Best generic load dev video I’ve seen.

[huntnful]

Pressure ladders for groups basically tell the whole story of that bullet, powder & velocity, in conjunction with the precision capabilities. They work great and are super simple. I don’t do anything else anymore.


Here’s a similar one I just did myself the other day.





If the ladder looks like shit, it likely just shoot like shit no matter what.

If it groups into a decent cluster for the amount of shots taken, pick whatever charge is in the middle of the cluster and below pressure. Literally that simple.

 

[Muledeerfanatic]

Basically what I do
Then do some depth test
I don't try too hard
Works out fine

 

[hdc77]

Im in this bandwagon as well, I usually pick a seating depth .020 off lands, and do the powder ladder, it target sucks I try a different bullet. This happens rarely with Bergers. This is a 12 shot ladder group with a 260 AI and 140 HT.

 

[Quicksilver]

100%, usually shows itself pretty early if the rifle likes the combo or not. Just got done battling a rifle through 3 different powder combos but my buddy was convinced he had to shoot a certain bullet. Went to a known accurate powder that wasn’t a speed demon and it shot like .75moa over 2gr of powder. Narrow it down and I shot a .185moa group at 450yds. Instant difference compared to the other pressure tests, I knew it was going to shoot.

 

[huntnful]

Im in this bandwagon as well, I usually pick a seating depth .020 off lands, and do the powder ladder, it target sucks I try a different bullet. This happens rarely with Bergers. This is a 12 shot ladder group with a 260 AI and 140 HT.

Beautiful!

100%, usually shows itself pretty early if the rifle likes the combo or not. Just got done battling a rifle through 3 different powder combos but my buddy was convinced he had to shoot a certain bullet. Went to a known accurate powder that wasn’t a speed demon and it shot like .75moa over 2gr of powder. Narrow it down and I shot a .185moa group at 450yds. Instant difference compared to the other pressure tests, I knew it was going to shoot.

Yeah that’s a perfect example for sure. If you’re dead set on a bullet, better have a few powders on hand to test.

 

[OverInfinite]

I've taken this concept and applied it to my 5 shot group loads and it pretty much sums them up the short way. I have two rifles that I need to load test for, and I will be trying this method.

 

[doc holiday13]

I find it interesting so many people choose their starting point as a measurement off the lands and not just loading a bullet to SAAMI spec or Manufacturers spec. Not saying its wrong and I do understand that chambers are cut differently because reamers change with use, but i would speculate that starting with the SAAMI spec would likely get you a lot closer to the perfect seating depth

My last 2 load devs have started with using the SAAMI OAL spec for a bullet and accuracy was spot on

 

[OverInfinite]

I find it interesting so many people choose their starting point as a measurement off the lands and not just loading a bullet to SAAMI spec or Manufacturers spec. Not saying its wrong and I do understand that chambers are cut differently because reamers change with use, but i would speculate that starting with the SAAMI spec would likely get you a lot closer to the perfect seating depth

My last 2 load devs have started with using the SAAMI OAL spec for a bullet and accuracy was spot on

I think this is dependent highly on the cartridge. like all my 6.5CM's have ended up within 0.050" of SAAMI. where as my 284Win and 22-250 are pretty much limited by brass surface bearing and i am still not touching the lands. The only reason I pull them out is to get more powder in them.

 

[Chris in TN]

I will say that as a kid I saw older shooters legit obsess over 'load development' and often they'd shoot dozens if not hundreds of rounds in a completely willy-nilly fashion (or so I say based on what we know now) and I am soooooo glad we don't have to jump through those hoops anymore. Start with good components, use good procedures, fire in a good barrel, and have realistic expectations, and life is just so much easier.

I find it interesting so many people choose their starting point as a measurement off the lands and not just loading a bullet to SAAMI spec or Manufacturers spec. Not saying its wrong and I do understand that chambers are cut differently because reamers change with use, but i would speculate that starting with the SAAMI spec would likely get you a lot closer to the perfect seating depth

My last 2 load devs have started with using the SAAMI OAL spec for a bullet and accuracy was spot on

I realize that there's a difference between posting a link and making a coherent argument. But I'm gonna be lazy and post this link - because it does make a pretty coherent argument, at least one that has convinced me, not that I'm some gauge of wisdom.

Anyway: https://precisionrifleblog.com/2020/04/05/bullet-jump-load-development-data/

I think it boils down to this: The bullet's depth in the case (or, SAAMI specs) has a fairly small (and predictable) impact on the physics of what happens in the case, when the round is fired. But the same metric also has a much larger relationship to the lands in terms of jump distance, and that seems to have a larger impact on other aspects of the shot.

I'm not smart enough or patient enough to test such things so I just take the word of guys who have, and try to start near that 0.060" off the lands realm. It works thus far, for me.

 

[huntnful]

I find it interesting so many people choose their starting point as a measurement off the lands and not just loading a bullet to SAAMI spec or Manufacturers spec. Not saying its wrong and I do understand that chambers are cut differently because reamers change with use, but i would speculate that starting with the SAAMI spec would likely get you a lot closer to the perfect seating depth

My last 2 load devs have started with using the SAAMI OAL spec for a bullet and accuracy was spot on

I see your point for sure, but with just trying a bunch of different bullets, and also inconsistency from bullet lots, I prefer to have a consistent baseline starting point with a certain distance from the lands, not a certain cartridge COAL.

 

[doc holiday13]

I see your point for sure, but with just trying a bunch of different bullets, and also inconsistency from bullet lots, I prefer to have a consistent baseline starting point with a certain distance from the lands, not a certain cartridge COAL.

I certainly do understand that different bullets will sit differently. On my 25 creed I loaded hornady 134's according to the spec called out in the drawing provided by hornady, then when I loaded some sierra 135's i set the bullet seating to have the same jump as the hornady because the hornady bullets were shooting great

 

[RME]

Maybe I missed this being mentioned already but what distance are these groups being shot at?