough already put back to shoot as much as I want with stock on hand presently.
Just going to stick to vetted loads for now.

I don't do anything other than testing.... I don't want to use up my primer supply so my shooting in general is hugely reduced.

 

[Buzznrose]

It depends on why I am reloading but unless cost gets into the list of variables, I am generally looking to get better results than factory ammunition, not equal. That would be a lot of work for nothing I couldn’t just have shipped to my door and skip the homework.

I’m slowly doing this with my new .308

I’m buying an assortment of 150-180 grain ammo and seeing what shoots best. But I bought a suppressor so I’m pretty much on hold until that comes in, while I still shoot it a bit. Once I find a good round it likes, I’ll start reloading from there.

 

[AJC1]

I’m slowly doing this with my new .308

I’m buying an assortment of 150-180 grain ammo and seeing what shoots best. But I bought a suppressor so I’m pretty much on hold until that comes in, while I still shoot it a bit. Once I find a good round it likes, I’ll start reloading from there.

I bet you find the best average groups in the 16x class bullets unless you have an aftermarket barrel. 155s have also shot very well for me.

 

[jmorris]

When I was young it mattered more. Now if it goes bang and hits the target close enough to be respectable, I'm satisfied.

Kind of the opposite for me, when I was young, rounds down range mattered more than how well I placed them. I never really even quantified accuracy in many situations, they were just good enough for the uses I had.

I suppose it’s kind of situational though. As I do make a lot of “blasting” ammo for playing. I don’t let the people that just want to bang away at steel use my precision ammunition, when they can hit the same target with less expensive projectiles and brass that has much less time in it.

 

[Hugger-4641]

If it is factory ammo and accurate in my gun, then yes, I often start by matching the velocity and working from there to fine tune. With hunting ammo like Precision Hunter and Lever Evolution, I definitely do this. They've designed and tested the bullet to perform at a given speed,
why re-invent the wheel?
If I'm just looking for a good target load, why not start at the bottom and find the load that gives me the accuracy I want with the least powder and erosion to my chamber?
Everything has an ulterior motive for me when it comes to load development.

 

[Buzznrose]

I bet you find the best average groups in the 16x class bullets unless you have an aftermarket barrel. 155s have also shot very well for me.

So far, 150/155 are best, but time will tell:

 

[dh1633pm]

To be honest, I have graduated from novice to journeyman a long time ago. For certain applications matching factory velocities can yield promising results. Two examples. My 700 Milspec in 308. Shoots about everything well with speeds at 2600. Second example is my work to match the K31 with GP11 ammo. My duplicates at same velocity shot well. Not a master at reloading. There are many here who are. Including AJC1 and others who are always kind enough to answer my questions.

 

[Charlie98]

I consider getting hand loads to equal factory loads a failure on my part.

Again, for me it depends on the purpose. Are my .45ACP blasting handloads as accurate as an equivalent Federal or RP FMJ load? I don't know, and I don't really care. I suppose if I sat there and put them up against each other, one would reign supreme... or, they might be close enough we would call it a draw, which is what I would expect, in reality.

Now... getting down to brass tacks... I do expect my 'accuracy' handloads to at least shoot as well as factory, and I'd like to think better. I was out at Christmas, running some new workups through my .308 Savage model 10. Most of them gave a decent showing. Last thing I did was run 3 rounds of 168grn FGMM through it... they beat my best handload. Sooooo... back to the drawing board.

 

[41 Mag]

The one would love to duplicate is a Federal 150gr Nosler Solid Base in 7mm STW. When I got the rifle I picked up two boxes from Midway. Figured I would at least have some brass when I was done. That stuff shot so well I bought all 13 boxes they had in stock. Since then a decade plus back, I have piddled a couple of time trying to get close, but no cigar. It's gonna be a bummer when I finish off the remaining 7 boxes.

The only other one was Rem 150gr CL ammo for my .308. It shot it well so I sat down one weekend and with a couple hundred bulk CL bullets started pouring powder and stuffing lead. It wasn't hard to hit the velocity using H4895, and just a tweak on the seating stem they group even better.

 

[hdwhit]

I reload because factory loadings don't meet my needs. Thus, I am never trying to duplicate a factory loading.

 

[IALoder]

I had 2 factory loadings that I wanted to get as close to cloning as possible. The Hornady Black .223 75gr bthp load just shot great in every 1/7 twist AR that my friends or I put it through. Honestly didn't take much to replicate, got the same 75gr bthps with cannelure, TAC, CCI 41's, and some LC cases. Used the same seating depth as the factory, matched velocity, accuracy was close, and after adding a mild crimp with a Lee FCD in the cannelure the accuracy was pretty much dead on. Been running that load for quite a while now!
The PPU M80 ball was another one that ran great in my LR308 and FIL's FAL. Tried a few powders and Hornady 150fmjs (couldn't find the PPU 147's) ended up finding something pretty darn close with both AA2520 and TAC.

