Painless load development (mine)

[wind gypsy]

Looks like crosshairs were on a branch when the shot broke.

 

[Formidilosus]

Looks like crosshairs were on a branch when the shot broke.

Yes. But the bullet isn’t on the crosshairs at 30 yards.

 

[SouthernCharm]

I want to Thank you for this thread, very educational and informative. I’ve read it completely twice now. Like the KISS approach, allows me to get out of the OCD/scientific mode and move on. Watching a fellow on YouTube that’s a gunsmith. He has a similar approach, good gun parts, try two or three combinations, done. Going to shoot or not, no chasing lands, nodes, etc. He went on to state that he’s gone to only known available components, no more pixie dust RL26 or 7828 for him. After H4350 and H4831, he started using the Vihtavuori line of powders with success. If you were reloading for 243, 6.5cm, 30-06, and 300WM, what would be your 5 core powders that you would have on hand that are mostly available? Got H4831SC and H4350 and lots of others that I am slowly using up. I have to order all my supplies since very little is available in my area. Thank you again.

 

[Formidilosus]

If you were reloading for 243, 6.5cm, 30-06, and 300WM, what would be your 5 core powders that you would have on hand that are mostly available? Got H4831SC and H4350 and lots of others that I am slowly using up. I have to order all my supplies since very little is available in my area. Thank you again.

H4350, H4831sc, H1000, Varget.

 

[Bluumoon]

H4350, H4831sc, H1000, Varget.

What do you use H4831sc in?

 

[Formidilosus]

What do you use H4831sc in?

Me? Mostly just 270win. Most of what I use is H4350, H1000, Varget, XBR 8208, N570, and IMR 4064. But, H4831sc is a good powder, if H4350 doesn’t work in something, I try it.

 

[SouthernCharm]

What do you use H4831sc in?

280Ai, 6.5cm, 300wm and 30-06

 

[id_jon]

4831sc is good in 22cm

 

[Ishootgunssometimes]

Ok I have 55 shots down my newly built 7 saum.

Bullet: 168 VLDh
Powder: 65.5 H1000 (someone posted showing this as Gunwerks recipe; I did shoot 62gn and 64gn first to check for pressure)
Barrel: 18” Benchmark

Result: This was my 3rd group at 100, and my best. First 2 groups I was getttinf used to the TT Special at its lightest pull weight. But I’ll post those groups too.


L square is 4 shots. R square is 5.

I took it out to 500 and shot steel and cardboard. Not as stoked about the results, but I think I just suck at 500.


So I’m happy with the 100yd results. Still more shooting to be done. Will do a 10 shot group next range trip.

But I’m wondering whether or not my scope is level. 100 yd shots are little left (not much). 500 yd shots are right. There was no wind. Am I right in thinking this is either an out of level scope or I was holding the rifle canted? Not sure if I was checking the level on my scope for each shot..

And next question is to “true” the velocity. I played with a free ballistic app and basically adjusted velocity until the bullet drop at 500 matched what I observed in my rifle.



So I’m zeroed at 100, I was dialed to 2.5 at 500. Adjusted V until the app showed 2.5 at 500. Used G7 0.316. Scope height 1.73”.

I know Form has his instructions w a different app and I’ll try that eventually, but is the process correct?

I ask bc I don’t think I’m doing 2900fps. I used a magnetospeed for 5 shots and got avg 2676. Pretty slow I think I’ll try H4350 and see what happens.

 

[wind gypsy]

Ok I have 55 shots down my newly built 7 saum.

Bullet: 168 VLDh
Powder: 56.5gn H1000 (someone posted showing this as Gunwerks recipe; I did shoot 52gn and 54gn first to check for pressure)
Barrel: 18” Benchmark
View attachment 814641
Result: This was my 3rd group at 100, and my best. First 2 groups I was getttinf used to the TT Special at its lightest pull weight. But I’ll post those groups too.

View attachment 814643
L square is 4 shots. R square is 5.

I took it out to 500 and shot steel and cardboard. Not as stoked about the results, but I think I just suck at 500.
View attachment 814648

So I’m happy with the 100yd results. Still more shooting to be done. Will do a 10 shot group next range trip.

But I’m wondering whether or not my scope is level. 100 yd shots are little left (not much). 500 yd shots are right. There was no wind. Am I right in thinking this is either an out of level scope or I was holding the rifle canted? Not sure if I was checking the level on my scope for each shot..

