From bench to the range question
- Thread starter Colten519
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603Country
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I shoot on the house range here at our little ranch, but back when I loaded rounds to take to the range for group testing, I loaded 12 rounds of each powder charge. Shoot 10 (two 5 round groups) clean bore lightly, shoot 2 foulers, go to next load.
These days I might do it a bit differently and not clean so often - but that would depend a lot on the rifle and how it tends to foul.
But at the house range, where the bench is 50 feet from the reloading bench, I'll load and shoot 3 round groups. If the group looks bad, I'm on to the next one. If the group looks good, I'll make it a 5 round group. Take notes and go to the next load. When I think I have the 'load', I'll shoot it a bit to convince myself it's the right one. And the next day I'll try a cold bore shot and group to see if I've got what I need. As for bore cleaning, it's a bit irregular now. I don't clean as much, since I don't think it's so necessary, except for the 220 Swift, which fouls pretty fast.
These days I might do it a bit differently and not clean so often - but that would depend a lot on the rifle and how it tends to foul.
But at the house range, where the bench is 50 feet from the reloading bench, I'll load and shoot 3 round groups. If the group looks bad, I'm on to the next one. If the group looks good, I'll make it a 5 round group. Take notes and go to the next load. When I think I have the 'load', I'll shoot it a bit to convince myself it's the right one. And the next day I'll try a cold bore shot and group to see if I've got what I need. As for bore cleaning, it's a bit irregular now. I don't clean as much, since I don't think it's so necessary, except for the 220 Swift, which fouls pretty fast.
4runnerman
New member
Depending on how far the range is ( 23 miles for me ). I load ( as 603 ) 10 rounds of 5 different loads. Vary powder range .3 gns per load. Same bullet, same powder, same COL. narrow it down by groups, then start playing with COL.
I make 5 of each load for the initial test. I go up in .5 increments on rifle charges until I get a good idea of where the sweet spot is, then I load 5 rounds .3gr under and 5 rounds .3gr over my "best" load from the initial test. Then I will load 10 of the best group to verify and see cold bore accuracy plus fouling accuracy, then I have an idea of how many I can shoot while still maintaining sufficient accuracy (if a hunting load). This is obviously after I figure optimal COL for each rifle.
With the same powder & bullet, I shoot 30 rounds total, .3 grain difference, 5 rounds each. What ever the best group, the next range trip I'll load all the same charge & work OAL from a .015 jump to the rifling. I shoot a bolt action keep my headspace at .001 l don't load hot mostly midrange on powder scale.
I've only been lucky a couple times finding a perfect load for a rifle with velocity and accuracy in one range trip. Most times it takes a couple trips, maybe more. I usually use a chronograph when working up loads looking for expected velocity along with accuracy. I only load 3 each starting charges up to about middle range loads then load 5-10 from midrange up to maximum or near maximum loads. Most often starting charges are low or extremely low velocity for a caliber and I only shoot one of each charge and not all three. When velocity starts getting near normal I shoot all 5 or 10 looking for accuracy and carefully watching cases and primers for signs of pressure. Most often I bring back home several start to midrange loads that have to be pulled down and sometimes I reach expected velocity or start seeing mild pressure signs and don't shoot them or higher load levels and bring them back to be pulled down. Buy a bullet puller collet die to pull unfired rounds. On a second trip to the range I have made up more than 5-10 rounds playing with powder charges or bullet seating depth when a prior trip showed promise. I don't want to shoot too many rounds working up a load. Firing 10 rounds of every charge, waiting for your barrel to cool, and possible cleaning between groups can take ALL day. Only if you have the time to spend and enjoy the process would I load a lot of rounds for testing for one range trip.
First I use my L-N-L gauge to find the Max OAL for a rifle/bullet combination. I back off the Max OAL by 0.050 inches to set the OAL for these loads.
Next I will make 3 five round groups of test loads at each powder level starting at half way between min & max load. From these test loads I will chose the most accurate of these three. If I feel more accuracy is needed then I will take the best of these loads and make 3 more groups of five at 1) 0.2 grains above, 2) 0.2 grains below and 3) right at the most accurate load.
These will be tested and the best out of these groups will be the one locked into my reloading log to be used for THAT bullet for THAT rifle with THAT powder.
Good luck and stay safe.
Jim
If I change powder the testing cycle starts all over again. (does not happen often)
Next I will make 3 five round groups of test loads at each powder level starting at half way between min & max load. From these test loads I will chose the most accurate of these three. If I feel more accuracy is needed then I will take the best of these loads and make 3 more groups of five at 1) 0.2 grains above, 2) 0.2 grains below and 3) right at the most accurate load.
These will be tested and the best out of these groups will be the one locked into my reloading log to be used for THAT bullet for THAT rifle with THAT powder.
Good luck and stay safe.
Jim
If I change powder the testing cycle starts all over again. (does not happen often)
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Almost exactly that . The only reason I shoot 5rds on initial testing is cost . Loading 10rds and pretty much doing all that same testing is just over my budget . Some times I'll have as many as 7 different loads . some times I'll have a second load using a different powder but all the same other components . That's 140-ish match bullets , primers and two 1/2 pounds of powders just to get an idea as to what shoots well .
I can narrow that down with only shooting 5rds at first then jump up to 10rds per load once I get close to the likely node .
I used a hammer inertia puller for many years and finally bought an RCBS collet bullet puller die. Can kick myself for not buying one sooner. Pulls the bullet without damage, powder stays in the case, faster and I believe safer than hammering. The inertia puller works well enough for heavy rifle and pistol bullets but for light bullets like 55-62 grain in .223 they don't hammer out easily. I've broken 2 hammer pullers and worn out a few aluminum collets. The Hornady Cam-Lock puller is very nice and faster than the RCBS which is great but a little slower. You need to buy collets for every caliber for a bullet puller die. I always bring back several rounds from a range test to pull down.
603Country
New member
Just for info on bullet pullers, I have the RCBS collet version. It does mar the bullet a bit, leaving a ring dent. The good news is that I loaded a bunch of those slightly dented bullets and the accuracy was still very good. If you want to know if accuracy is as good as the new bullets, all I can say is "maybe". It's similar, but I haven't done a side by side test of any large number of rounds.
On the kinetic bullet puller, hammer type, I stuffed the end of it with Kleenex, and it doesn't damage the bullet at all now. Kinda slow though, if you have a lot to pull.
On the kinetic bullet puller, hammer type, I stuffed the end of it with Kleenex, and it doesn't damage the bullet at all now. Kinda slow though, if you have a lot to pull.