Posted: 1/12/2010 6:03:00 PM EDT
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What is a decent amount of cartridges to load up when doing load development?
This is my first time reloading, and I want to take it slow and easy. |
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Try reposting over here
http://www.ar15.com/forums/forum.html?b=6&f=42 |
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Quoted:
What is a decent amount of cartridges to load up when doing load development? This is my first time reloading, and I want to take it slow and easy. Seventy. Load starting from the minimum and load two cartridges with each load. Work your way up in .2 grain increments, two rounds each. Shoot them all at the same target, same point. You'll get a group that looks like a tornado or hour glass. The top of the stem on the tornado or the center of the hour glass is the sweet spot for that combination of rifle and components. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
10 it is. First 10 done. First load, .303 British - 34.5 grains of IMR 3031 over 180 grain Speer Hot Cor. If your powder is over your projectile, you're doing it wrong. (Hey, you're the one that posted in GD.  )Yeah yeah. There is always at least one smart ass. 
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Shoulda posted in the Reloading forum instead of getting a quick wrong answer in GD.
For load development like you asked 5 rounds at each 2 tenth grain increment is a good place to get a start. If 3 shots exceed your maximum acceptable group size then you don't need to shoot 5 of that load(and especially not 10). But if you get acceptable results with a 5 shot group then go back and load 10 or 20 more of the same load and make sure it is repeatable. If it's a weapon I have experience with and know it is not prone to high pressure problems I'll start closer to max load than I will with a new weapon. Ie. I'll start 10% under max load and go up from there. You will prolly need 30-40 rounds loaded in total in different powder charges to get an idea of bullet/powder viability as a load for that specific weapon. If the groups r not what Im looking for the only reason i won't simply pull the loads back down is if I'm also looking for high pressure signs. What I mean is, say I've loaded ramshot exterminator in my 6.8 spc. and I have loads to shoot that ranged from 28.0 to 29.6gr. If the first 2 shots at 29.0 are 2 inches apart, that is already a load im not interested in, and I will pull them apart and reload them. Unless I see possible slight pressure signs. like maybe my primers r slightly flattened. I might shoot a couple more to verify and depending on what i see move up to the next load. |