creating a "great load"

[ksteed17]

Ive heard alot of guys say the have made a "great load" for their rifle. My question is how do you do this? What makes one load different from the other? Dont you do the load that the book tells you? Im curious to know if theres more i could be doing and how to do it.

[Marlin xl7]

A lot of it is trial and error. It all depends on which load your rifle likes. I usually start with the first load under the maximum load. If that doesn't work I will add a grain or subtract a grin until the groups tighten up. It also depends on what bullet weight your rifle likes to shoot.

Hope I helped a bit, I'm sure some more experienced members will answer as well.

[ksteed17]

how do you know if its your shooting or the loads your creating that are making the difference?

[gunner72]

Look back on some of the old reloading threads. Try "Optimal Charge Weight" for example. If you can understand what all that stuff means you should be well on your way. My brain hurts!

[ksteed17]

Look back on some of the old reloading threads. Try "Optimal Charge Weight" for example. If you can understand what all that stuff means you should be well on your way. My brain hurts!

haha ya i've been trying to keep up with the energy threads but then i realized, im a plumber for a reason, not a physicist.:)

[Gonehuntin']

A great load- is a load that is reliable,accurate ( you decide how accurate is accurate enuff according to your purpose and application), and economical (as can be according to purpose).

For instance, for a target load, full power loads are not usually the most accurate, so why hop 'em up to the max. Defeats the purpose.

For a hunting load, as much velocity as your rifle and shoulder will safely handle and yet maintain whatever you feel adequate for hunting accuracy (depending on what and where you hunt, how far you plan to shoot max, etc.

I have been fortunate in load developement, usually the first or second combo of powder ( in various tested increments), case, primer, and bullet (tried at different seating depths) yields decent results. Then I pick one load per rifle that I really like and stick to it. (i.e. 180 gr. jacketed bullet +IMR 4350+WLR primer in my 30-06, for everything. The only difference is the bullet type according to plinking or hunting situation)

[Marlin xl7]

how do you know if its your shooting or the loads your creating that are making the difference?

That is why I like to take a buddy with me, that way we can both try the load and be sure that it either works, or doesn't.

[huntinstuff]

I started reloading in January.

I bought the Nosler reloading book, found the bullet i wanted to try and loaded the minimum load of the powder I had.

And the gun shot sub MOA.

In the future, I will experiment just to piddle around but I got lucky first time.

In my Sako A7 30-06, I found that with 57gr of RL22 powder with 180g Nosler Partition ppt bullets, I have a sub MOA rifle (cloverleafs 3 actually) at 100yds.

For hunting, that is totally acceptable.

[shooter55]

same as Huntinstuff...started reloading last year - Dean2 helped me get set up and the first loads for my 243 (barnes) were awesome.
Took me a bit to find a great load for my bench savage 223...it likes the loads hotter and I tend to start at the bottom and work up...the Sierra 69 came out the best for the bench. The 22Hornet was a bit easier as Dean2 had tried just about every mix and I tried a couple of his and the Ruger hit dead on...
for my 270 Remington I can't find a load to please her. I think she is just finicky...likes the expensive bullets (Barnes or Nosler) but spits out the Speers, Hornady like she was chewing cabbage....its a nice light mountain rifle but she is a challenge.

[elkhunter11]

how do you know if its your shooting or the loads your creating that are making the difference?

If you are consistently shooting 2"groups with one load,and 1" groups with another load,the difference is usually the load.If you can't shoot better that 2" with any load,you might want to have a proven shooter do your load testing.

[Cowtown guy]

usually start with the first load under the maximum load. If that doesn't work I will add a grain or subtract a grin until the groups tighten up.

One thing to consider is that some rifles may have higher than average chamber pressures.

For the beginners here that are just starting out, I think it should be mentioned that there is a minimum load listed for a very good reason. Always start at the minimum load listed in the book until you are more experienced and know how your rifle reacts to a wide variety of loads form tons of shooting and testing experience with individual rifles..

That being said, one of the biggest ways to improve a loads accuracy is to play with the seating depth. With factory ammo they have to be able to make the round safe in every rifle that is in production. There is a set of specs that are followed that the chambers in modern production rifles are cut to. The ammo manufacturers follow these same specs for safety reasons.

Reloading allows the cartridge to be tailored to the rifle for optimal accuracy. Some bullets, like some match bullets, prefer to be seated tight to the lands. One of my rifles likes the Bergers seated at 3 thou from the lands. Bullets like the Barnes TSX for example are usually the opposite of this. My experience with these tends to be in the 60 to 70 thou range.

Of course the other factor in reloading is that I get to shoot more in order to tinker. I love to shoot so I use the excuse of tinkering to get out and blast some powder.

Hope I helped.

[crazy_fool1]

I started reloading in January.

I bought the Nosler reloading book, found the bullet i wanted to try and loaded the minimum load of the powder I had.

And the gun shot sub MOA.

In the future, I will experiment just to piddle around but I got lucky first time.

In my Sako A7 30-06, I found that with 57gr of RL22 powder with 180g Nosler Partition ppt bullets, I have a sub MOA rifle (cloverleafs 3 actually) at 100yds.

For hunting, that is totally acceptable.

SAme my guns love the Reloader 22.

U can tell when groups are under an inch at 100 yrds its a good enough hunting load....
Just like huntinstuff I had some beginners luck too.
When i tried my old boxes of Winchester Super X factory loads i used to hunt with they consistently shot 3 inch groups at 200 yards. When i made my first Reloads with berger bullets they shot 1 inch groups at 200 yards... and thats better than i was hoping for for my first loads... No reason to try to perfect that if you ask me.

[sikwhiskey]

Ive heard alot of guys say the have made a "great load" for their rifle. My question is how do you do this? What makes one load different from the other? Dont you do the load that the book tells you? Im curious to know if theres more i could be doing and how to do it.

Start low and work up.Once you try it, you will see. Every gun is different, every case, primer, powder, primer is different. Don't expect 100% awnsers as they don't exicist. EVERY load is different.