Load Development

[WeiserBucks]

You're mostly correct. However every barrel, regardless of reamer used , will have a little bit of a mind of it's own. Same with bullets, as good as they are, they're not all the same across lot #'s . That's why we develop loads for a particular combination, no two combinations are the same.

 

[archp625]

In case anyone is curious, I went out today and shot the 12 rounds I loaded up for a pressure/velocity test. I ended up seeing two speed nodes. The higher node is 54.5 - 50.0 grains of RL26 at 2917 and 2932, respectively. I started to get a slight ejector mark at 55.0 and at 55.5 it gave me a slight hard bolt lift. I’m glad I stopped there.

I plan on loading 3 rounds each of 54.7, 54.8 and 54.9 and shoot for groups and SD/ES tomorrow.

 

[archp625]

 

[archp625]

I loaded for groups in the node and went out today and shot. Looks like I found a good one. I will now load 5 shot groups then stretch her out.

 

[Unknown Munitions]

To the OP, 58.5 H1000 will be near max in Hornady brass, and 59.5 H1000 in ADG Brass. Both of these charges are for the 147 ELD-M.

 

[Unknown Munitions]

I'm thinking I'm going to go roughly 10% below max and work my way to almost max.

50.0, 50.5, 51.0, 51.5, 52.0, 52.5, 53.0, 53.5, 54.0, 54.5, 55.0 and 55.5.

I will shoot those and look for speed nodes. Once I find the nodes I will load rounds in that range and shoot for groups. I plan to start 0.020" off that lands.

Please let me know if this looks like a good game plan. I am new to reloading and load development.

Great game plan, but you will be wasting quite a bit of time and money with those charges between 50-53.

 

[archp625]

Great game plan, but you will be wasting quite a bit of time and money with those charges between 50-53.

Yep you are right. Those were way to low. But being a first time reloader, I wanted to start low and safe and work my way up. I succeeded and found a good node. Loaded some rounds for groups and found a good one.