Trying to make reloading easier.

[Durable Gun]

Hey folks,
I'm new to this site and about 4-5 years into reloading. I'm super passionate about it and lately digging a little deeper towards utilizing my time and energy correctly. See I've been originally taught to work up a load from min charge to max in 3 rounds per increments and going up .2 or .3 grains as I move up to max. I really feel like I'm wasting my time and components/money doing this. I want to start mid range of my charges but worry I will miss a really good sweet spot my rifle likes. I just now for the 1st time after reading about the method loaded a 10 shot ladder test for my 7prc using n570 and berger 195s. I started the load at 69.1g and ended in 75.5g with .2 and .3 increments. I made 2 identical batches of these to see if I get similar nodes with my chrono. Do most of you guys do this to look for a node near max pressure? Or do you guys do what I've been originally taught? Which in my case would use up 80+ rounds and essentially a full day of shooting. Also, is 100yards sufficient or am I not going to get enough data. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks kindly, Alex.

Ps- pls understand that I'm somewhat new to this science and lingo so somewhat layman's terms if you could. God bless from Canada.

 

[Marbles]

Check this thread out. https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/painless-load-development-mine.238400/

My approach:
I load a mid charge weight and work up in 0.5 gr increments with 1 round at each charge weight to find pressure. That is in 308 case size, for the 7 PRC I would go woth 1 gr increments. Once you find pressure signs, drop to the last charge without pressure signs and load up 10. See how it groups and look for pressure signs on all 10.

 

[SDHNTR]

I load up to pressure, back off by a grain or so and shoot. It either shoots well or it doesn’t. If it doesn’t, I change powder or bullet and try again.

 

[Durable Gun]

Check this thread out. https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/painless-load-development-mine.238400/

My approach:
I load a mid charge weight and work up in 0.5 gr increments with 1 round at each charge weight to find pressure. That is in 308 case size, for the 7 PRC I would go woth 1 gr increments. Once you find pressure signs, drop to the last charge without pressure signs and load up 10. See how it groups and look for pressure signs on all 10.

Thank you very much pal! I will try this.

 

[MuleyFever]

Thanks kindly, Alex.

Seriously though the post's above about cover it. You also need to decide if you're looking for hunting accuracy or bench rest accuracy.

 

[Steve300xcw]

With powder and chamberings I am familar with. I'm a bit more aggressive.

Same as mentioned above though. Find pressure and work from there.

 

[Durable Gun]

I load up to pressure, back off by a grain or so and shoot. It either shoots well or it doesn’t. If it doesn’t, I change powder or bullet and try again.

So you are always looking to find a load at near max charge? If so, is the reason for this because its usually what a gun likes? Why would one start from min to max aside from safety issues? Thanks for the reply.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Because you dont know where max pressure is goona be with your gun.

I'm also not starting with a min load

 

[Durable Gun]

Check this thread out. https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/painless-load-development-mine.238400/

My approach:
I load a mid charge weight and work up in 0.5 gr increments with 1 round at each charge weight to find pressure. That is in 308 case size, for the 7 PRC I would go woth 1 gr increments. Once you find pressure signs, drop to the last charge without pressure signs and load up 10. See how it groups and look for pressure signs on all 10.

Check this thread out. https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/painless-load-development-mine.238400/

My approach:
I load a mid charge weight and work up in 0.5 gr increments with 1 round at each charge weight to find pressure. That is in 308 case size, for the 7 PRC I would go woth 1 gr increments. Once you find pressure signs, drop to the last charge without pressure signs and load up 10. See how it groups and look for pressure signs on all 10.

Tbh I've read that thread before and I'm left kinda confused about it.

 

[wapitibob]

I do 1 grain increments, look for a flat spot then do 3 ea. Pick the best then shoot at 200 to verify and zero, then to 400/600/800 to get a velocity. The only time I shoot at 100 is the initial pressure ladder and 3 shot groups.

7stw N570 and 195's after chopping the barrel.
77-83 grains


follow up 3 shot groups

went with 81.7 for final load


swapped the barrel last week and put on a 7PRC
Couldn't get 180 hybrids and H1000 to shoot consistent so I loaded up N570 and the 195's. Spent way too many shots with the 180's thinking I was close, only to have groups blow up next time out.

shot yesterday , 66 - 72 gr x 1gr
pressure at 72gr, will shoot each side of 69 gr tomorrow if the rain quits

 

[SDHNTR]

So you are always looking to find a load at near max charge? If so, is the reason for this because its usually what a gun likes? Why would one start from min to max aside from safety issues? Thanks for the reply.

Because I don’t believe a gun is gonna shoot a load meaningfully better or worse at any different safe powder charge. I’m not concerned about shrinking my groups by .25”. That’s meaningless for hunting. The gun is either going to like the powder and bullet combo or it’s not. Adjusting powder charges is not going to make a bad load good.

