Load Development Question

Okie Hunter

Okie Hunter

New member
When I am developing a load I use the method where you load 4 rounds in progressively larger powder charges from minimum to maximum. Shot each group at 100 yards, noting group size in an attempt to obtain the smallest group. Then work on the load from there.

My question is, are there significant down sides to using 50 yards vs. 100 yards?

I see the up side as reduced operator error (that would be me) and environmental effects (wind, etc.) that might adversely effect group size.

Your thoughts?
 
Only by a factor of two. I'm no expert either but 100 yards has been the standard forever it seems. Why would you not shoot 100 yard targets? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
Depends on the range that you plan to shoot at. I have seen several loads that grouped well at 100 and then opened up quite a bit at 200 and then even worse at 300. Also have seen tight groups at 200-300 that were not that great at 100.
 
As stated, I see the up side as reduced operator error (that would be me) and environmental effects (wind, etc.) that might adversely affect group size.

Once I get a group to shoot at 50 I am thinking you simply move out to 100 then maybe 200 to further develop the load as needed.

This load is in a 25 wssm I will use for deer and antelope. So a 200 or even a 300 yard shot is likely. I am looking for a baseline to start with, then work my way out.
 
Based on your info, I'd stick with determining load development at 100yds. A few reasons:
1) You're going to get a much better indicator of accuracy @ 100yds than 50yds. I wouldn't be very concerned about wind from 50-100yds unless you're shooting in winds above 25mph. From an "operator error" standpoint, just remember that there is no rushing shots. Take your time to breathe and gently squeeze the trigger. Making consistant, reliable shots @ 100yds from a bench isn't that hard if you take your time & concentrate on the mechanics of shooting.
2) Why take the time to load for 50yds, determine a "best" load, and then load more of this particular charge to see how it shoots @ 100yds? It seems to me that you'd just shoot at 100yds and save the bullets, brass, powder & primers that you'd use determining a good 50yd load. I guess what I'm saying is that I believe you're adding a step that isn't necessary.

Good luck!
 
This is the load development method Ive learned from a forum that many benchrest and long range shooters frequent. Ive used it to develop a load for my 22-250 and have to say in my limited experience seems to work well. They use longer ranges for testing loads, especially if you are shooting further out than 100 yards, because it seems that a load that is accurate at 100 may not be as accurate at 300, 500, etc.
http://home.snafu.de/l.moeller/Englisch/Laddertest.htm#Laddertest
 
50 not really gonna tell you anything and as mentioned be wasting powder, primer, and time. At 50, all should be pretty much in the same hole. 100 is your std and I would work at 200 is looking for a long range load.

From what I read, you are using this rifle for hunting. For the game you are speaking of any load that will do 1.5" at 100 will work. Would not be too concerned about match accuracy. If it will not do 1.5 at 100 you have a problem.

Also, in your load work, I would not jump .5 at a time to max unless working with a very large case. When approaching max area would cut that down to .2 tenths.
 
You've described a ladder test. Like all have said, 50 yards won’t tell you much. 100 yards is better but 200 yards would be even better. In a ladder test your searching for the node that said barrel will like and shoot best in. 8-10 shots will narrow the node down better than 4 shots will though. If loading 8-10 shots, each a different load, shot #'s 6 & 7 for example may be almost or touching. The two loads would be close to the perfect node for that barrel. At that point you would go back and load several shots around those two loads, above and below, to try and narrow the load down even more. That’s the method we use for our LR hunting rifles at 200 yards, it does work. Good luck.
 
For a rifle load 50 yards just tells you it goes bang. stat at 100 if your working up a real long range hunting load to 400 yards start at 200. It will save you some time and components I have never had a load shoot worse close than it did far, and I have never had a load that shot good at 100 get real bad at three hundred, I would expect a group to open up by 1/2 or so each hundred yards. I must have misread the initial post too as it looks like you load one round in each charge wt? That will tell you nothing . I load usually ten or twenty rounds each charge wt. Then fire three or four groups each at 100 200 and 300 yards. this gives me an accurate idea of what I need to do and how to go about doing it.
 
Okay I get it, 50 yards is not good, guess I was being lazy. I will try the ladder test at 200 yards.

The only additional concern I have is the copper fouling. I think this gun is bad about fouling. I have had a hard time finding a load that shoots in it and am now sure it was because of fouling. I cleaned it up and got 1.5 inch out of factory ammo. Now it is back to reloading and the search for -1 inch groups.

How many shots should I shot after cleaning and before I do the ladder test?
 
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