Best way to test various powders

[BillingsKeith]

I am going to start looking for a pet load for my 30-06 soon and have a few powders on hand to try, including H4350, Accurate 4350, Ramshot Hunter, and Reloader 16 (which I will probably just ignore since it's not going to be possible to restock after I use up the pound).

My question for you is, when testing for the best powder, what is your procedure? My inclination is to take an allegedly accurate powder and charge from a loading manual and first do a seating depth test, then do some ladder tests with the various powders after determining seating depth. Does this seem like the correct order of operations, or would you first zero in on a powder before doing seating depth. And how would you determine which powder?

Thanks

 

[Wrench]

Take 3 rounds of each charge weight from low book through pressure. Stuff it to the lands or .050 off the mag box.

Shoot two, if they are close....shoot the third. If not, don't waste your time...they'll never get closer.

Keep going till you see accuracy or pressure. If you see accuracy, push through it and record the window.

Once all that is done, then you can give a shit what the chronograph said. Sd can be fixed and speed isn't important enough to matter.