Where in the powder charge range works best?

[Hawg]

I have two 30-06's that shoot max loads best and both rifles shoot the same loads best but they both have custom barrels. Everything else shoots best a little under max.

 

[BumbleBug]

Optimal Charge Weight...

I just recently read Dan Newberry's OCW Load Development System which address finding the most accurate charge range for your rifle. Once determined you can refined for best accuracy. He gives a good explanation & theory of the how & why this works. Basically the technique uses the POI for a series of 3-shot groups to find the range with the most consistent muzzle exits (optimal node). He recommends a "round-robin" shooting method to minimize variations in shooting the groups. Interesting theory & I am trying it myself. FWIW, you can read more here: OCW

 

[Don Fischer]

Ya know, there may be a range with a powder that is most accurate but that doesn't mean it will be in your rifle! For whatever reason, the powder you use, maybe your rifle just doesn't like it!

 

[Unclenick]

That can happen. Part of Newberry's thinking, though, is that if the Federal 168 grain Gold Medal Match load does well in most all rifles (and it does; not saying there are no exceptions, but it seems close to universally liked) there ought to be other combinations that work well in most rifles, too. He has a list of loads that he believes enough different people and guns have tried to fall into that category. Once you go outside those load combinations, though, you may or may not find a universal (or nearly universal) combination like that is possible and you may find your gun doesn't like much of anything you do with it.