Need some help with Load Development

champ198

champ198

Active member
little back story. I have been reloading for some time but mostly pistol calibers and very little with rifle calibers. The load development of rifle has always eluded me badly and I feel like I am just wasting bullets, powder and primers.
with the shortage of ammo right now I am trying to get loads figured out for 3 rifles of mine.
Starting with my main rifle which is my Howa 1500 270 Win.
shooting 140gn Sierra Gamechanger Gamekings
Varget powder starting at 41.0 going up .3 per load to 43.0 (max is 43.7 but have only went to 43.0 so far.
Federal primers
COAL 3.280

Here are the targets that i have shot so far.
none so far look the best to me. where to i need to go from here.

hopefully the picture links work....not sure the best way to put pics in here

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I work up loads in two phases. The first phase is using 1 grain increments and 3 shot groups up to the maximum recommended charge. This gets you in the ballpark. If a load doesn't group 3 shots it certainly won't group 5 so save some components there. I consult several current manuals or powder manufacturers recommendations and find that there is quite a difference in the maximum load. I typically start at the middle recommended charge. As I go up in powder charge I am checking the fired brass for signs of pressure. When I find an accurate 3 shot load (or two) I load 5 rounds with 1/2 grain below, at, and 1/2 grain above the accurate load (15 rounds total). If I am at the maximum charge I don't go above it. If signs of high pressure show up I stop the series. A bullet puller comes in handy if you have a handful of ammo that is too hot to shoot. The 5 shot groups will confirm the right load.
 
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The way I have always did load development is this:

I average the Max charge for the powder I want to test for the bullet from four different manuals. I usually look for a powder that gives the best velocity with all bullet weights for the caliber I am testing.

I start at 2-2-1/2 grs. below the Max charge in three shot charges and work up to the average Max. This gives me six 3 shot groups to shoot along with two fouling rounds to shoot first.

I shoot the six different 3 shot groups and find a charge that suits me I will then load 2 fouler's and 18 cartridges to shoot. I either shoot six 3 shot groups or one 3 shot group and three 5 shot groups.
 
For hunting rifles, I load 1 round every 0.3 gr from minimum to max + 0.3 gr. If a magazine rifle I load mag length -0.020 for length, otherwise load to the bullets recommended coal. I use a target with horizontal aiming points, one spot for each round, marked to match load gr. 3 sighters/foulers are loaded at one of the lower charges and shot at the corresponding aiming point. After slow firing(barrel should not get hot) I look for a load where 2-3 charge weights in a row have the least amount of vertical dispersion from the aiming points. I will then load 3 in the middle of that range and confirm. I then will play with seating depth, unless the load is sub one inch, repeating a couple times. Usually I can find a good hunting load in under 50 rounds. If during the initial shooting you see pressure signs, stop testing and work below that charge weight.
 
Maybe try a different powder. 270s like h4350 or imr 4350 or imr 4831.
Sometimes a magnum primer will tighten up groups just adjust your powder accordingly if you are near max.
Sometimes a particular bullet wont work well in a particular rifle.
Always consider that maybe all the rifle is capable of unless you have seen it shoot better.
 
I decided to try my method as if I had a new rifle and reloading start. I have never loaded BLC2 and 50 gr TNT in my 223 bolt guns.
Rifle early 90's Savage long range varmint(1500+ rds).
I loaded CCI 450(never in this bolt gun before) seated coal 2.25",typical AR max.
26.1 dirty neck poi -.90
26.3 dirty neck poi +1.33
26.5 less dirty neck +0.1
26.8 start of wave on neck +.77
27.0 3/4 neck dirty slight wave -0.49
27.3 1/2 neck dirty starting to seal +.52
27.5 less than 1/2 neck dirty(wave) -.1
27.7 wave on neck +.48
27.9 slight dirt wave on neck +.70
28.1 max book cleanest neck +.50
Choose 27.9 to test at will shoot 3-5
This rifle has always like bullets seated out so will load 2nd test load 27.9 +0.010 coal. You can see poi move up and down, as necks started to seal vertical dispersion was reduced. This was new brass, saw about 0.001-0.0015 shoulder movement. Did not lube the necks, bullets were 2nds I purchased 25.00/250. I chose AR length in case I decided to try them in one of my AR's.
 
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