At what point are you done with load development?

Anyone else have a hard time setting a rifle to the side and saying you're "done" with load development for it? Early on I was happy getting a box of 100 bullets and getting them to shoot MOA or better. I think I had lower expectations at that time and now seem to be on the extreme other end with very high expectations. More and more I find myself unable to stop tinkering with things in the never ending search of that undefined "perfect" combo. I can't be the only one with this affliction.haha

I'm sure you can all relate and also have countless test loads worked up that are at or below MOA. However, I am not happy with my results unless I'm half-MOA or better. ...and then when I do manage to get a rifle to shoot half-MOA, it's either not repeatable or this devil on my shoulder tells me to tweak the seating depth further, try a crimp, don't crimp, crimp more/less, try a different primer or brand of brass, tighten/loosen the action screws, maybe it'll like a different weight/profile bullet better, and on and on the cycle seems to go.

I'm not a PRS shooter and the main goal of my load development is for hunting purposes. I obviously don't need to be going this far down the rabbit hole.lol For those of you perfectionists out there, at what point do you call it good enough or feel happy with your results?

Its a Hobby. You keep at it until you get tired of it and build a new rifle LOL...

Orange Dust said:

Its a Hobby. You keep at it until you get tired of it and build a new rifle LOL...

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Same here.

For me I usually shoot for .5 MOA. If I can find that and then repeat it or get between .5 and .7 MOA on the next round I quit there. It's not that I don't want to see if it'll do better but I'm on a limited budget for powder, bullets, etc. so I ignore the devil on my shoulder and spend the rest of my components on actually shooting out to 1000 yards instead of spending more on trying to tweak my handloads. I figure the practice is more valuable than trying to get the rifle to shoot tiny tenths of an inch smaller groups. Groups don't kill critters practice at hunting ranges and field positions does. The itty bitty groups do give a guy confidence in a rifle though.

I'll build or buy a new rifle before spending a ton of time trying to find a load it likes. I have no desire wasting time and burning up a barrel for another 1/4".

Years ago, when shooting the smaller stuff, with a heavy barrel rifle.....my expectations were quite high. I spent a lot of time, components, and money, searching for the "Holy Grail"! As I aged (matured is questionable), and found myself busy with many other interests, I had an "epiphany"! Get as much info as possible on the cartridge, to minimize component options. Research the rifle to be used, determine what reasonable expectations should be. Get quality rifle components (scope, base, etc.), and assemble, using every skill I've learned over the years. Then, proceed with cartridge assembly, using all methods available to me, to make uniform rounds. If I can match, or slightly exceed expectations.....enjoy the moment, and go use the rifle for it's intended purpose! memtb

It's a addiction that can't be cured .
It's like searching for the perfect woman ,Just when you think you have found her you stumble across one of her imperfections. Damd it ! Start all over . All jokes aside I found her
Took a lot of development but I finally got her there . I hope she don't read this .lol

I would like a 0.020" aggregate from a rifle... and have one close to that a custom 6xc single shot. For hunting rifles, I accept less than 1".

I set parameters (accuracy/velocity) on what I expect from that particular rifle and chambering with certain bullets. Example: I expect my custom barreled .338 RUM to shoot 1/2 moa out to 800. It however it will not...not even close. I've put hundreds of rounds through it tweaking things and still have work to do. I just had it rebarreled a year ago and am already wanting to put another on. My Ruger American factory rifle I wanted 1 moa to 600. I found that load in about 30 minutes and left it alone. It has far exceeded my expectations, actually does better than my .338!

When I get the velocity/accuracy combo I want, I quit there. That generally means .5 MOA or less at the velocity I'm looking for! Like others have said, no sense burning out a barrel developing loads!

Great question. I try to get all my rifles to have at least one load that is "certified" for use with a specific type of game or hunt. Once that is complete, I'll stay with those loads until I might want to try a new bullet, powder or other, so it's not continual load development. I don't have enough time for that.

I'm strictly a hunter. My goal is 1/2 moa. Do I always accomplish this? NO. But every time I pick up a rifle to go hunting, I select one that does shoot 1/2 moa or better. Then in the off season I am back to working on the ones that don't hold 1/2 moa or better. Keeps me practicing and I am not shooting the barrel out of the rifles that do shoot well. Will admit that once in a while if I start to question my shooting ability, I do drag out a known rifle just to make sure that I am still capable of shooting 1/2 moa. Then there is always the new whatever that I just can't live without! It's a terrible disease but it sure keeps me out of trouble. LOL

Depends on your rifles purpose and expected range. Short range (up to 400) hunting rifles 3/4-1 MOA can do it. Past that .5-.75 MOA depending on barrel and work done.

1K competition, .2 or less at shorter distances and no more than 4-5 inches at 1000, otherwise you are not competitive.

Need to understand there is a point of diminishing returns where all you are doing is burning money, bullets and barrels.

Set your goals of expectations and when you hit them, leave it alone.

Finding a load that shoots altleast .5" at 100yds is generally acceptable in most applications. But wait till you get a good barrel and from minimum to maximum the dang thing shoots like .4" and below. Talk about frustrating lol