I'm new here and a bit confused so here's where I'm at,

SMK 69gr HPBT- MATCH
Varget-sugg. max load of 26.1 (Siera manual)
                                  -10% (2.61)
                    sighter #1 23.49
                                   +2% (.8698)
                    sighter#2 24.3598  
                                   +2% (.8698)  
                    sighter#3  25.4296
                                    +2% (.8698)= over max load

can you guys tell me wher I went dumb on this? Its my first attempt at this test so I would like to get it right, thanks a million-Steve

2% is .522 not .8698

thanks airgun- I kept lookin and lookin at it and just got more confussed. Do you think I should keep that increment all the way up or shorten it a bit?

I can't say that with authority.  For large cases I use .5 gn increments for small (223, Hornet etc) I use .2 gns and I start a little above midpoint; Nothing too scientific.

Starting at the "max" is not cool!  David Tubb, the rifle champ, once said,"My two and three hundred loads are NOT the most accurate but,they are the loads I can control."

thanks again for the help, it looks like the accuracy load is going to be inbetween 25 and 25.3 from the tack above so i'm not going to push it on this one I apreciate the input

Start 10% low.
Then increment by 0.5 gr until max
Examine every case for pressure signs after firing and before firing the next cartrige.

Once you find a range where your load is performing well: Then take that charge weight, Now make a sweep in 0.1 gr increments (5-shots each) from -0.4gr through +0.4gr.