Im curious on how some of you work up a load with powder charge / Bullet Seating depth?
Do you first find the right powder charge in a ladder test, Then do you change your Bullet seating length a few thousandths up or down ? Until you find the perfect node.
Im working a load for Semi Auto , M1 in paticular and have always used what the manual suggest and sometimes tweaked it a bit but never did an extenisve test before
Hornady suggests a 3.240 Overall length, While I see Sierra lists 3.320. Thats quite a bit difference especially with barrel harmonics. Some manuals suggest 3.295
Bullet is 168 Sierra Match King. This is a Brand new Criterion Barrel That I just broke in so trying to maximize efficiency here.
The Test will be 10 shot groups at 45.00, 45.5, 46.00 , 46.5 , 47.00 grains of IMR4895 , 168 SMKS, Sig Case with No 34 primers. The overall length is exactly 3.330 (This length worked well in my other M1). “ These are not Crimped So if anyone recommends me seating them deeper I can.” I measured each bullet to be the exact same length . I did not sort by base to ogive I know thats more accurate . But I found Sierras 168smks are usually with in 1thousandths or so on the ogive to base. again not a bench rest gun here.
So after this test is done, and I find a good group would you start changing seating depth? I do not have a chronograph
Thanks
Do you first find the right powder charge in a ladder test, Then do you change your Bullet seating length a few thousandths up or down ? Until you find the perfect node.
Im working a load for Semi Auto , M1 in paticular and have always used what the manual suggest and sometimes tweaked it a bit but never did an extenisve test before
Hornady suggests a 3.240 Overall length, While I see Sierra lists 3.320. Thats quite a bit difference especially with barrel harmonics. Some manuals suggest 3.295
Bullet is 168 Sierra Match King. This is a Brand new Criterion Barrel That I just broke in so trying to maximize efficiency here.
The Test will be 10 shot groups at 45.00, 45.5, 46.00 , 46.5 , 47.00 grains of IMR4895 , 168 SMKS, Sig Case with No 34 primers. The overall length is exactly 3.330 (This length worked well in my other M1). “ These are not Crimped So if anyone recommends me seating them deeper I can.” I measured each bullet to be the exact same length . I did not sort by base to ogive I know thats more accurate . But I found Sierras 168smks are usually with in 1thousandths or so on the ogive to base. again not a bench rest gun here.
So after this test is done, and I find a good group would you start changing seating depth? I do not have a chronograph
Thanks