And next question is to “true” the velocity. I played with a free ballistic app and basically adjusted velocity until the bullet drop at 500 matched what I observed in my rifle.

View attachment 814654

So I’m zeroed at 100, I was dialed to 2.5 at 500. Adjusted V until the app showed 2.5 at 500. Used G7 0.316. Scope height 1.73”.

I know Form has his instructions w a different app and I’ll try that eventually, but is the process correct?

I ask bc I don’t think I’m doing 2900fps. I used a magnetospeed for 5 shots and got avg 2676. Pretty slow I think I’ll try H4350 and see what happens.

Are those charge weights right? I don’t even start that low with 175s and 180s with h1000. Maybe that’s gunwerks load with h4350 but not h1000.

You’re 7.5 gr BELOW Hodgdons starting charge weight for a 168 Sierra.

 

[JollyRoger]

Finally jumped into reloading after reading this thread and seeing it didn’t have to be a giant pain in the neck.

These are my first reloads ever. I did do a few powders weights, not as a ladder test or looking for “nodes” but to learn and see what I don’t know.

6.5CM, 140 ELD-M, H4350, Federal 210, Norma brass

40.5g
SD 14.3
ES 47
MV 2715

41.0g
SD 7.4
ES 20.4
MV 2728

41.5g (Book Max)
SD 6.6
ES 16.3
MV 2754


These are just 5 round groups to see what was what. I’ve loaded up 30 of the 41g and plan to get a 10-20 round group and verify the numbers are good. If it still looks good I’m going to load up a bunch and call it a day

If anyone has suggestions or insight please let me know

 

[Ishootgunssometimes]

Are those charge weights right? I don’t even start that low with 175s and 180s with h1000. Maybe that’s gunwerks load with h4350 but not h1000.

You’re 7.5 gr BELOW Hodgdons starting charge weight for a 168 Sierra.View attachment 814658

Sorry, slightly dislexic. Edited original post

65.5!

 

[huntnful]

Loaded for a new barrel. This is pretty much all I do any more.

I WANT to shoot 180 ELDM’s. So I’m testing them with 2 powders. 180 ELDM’s shot great at 84gr. H1000 in my last barrel. Still a little charge ladder just in case.

The 180 HT’s are just to fall back on because some barrels will just flat not shoot a bullet. I doubt that’ll be the case though.

Haven’t shot N565 in this cartridge before, so I have a charge ladder test to shoot. But loaded up 86gr. so I could group test while I’m out there because I’m pretty sure that’s going to be a safe load.

 

[waspocrew]

Sorry, slightly dislexic. Edited original post

65.5!

Yep, 65.5!

 

[wind gypsy]

Yep, 65.5!


View attachment 814772

Funny, they listed the 180 HVLD BC on that load.

 

[waspocrew]

Funny, they listed the 180 HVLD BC on that load.

Correct you are!

 

[rbutcher1234]

First time reloading.

Read this thread before and resolved to follow it because why make life hard?

Shot 9 shots yesterday to find where I hit pressure because it’s my first time doing this and was being cautious. Loaded up at what I thought was a good place below max and came back today to zero.

Did two sighters, followed by 93 more shots at 100 yards. Can vouch that this method works. Now I’ve got 104 bullets down the barrel and won’t clean it for its entire life.

Thanks Form for putting the knowledge out there.

 

[Harvey_NW]

First time reloading.

Read this thread before and resolved to follow it because why make life hard?

Shot 9 shots yesterday to find where I hit pressure because it’s my first time doing this and was being cautious. Loaded up at what I thought was a good place below max and came back today to zero.

Did two sighters, followed by 93 more shots at 100 yards. Can vouch that this method works. Now I’ve got 104 bullets down the barrel and won’t clean it for its entire life.

Thanks Form for putting the knowledge out there.

That's a 93 shot group!?

 

[huntnful]

First time reloading.

Read this thread before and resolved to follow it because why make life hard?

Shot 9 shots yesterday to find where I hit pressure because it’s my first time doing this and was being cautious. Loaded up at what I thought was a good place below max and came back today to zero.

Did two sighters, followed by 93 more shots at 100 yards. Can vouch that this method works. Now I’ve got 104 bullets down the barrel and won’t clean it for its entire life.

Thanks Form for putting the knowledge out there.

Sweet baby jesus almighty if that's a 93 shot group haha.

 

[rbutcher1234]

That's a 93 shot group!?

Yes that is a 93 shot group at 100 yards.