I've played with cloning other loads like the 168&175gr Fed GMM .308 loads, but have found really good/better loads for my rifles while working them up. All other loads are just me trying to find "the load" for that rifle.

 

[GW Staar]

IALoder: Great when only a little patience makes something go right, and with minimal pain, even! Good for you! I love TAC for that.

I reload because factory loadings don't meet my needs. Thus, I am never trying to duplicate a factory loading.

Yep, that was me, I never got a charge out of load development....when I did it, it was for the reason above.......but I can't say I was ever a master. Not enough patience.

 

[Hugger-4641]

I had 2 factory loadings that I wanted to get as close to cloning as possible. The Hornady Black .223 75gr bthp load just shot great in every 1/7 twist AR that my friends or I put it through

I had the same result in mine. I get 1/2 to 3/4 Moa groups with Hornady Black and have killed a couple deer with them. Haven’t really tried to duplicate that one yet, but I've got a 69gr bthp load that gets pretty close.

 

[mdi]

FWIW; so far I have reloaded 99% of the ammo I have fired. I bought a box of 32 long a year ago 2 boxes 9mm 3 years ago and a box of 45 ACP about 10 years ago (had no brass to reload and eager to shoot a new 1911). Maybe just not interested and I don't know if any of my handloads duplicate factory ammo. I'm sure there are other reloaders that have done the same...

 

[Charlie98]

The PPU M80 ball was another one that ran great in my LR308 and FIL's FAL. Tried a few powders and Hornady 150fmjs (couldn't find the PPU 147's) ended up finding something pretty darn close with both AA2520 and TAC.

The Prvi 145grn FMJ ‘white box’ ammos is my factory barometer for M80 equivalent loads, I worked up loads first with IMR4895, then IMR3031, and now TAC, with whatever ~150’ish grn bullet I happen to have.

 

[AJC1]

The Prvi 145grn FMJ ‘white box’ ammos is my factory barometer for M80 equivalent loads, I worked up loads first with IMR4895, then IMR3031, and now TAC, with whatever ~150’ish grn bullet I happen to have.

What did you get as a moa standard for white box... I recall just over 2moa

 

[Jim Watson]

I once read a piece by a guy who was not satisfied to merely duplicate the ballistics of his chosen service pistol load, he tried various powders to give the same FEEL as his service load. Must have had the sensitivity of The Princess and the Pea.

 

[IALoder]

The Prvi 145grn FMJ ‘white box’ ammos is my factory barometer for M80 equivalent loads, I worked up loads first with IMR4895, then IMR3031, and now TAC, with whatever ~150’ish grn bullet I happen to have.

The PPU M80 we were shooting was out of the "battle packs", but I believe it was the same stuff. ~2moa in my LR308, and somehow around 3moa in the FAL. Still shoots the same in both rifles years later. It's definitely my "M80 clone" benchmark, I'd be more than happy to buy a couple more battle packs!

 

[Charlie98]

What did you get as a moa standard for white box... I recall just over 2moa

yes… right at 2 MOA, and that’s my ‘reasonable goal’ for my M80-equivalent. For a while I was using Prvi brass with Prvi bullets… worked good!

 

[AJC1]

I had 2 factory loadings that I wanted to get as close to cloning as possible. The Hornady Black .223 75gr bthp load just shot great in every 1/7 twist AR that my friends or I put it through. Honestly didn't take much to replicate, got the same 75gr bthps with cannelure, TAC, CCI 41's, and some LC cases. Used the same seating depth as the factory, matched velocity, accuracy was close, and after adding a mild crimp with a Lee FCD in the cannelure the accuracy was pretty much dead on. Been running that load for quite a while now!
The PPU M80 ball was another one that ran great in my LR308 and FIL's FAL. Tried a few powders and Hornady 150fmjs (couldn't find the PPU 147's) ended up finding something pretty darn close with both AA2520 and TAC.

I've played with cloning other loads like the 168&175gr Fed GMM .308 loads, but have found really good/better loads for my rifles while working them up. All other loads are just me trying to find "the load" for that rifle.

I think every hand loader with a 308 has played that gmm game. Curious if your better results was a charge or seating depth change?

 

[Riomouse911]

I just try to find loads that the gun(s) like. Some may duplicate a factory load, but most don’t.

Stay safe.

 

[IALoder]

I think every hand loader with a 308 has played that gmm game. Curious if your better results was a charge or seating depth change?

I didn't mess with seating depth (shooting a semi auto) but charge weights made a decent amount of difference. Also trying AR Comp really shrunk the groups. Don't get me wrong, IMR 4064 shot very good, but there's something my rifle loves about AR Comp, it just runs great.