I HATE load development.

nvbroncrider

Handloader
Aug 20, 2011
3,085
4
Well I ran out of CFE223 for my 22-250 which was lightening fast and accurate. So I switched over to H380 as I have a few pounds of it. So I figured I'd be back and forth to the range all day loaded 3 loads 39 TL, 40 TR, 41 C. Shot the groups and was very disappointed. All 3 groups under .5" with 41 going 0.240" almost double the size of my previous pet load. I haven't shot much lately 30 rounds since November so I might be rusty. So after my range work loaded 150 rounds and then went and burned my last 25 rounds of CFE on some squirrels. I guess I need some more practice getting loads in 9 rounds!!!
 

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You should a been around when I tried to find a load for a Kimber 84 M I used to have, Jake. You mighta decided to sell off all your loading equipment if you had!
 
Yeah, you're all over the place.

Groups here, groups there... :mrgreen:

Nice shooting!
 
It took 9 whole rounds? You're going to have to work on that. :grin:
 
Well my new 7X57 did this on 7-9 out the tube 1-6 were for sighting in.

48gr of H414 150PT. I guess occasionally you get lucky.

With the 22-250 I just swapped CFE223 for H380 loaded to the same length. I should have shot 10 rounds or sent a loaded CFE round down range before firing groups as I know the first round out of a cold barrel on this rifle always is a flyer. 39 might have been the load to go with then. I might just have to revisit that idea.
 

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Jake, there is not much that is going to walk away from that load.
Hopefully that powder will become available again & then you can get her back on track :).
I know getting supplies really sucks right now. I am waiting for the sun shade on my VX6. They stated 2 weeks & it is almost 3 weeks now. Was advised that distributor don't even give excuses they just say it will be there when it gets there :evil:.

Blessings,
Dan
 
I only use (6) different powders for all of my rifle loading. Load development in most calibers only entails testing two powders usually to get a load.
 
Thanks Dan. Going from .141" to .240" is breaking my heart I know the rifle can do better!!!

Charlie I don't carry many powders on my shelf. 7828 4350 4895 and 4198 then last year added CFE 223 to try in both 223 and my 338-06 but ended up dynamite in the 22-250. Then last summer I bought a bunch of H414 and a few pounds of H380 as a supplement. Now I need my originals or I'm gonna have to start branching out.
 
I do the same, Curt, I have 3031, 4064, 4350, Hyb100B and 7828 to cover the entire rifle loading scheme, or else I am back to ground zero. However, I don't think that Hodgdon is going to let that happen to their business.

Alliant? Who knows but I am not putting my money into Alliant powders until they prove that they can supply on a consistent basis at some much higher service level than they have in the past.
 
Jake
Suck it up man and put on your big boy shorts. .240 will just have to do, life is tough, we all know that!!!!!
 
You can go broke working up loads. So many good powder/bullet combinations in a given caliber it a can be endless. With the different powders, bullets, seating depth experiments, etc., I'm still working on a load for my 270. However, I've narrowed it down to 59.5 gr of H4831 with the Hornady 130 gr and Nosler 130 gr Ballistic Tip with an edge to the Nosler. Both give right at 3/4"-1" groups so I think I may have arrived...finally.
 
Elkman":3pqabt9g said:
Jake
Suck it up man and put on your big boy shorts. .240 will just have to do, life is tough, we all know that!!!!!


Thanks Bill. I know the rifle can do better but geez it's tough not to complain. I already loaded 150 so I guess I'm stuck for a while. Every time it think about that rifle I say to myself I should have sold it as I bought it and made $400. Every time I shoot it a big grin appears on my face thinking dang this might be my favorite rifle!!
 
Nice shooting Jake. Looks like both the 22-250 and the 7x57 are shooting well.
 
So far I have put around 140 rounds down range thru my STW, with the Nosler 168 gr. ABLR. My best groups hover around 1". Shooting a 162 Hornady BTSP, my best group is a .198. The 175 PT hovers in the .490's. I am about ready to sell my Remaining AB's, and move on to something else. The AB's are soooo sexy, I just can't leave them alone.
 
I have had a few rifles that simply would not shoot ABs. Perhaps I could have eventually found a load that would do what it should; but I was ultimately unwilling to expend the moneys trying to find where that mythical load might be found.
 
I haven't been fortunate enough to find many AB's to try in my .243 and only a few with the .270. Most of what I've found have been BT's and they've done superbly.
 
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