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Load development process
#164724
10/17/2015 1:37 PM
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 316
eastex
OP
enthusiast
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OP
enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 316 |
How do yall do it? I load up 3 rounds each of 5 different powder charges and shoot them and find my best powder charge. I then load 3 rounds of 4 different seating depth in .005" increments out to .020" off the lands. One question how long do you wait before each shot and also do you immediately start load development with a cold bore or do you shoot a couple to warm the barrel. Thanks
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Re: Load development process
[Re: eastex]
#164727
10/17/2015 2:36 PM
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,006
Zee
Shooting Expert
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Shooting Expert
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,006 |
I pick the seat depth I want first.
For bottleneck cartridges, that means finding the chamber length and then seating the bullets around .005" off the lands.
For revolver cartridges, that means seating the bullet as far out as I can reliably crimp and still fit in the cylinder. Sometimes that's the bottom of the crimp groove and sometimes that is the first lube ring.
Start 1.5gr below Hodgdon Book Max and load 4-5 round each charge in .5gr increments up to book max. Looking for most accurate load. If this is the book max load, I will sometimes push past the book max if pressure seems fine to determine if greater accuracy can be had.
Once accurate load is determined, I will load 5 more and verify accuracy.
With bottleneck cartridges, I generally fire 1 fouling shot and then begin grouping. Waiting approximately 5 minutes between shots.
Revolvers, I may or may not fire a fouling round and generally still wait 3-5 minutes between shots.
I DO NOT mess with changing seating depth. I've tried. The only differences I've determined valid for me is that it changes velocity. I seat as far out as I can to reduce pressure......increase powder capacity.....and increase velocity.
"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
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Re: Load development process
[Re: Zee]
#164729
10/17/2015 6:55 PM
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 316
eastex
OP
enthusiast
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OP
enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 316 |
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Re: Load development process
[Re: eastex]
#164730
10/17/2015 6:58 PM
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 316
eastex
OP
enthusiast
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OP
enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 316 |
I agree I notice more of a difference (as far as smaller groups go) with powder charge than I do seating depth
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Re: Load development process
[Re: eastex]
#164759
10/18/2015 3:42 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,101
Bearbait in NM
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,101 |
East,
I completely agree with you and Zee with pistol cartridges that use a crimp. The cylinder, bullet design and need for a proper crimp will dictate the OAL.
But with bottle neck rounds that do not use a crimp, I always tweak my OAL as a last step to fine tune accuracy. I do not generally load these types to the red line, and always find that reducing or increasing the OAL's by 5 or 10 thou will make groups shrink or grow. I set up reload ladders, much like doing it for powder weight, and test.
Craig
Northern born and Southern bred
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