 

[mtnbound]

Hey folks,
I'm new to this site and about 4-5 years into reloading. I'm super passionate about it and lately digging a little deeper towards utilizing my time and energy correctly. See I've been originally taught to work up a load from min charge to max in 3 rounds per increments and going up .2 or .3 grains as I move up to max. I really feel like I'm wasting my time and components/money doing this. I want to start mid range of my charges but worry I will miss a really good sweet spot my rifle likes. I just now for the 1st time after reading about the method loaded a 10 shot ladder test for my 7prc using n570 and berger 195s. I started the load at 69.1g and ended in 75.5g with .2 and .3 increments. I made 2 identical batches of these to see if I get similar nodes with my chrono. Do most of you guys do this to look for a node near max pressure? Or do you guys do what I've been originally taught? Which in my case would use up 80+ rounds and essentially a full day of shooting. Also, is 100yards sufficient or am I not going to get enough data. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks kindly, Alex.

Ps- pls understand that I'm somewhat new to this science and lingo so somewhat layman's terms if you could. God bless from Canada.

Typically, I review multiple reloading data guides and gather an idea from each on where the maximum load is based on my chosen powder and bullet. I load 3 @ max or .2 below max, 3 @ .4gr below my max load, and 3 @ an additional .4gr below my max load. I shoot them low to high, looking for pressure, velocity, and group size. If I like one of the loads, I will make 10 and shoot a group. If I do not like the results from that powder/bullet combo, I try a different powder with the same bullet and repeat the steps. What I have found is that if a bullet doesn't do what I want it to do with two different powders, it's unlikely to work in that barrel, and I do my best not to chase a non-working bullet just because I want to make it work.

 

[Marbles]

Tbh I've read that thread before and I'm left kinda confused about it.

So, just read what Form writes. It gives the fastest method.

For my own comfort level with safety I don't do things exactly as he does, but he clearly does fine with it from a safety stand point.

Or, does something else cause the confusion?

 

[Vern400]

You can easily get loads that shoot well at 100 yards that are garbage farther out. (High extreme spread and SD). Don't spend your time on those.
I've gone from ES over 100 back down to 12 or 15 with a powder change.

In my opinion, when you get something that works pretty good statistically and on paper, THEN you can make some minor tweaks and baby steps to improve it.

Baby steps on full spectrum powder charges from the get-go is just going slow. It gets to do the same point, slower .

 

[Durable Gun]

Because I don’t believe a gun is gonna shoot a load meaningfully better or worse at any different safe powder charge. I’m not concerned about shrinking my groups by .25”. That’s meaningless for hunting. The gun is either going to like the powder and bullet combo or it’s not. Adjusting powder charges is not going to make a bad load good.

So... sorry for this possibly dumb question but, how do i then know myb gun is happy with a combo? ... a velocity node(s)?

 

[Durable Gun]

So, just read what Form writes. It gives the fastest method.

For my own comfort level with safety I don't do things exactly as he does, but he clearly does fine with it from a safety stand point.

Or, does something else cause the confusion?

It's just the way he words it. I can't wrap my mind around it and fully grasping what he is explaining.

 

[TimberHunter]

Check this thread out. https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/painless-load-development-mine.238400/

OP do yourself a favor and just do as Form does in this above thread. I went off the deep end of reloading a few years ago and that thread saved me. Get a load that shoots +- 1.5” 10 shot group and the ln don’t waste your time at 100 yards. Move on to practicing field style shooting from positions like prone, seated, kneeing, standing


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[Durable Gun]

I do 1 grain increments, look for a flat spot then do 3 ea. Pick the best then shoot at 200 to verify and zero, then to 400/600/800 to get a velocity. The only time I shoot at 100 is the initial pressure ladder and 3 shot groups.

7stw N570 and 195's after chopping the barrel.
77-83 grains
View attachment 961888

follow up 3 shot groups
View attachment 961889
went with 81.7 for final load


swapped the barrel last week and put on a 7PRC
Couldn't get 180 hybrids and H1000 to shoot consistent so I loaded up N570 and the 195's. Spent way too many shots with the 180's thinking I was close, only to have groups blow up next time out.

shot yesterday , 66 - 72 gr x 1gr
pressure at 72gr, will shoot each side of 69 gr tomorrow if the rain quits


View attachment 961890

I appreciate this. However, what do you exactly mean when saying - 3 each after finding a flat spot. I get the node (flat spot) but, 3 each? Thanks!

 

[TimberHunter]

So... sorry for this possibly dumb question but, how do i then know myb gun is happy with a combo? ... a velocity node(s)?

Forget velocity nodes man. Been there done that. Don’t even try to argue with people that say those are important.

You’ll know if your gun likes it if it’s sub 2” group for 10 or more shots at 100 yards. Sometimes it will even be around 1” at 100 yards but don’t chase that 1” group

This is what Form means: Find pressure (or go off book max if you’re not comfortable reading pressure signs on the head of the brass). Back off a grain or so. Load 10, shoot them at 100 yards. If not under 2”, then try entirely different bullet or powder combo. This assumes the shooter is capable of producing sub 2” groups


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[Durable Gun]

OP do yourself a favor and just do as Form does in this above thread. I went off the deep end of reloading a few years ago and that thread saved me. Get a load that shoots +- 1.5” 10 shot group and the ln don’t waste your time at 100 yards. Move on to practicing field style shooting from positions like prone, seated, kneeing, standing


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks. I will try harder to figure out exactly what he is saying. Hahaha! This is my problem with that thread. I'll get it. Thanks for the response.