Need reloading help

[Rick Richard]

You might be interested in the Scott Satterlee method for load development. YouTube it to see his method.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Will be starting to reload next year, so going to follow for info

I am mainly looking for an abbreviated method of finding a load. I highly recommend doing your research and learning as much as you can before you start loading. Ive been loading for years but being in a time crunch is a new situation for me. I am by no means an expert even after years of loading. Always learning. Good luck to you when you get started.

 

[sierracharlie338]

You might be interested in the Scott Satterlee method for load development. YouTube it to see his method.

I was just refamiliarizing myself with his method but don't know anyone personally that has used it. Have you used it with success before?

 

[Rick Richard]

I was just refamiliarizing myself with his method but don't know anyone personally that has used it. Have you used it with success before?

This past week...and it gets you close.

 

[sierracharlie338]

This past week...and it gets you close.

Sounds like a possible option. Thanks

 

[BoomFlop]

What did you test with your 50 fire formed brass?

As a new Reloader, I test seating depth while fire forming brass. I will also do basic powder charge weights. I then tweak powder charge with fired brass, and if needed I will play with final seating depth to shape group.

If I were you with only 2-3 range trips, I'd load at SAAMI length and do a powder charge work up in .3 grain increments. Choose the best one or two groups and verify those loads on the next trip.

Good luck,
Steve

 

[sierracharlie338]

I would find your lands. Then start .020 off. Seat bullets in .005 increments deeper and shoot 3 shot groups until you find the best one. Then start with powder. Pick your powder of choice, start 2gr under max, load from 2gr under max to book max in 0.5gr increments. Stop if you hit pressure. Pick the load that either has the lowest ES or the load that meets your velocity goals and still has low ES. If you're only shooting 300 yards, I would focus more on accuracy than an ES that's low. Anything with an ES under 30 will be good enough.

What powder weight do you go with while testing seating depth since you don't settle on a powder charge until seating is completed? Ive never done the seating tests first.

 

[sierracharlie338]

What did you test with your 50 fire formed brass?

As a new Reloader, I test seating depth while fire forming brass. I will also do basic powder charge weights. I then tweak powder charge with fired brass, and if needed I will play with final seating depth to shape group.

If I were you with only 2-3 range trips, I'd load at SAAMI length and do a powder charge work up in .3 grain increments. Choose the best one or two groups and verify those loads on the next trip.

Good luck,
Steve

Same powder I will be using but a different bullet. Basically cheap bullets for fire forming.

 

[Jud96]

What powder weight do you go with while testing seating depth since you don't settle on a powder charge until seating is completed? Ive never done the seating tests first.

Start 2gr under max and test seating depth. Then when you find your seating depth work up in powder.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Start 2gr under max and test seating depth. Then when you find your seating depth work up in powder.

Ahh misunderstood what you originally typed. Thanks

 

[just_jon]

I fire formed with 16 grains of green dot and the cheapest bullets I could find seated into the lands.

 

[Laguna Freak]

So take the accuracy charge from the Nosler load data and play with seating depths?

obviously working up to the charge to make sure its safe

I think that is what I would do in your circumstance.

 

[gohring3006]

For 300 yards?
Load to mag length, work up a load that's 2 moa or better.
Or buy some factory .257 loads and roll with it.

 

[Highlander44]

Ok heres the deal, I have two weeks to get a load together for a rifle that traditionally has given me fits in terms of reloading. Max range for the upcoming hunt will probably be 300 or less. Gun in question is Ruger Mk II in 257 Rob AI. It has a new quality barrel hence the AI and less than 50 rounds through it.

What is the quickest most efficient way to iron out a load in your opinion? I am open to suggestions because in the past I have never been under time constraints to find a load and needless to say it wasn't done in a timely fashion. For what its worth, I have some fire formed winchester brass, 1x fired, and non fire formed Nosler brass. Only have access to a 200 yard range for the next two weeks and a limited time to be at it, maybe 2-3 trips max. I have a magnetospeed for data collection as well.

What would be your methodology if you were in my position?

If you have access to a chronograph, I would do a Saterlee test. Search it on YouTube and you'll see how it's done. I've used it several times, and makes a lot of sense to me, and has worked every time.