Load Development... what’s your process

1st I pressure test the loading..Example: 1 round 36.0, next round 36.5 and so on till I reach the max recommended powder load...IF I had no pressure signs (heavy bolt lift and the like). All shots at different bulls. Looking for the dead on zero, If there is one. Checking and recording my sd, es and ft /s. Pick a good sd, es and ft/s to start out with. Load up 3 rounds on where I want to start, utilizing a known good CBTO. If the CBTO isn't known I'll start 20 thou off the lands and utilize that through this stage. I do the 3 round work up per .5 gr step process rechecking groups and sd/es, ft/s. when I find a group with the results I want I load up 5 rounds and step up my gr weight .2, .4 and see if it improves. If not then I start playing around with the seating to see if it'll improve. when I find something I like...I go with it. Of course I do this with each and every change of components (brass, primers, lot # of powder, lot # of bullets). Long and drawn out I know..but it works for me.
 
Some rifles I do similar to most - shoot 2 at each load and look for a flat spot in the velocity. I have also used the 2 or 3 shots at horizontally placed dots and look for a 'level' spot/range. Then I have also done the 3 shot groups.
Just depends on what it takes to get that rifle to shoot well enough.
 
Sounds simple and it works for you. Two questions:
- what range are you shooting at?
- do you wait a while between shots?

Cheers
 
Sounds simple and it works for you. Two questions:
- what range are you shooting at?
- do you wait a while between shots?

Cheers
Right now 100 yds. As it were I working on two different calibers (.260 Rem & .308 Win.) with a third waiting in the wings. When I get close to nailing it down I'll move out to 300 yds and tweek from there. Yes I give it about 3 min between shots (if it's cool enough out) and 5 if it isn't..or at least enough to cool it down so I can keep my hand on the barrel without a problem.

Cheers back at ya friend.
 
Two shot groups work pretty good for me too. Why? No group size will be smaller than the first two shots. Wow, think about that for a minute........Doing load development at 100 yards is really a waste of time and materials. You won't see vertical stringing at 100 yards. At least shoot at 200 for finding promising loads, then fine tune at 300, then finally at 500 to confirm you've got the correct load.
 
Two shot groups work pretty good for me too. Why? No group size will be smaller than the first two shots. Wow, think about that for a minute........Doing load development at 100 yards is really a waste of time and materials. You won't see vertical stringing at 100 yards. At least shoot at 200 for finding promising loads, then fine tune at 300, then finally at 500 to confirm you've got the correct load.
Well ok then. You just do your thing and I'll do mine. Personally I don't consider a 5 shot group a waste of time or material. I don't shoot often enough to be consider myself "professional". With that said it gives me a bit more info on sd, es and velocity. In load development, just my opinion, the more info you have the better off you are. The 100 yd shots are just to see what the load is doing. An important step when your dealing with a new bullet (type, manufacture, new powder type or any change in components. There's always the dreaded "flyer" you sometimes get to deal with. If the 2 shot group gets you where you want to be..have at it. For me I'll stick with my 5 shot group. No disrespect intended.
 
I'm thinking two shots can't even be called "a group". Seems like the definition should entail three or more shots. If you shoot two shots, you've shot "a pair"...not "a group". What if you shoot one shot? Is that a 'one-shot' group? There has to be some threshold. One shot with a cold bore at a target is the 'test for hunting' shot. Two shots at a target is merely getting you two thirds of the way to "a group". It's like an incomplete...
You see what I mean.
 
I get what you are saying. But if you shoot two shots over chrono with an SD of like 2 and its one nasty hole I am not a betting man but if I was I would bet money that might be an area to explore further. Same thing goes if you shoot two shots and its already an inch group then you know that is area not to explore further. I defeinetly verify loads with 3-5 round groups after this first process and usually several times before I commit to that being "the one".
 
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