Methods of load development

[Wolfshead]

I recently saw a post on another site that was discussing load development.
This article came up, and it is interesting in that we all have our ways to find our accuracy.

Rifle Nodes: How You’ve Been Wasting Your Time and Money on Load Development

Everything you know about rifle nodes and load development might be wrong. Click here to see the results for yourself.

www.outdoorlife.com

I have tried many ways to find the most accurate load (for hunting) as I want to know what my firearm can do at my ranges shooting.
I’m curious as to what everyone’s thoughts are especially since there are many much more knowledgeable than I.

 

[NYDAN]

Interesting read!

 

[SJB358]

Agreed. I’ve been reading and listening and watching this with interest.

 

[Ralt71]

I recently saw a post on another site that was discussing load development.
This article came up, and it is interesting in that we all have our ways to find our accuracy.

Rifle Nodes: How You’ve Been Wasting Your Time and Money on Load Development

Everything you know about rifle nodes and load development might be wrong. Click here to see the results for yourself.

www.outdoorlife.com

I have tried many ways to find the most accurate load (for hunting) as I want to know what my firearm can do at my ranges shooting.
I’m curious as to what everyone’s thoughts are especially since there are many much more knowledgeable than I.

This quote, at the end, is the hardest one for me to swallow.. especially when I look at the time, material, and anger I have put into trying to find accuracy nodes with my reloads over the years. It's hard for me to accept that maybe you can get accuracy out of any charge weight when for so long, I've seen rounds just not do what they should be doing haha.

This should be great news for everyone from hunters to match shooters, but I expect many seasoned reloaders to be skeptical. Even if you’re not convinced yet, take your favorite rifle, your favorite, painstakingly-developed load, and shoot a 30-shot sample. Compare it to a 30-shot sample of a random or book-minimum charge weight. Be honest with yourself, and let the data do the rest. Worst case, you’re down 60 rounds and got some extra practice at the bench. Unlike The Matrix, the best case is peeling back the curtain to a world where you’re not needlessly and unwittingly slaving away to procedures that don’t matter. That’s a pill everyone should swallow.

 

[Blkram]

I guess it means that we need to determine our needs and expectations on what you are intending to achieve with your preferred handloading method...
As a hunter, I am looking for a load that is consistent in my rifle, and produces acceptable accuracy. This may be vastly different than that of a PRS competition shooter/hunter, and a benchrest competition shooter. And I want to keep it simple. All the more power to those that have other needs and desires, and whatever methods works best for them is acceptable to me, and I support their right to choose their own method and practices.

I load up in .5 gr increments to max with chosen projectile that shows promise in my rifle, with various powders. And determine which produces the best accuracy. If I achieve desired velocity, great, but I will take accuracy over velocity.
Now that I have a chrony I can verify actual velocity of a load in my rifle, so that when I find a load that I am satisfied with, I can determine drops and retained velocity and energy at various ranges so that I can determine aiming points in my B&C reticle, or holdover with my duplex, and if I have sufficient retained energy and velocity for proper expansion and penetration that will provide quick, clean kills when I place the bullet accurately in the vitals of the various targeted species, and remain legal for bison which has requirements for retained energy at the animal. Over the past 38 years, this has worked well and ut lots of game in the freezer, and that works for me!

Will I ever achieve the results of FOTIS, Scotty, or DrMike (one of my two reloading mentors)? Perhaps not, and that is OK by me (I know I am not the best shot out there; I shake like a leaf in a high wind!)...but it won't stop me for trying to get the best I can achieve, and I will take notes and try methods that they share and include those methods that aid in enhancing my ability to obtain more consistent accuracy for my hunting loads.
To date, I can happily say that I have been able to achieve sub-MOA results with my handloads developed in all of my bolt actions to date, and most of my leverguns, and I am able to go afield with confidence!

I hope for the best in everyone's quest to develop the best loads they can for their chosen firearms/cartridge combinations!