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Posted: 7/20/2011 8:59:52 AM EDT
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I have been relaoding for a couple of years now and and I ususally load from Min Charge to the Max Charge. I was reviewing my load notes and noticed that my best loads are usually in the top 50% of the of the Charge Weight. Would I be better off to just load the top 50% of the Charge Range of still load min to max?
Just wondering what everyone else here thinks/does. Thanks MAHA |
| I think it would be ok to start a little above the min load when developing your loads to save money, but I would also be careful on which round it was. For example, on the newer cartridges, they have stricter loads than a cartridge that has been around for the last 50-100 years because those are also designed to work in older guns that cant take some of the higher pressures of the newer loads. |
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I figure out what I want to use for a maximum charge weight, then use a starting load 5% to 10% lower depending on my experience with the cartridge and bullet.
Sometimes I'll load one cartridge with each charge weight across the span, then fire those first to get an eyeball on what to expect for signs of high pressure. Even starting with charge weights 10% lower than maximum eats up too many components and too much barrel life if a person isn't careful. We've had some folks use 0.1 grain increments, when in fact 0.4 or 0.5 grains is sufficient, with maybe a little backtracking to check a 0.2 increment above or below a charge that looks promising. Hunting for a single charge weight that "tunes" is a trap and when the weather changes it will fall apart. The idea is to find a small range of charges where the accuracy is not sensitive across the entire range. Always compare the starting charge weight you've calculated against published data to confirm whether it's higher or lower. If it's lower, then use the published starting charge weight. |
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I am loading .223. Using a Sierra 60gr Varminteer bullet with Varget. I have the Sierra AR15 load data on PDF that I am using. I loaded the 60gr with H335 but couldnt get as small of a group that I think was possible. I was ususally .75" to 1" at 100 yards, it isnt bad but wanted to try the Varget I have to see if I could do better.
MAHA |
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Quoted:
I am loading .223. Using a Sierra 60gr Varminteer bullet with Varget. I have the Sierra AR15 load data on PDF that I am using. I loaded the 60gr with H335 but couldnt get as small of a group that I think was possible. I was ususally .75" to 1" at 100 yards, it isnt bad but wanted to try the Varget I have to see if I could do better. MAHA 60 years ago the average competitive benchrest shooter would have killed for a consistently three quarter minute rifle, and would have maimed someone for one well into the 60's. If a person is willing to experiment, he might find a magic load with some odd combination of components. That means shooting lots of bullets, maybe a thousand depending on where and how he hunts for that load. Then, when that magic load is found, he gets to figure out if it's due to the cartridge or his improved shooting! 
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Quoted:
60 years ago the average competitive benchrest shooter would have killed for a consistently three quarter minute rifle, and would have maimed someone for one well into the 60's. If a person is willing to experiment, he might find a magic load with some odd combination of components. That means shooting lots of bullets, maybe a thousand depending on where and how he hunts for that load. Then, when that magic load is found, he gets to figure out if it's due to the cartridge or his improved shooting!
That was a 100 round reloading work up. Not bad but I think I can do better with Varget, if not I know what load of H335 to go back to. Looking for a good load out to 300 - 400 yards for yotes, possibly medium Game. I guess I should have added I am shooing out of a 20" 1:7 WOA barrel Home Built AR with a RRA NM trigger. MAHA |
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You could try this method:
http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/ It takes a lot of the guess work out of working up loads. Read through all of the tabs on the left to get a good understanding of everything. It's a little lengthy but interesting. I've used this method with success. The developer isn't trying to promote or sell anything, just spread some good knowledge. Hope this helps! Jeff |
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Quoted:
You could try this method: http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/ It takes a lot of the guess work out of working up loads. Read through all of the tabs on the left to get a good understanding of everything. It's a little lengthy but interesting. I've used this method with success. The developer isn't trying to promote or sell anything, just spread some good knowledge. Hope this helps! Jeff I have read and tried that... I ended up with all shots (10 total) with in an inch over a 3 grain charge weight diff from start to stop, which would indicate that I could pick a charge in the middle and have a +/- of 1.5 grains and have it not effect the accuracy of the round. After doing a traditional load method I founf that the lower loads were 1 MOA+ and tigher groups in the top 50% of the charge range. Or with no accuracy node with in my loads, no loads were with an inch of each other... both times I ended up doing a traditional load method and founf good results with a charge weight in the top 50% of the range. I am not saying it won't work just hasn't paid off for me... MAHA |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
You could try this method: http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/ It takes a lot of the guess work out of working up loads. Read through all of the tabs on the left to get a good understanding of everything. It's a little lengthy but interesting. I've used this method with success. The developer isn't trying to promote or sell anything, just spread some good knowledge. Hope this helps! Jeff I have read and tried that... I ended up with all shots (10 total) with in an inch over a 3 grain charge weight diff from start to stop, which would indicate that I could pick a charge in the middle and have a +/- of 1.5 grains and have it not effect the accuracy of the round. After doing a traditional load method I founf that the lower loads were 1 MOA+ and tigher groups in the top 50% of the charge range. Or with no accuracy node with in my loads, no loads were with an inch of each other... both times I ended up doing a traditional load method and founf good results with a charge weight in the top 50% of the range. I am not saying it won't work just hasn't paid off for me... MAHA +1. VERY interesting read. This is particularly good method if temperature can vary a lot |
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I may do that with a cartridge I had loaded a lot like 223.
But with a new gun or new to me caliber I hadn't loaded before, I would start at the start load and work up. This practice has served me well over the years, and several times I had pressure signs the first step up from the start load. |
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