Load work up procedure?

[bboswell]

I have always just set OAL to .010 jump and worked charge weight for accuracy and then maybe vary seating on my he best charge.

With the new long range bullets I'm leaning more and more toward using a medium charge to evaluate OAL first and then working powder type & charge afterward.

What is your preferred method?

 

[Elkman]

This is my second try at this. I would use a charge weight of powder that I expect or want to use. The same with primers and cases. I would then load my first test loads at factory AOL. Then I would start lengthening the OAL .10 out to magazine length, which is essentially your longest length unless you want shoot single shot. I have not had good luck with the LR Bullets, but hopefully you will. I recently found my best grouping with a 300 B, with flat base bullets. I have to try the AB's next but will be just as happy with a Nosler PT, if they will shoot.

 

[jimbires]

I've used the Berger bullets method with pretty good results . I start at .010 jump to lands , or max magazine length , which ever one is longer . then I shorten them up in steps of .040 . I'll load three bullets at each length . I'll have ; .010 , .040 , .080 , .120 . Berger recommends you do this at the starting powder charge . after I find the best COAL , then I start to increase powder charge . when I get the best powder charge then I can go back to try and fine tune the COAL with smaller increments .

here is a link .

http://www.bergerbullets.com/getting-th ... our-rifle/

 

[OU812]

I do things a bit different than most and it has always worked for me. I seat the bullet as long as possible to fit in the mag box that will feed well and I can close the bolt. From there I choose a powder that will/should give me the velocity I desire and adj powder accordingly for accuracy.

 

[Whitesheep]

The load work up regimen I use is the same as jimbires which I call the "Berger Method." This has worked well for me except in rifles where the throat so long the bullet pushes out of the case before touching the lands.

My .340 Weatherby comes to mind. For this I measured a box of a factory and used the average. This worked fine as I can create handloads that match factory accuracy and speed for a given bullet weight. Interestingly the SD of the factory length to ogive was surprisingly large, but the factory ammunition is quite accurate as expected.

There is something different about a long throat. I think it is how the bullet is supported as it jumps to the lands, but really don't know for sure as I haven't cast the chamber of my .340 and am no expert. Hey it works, whats to fix?

There was a l o n g discussion on Len Backus Long Range Hunting website a few years ago that convinced me to try this method. When I found Berger suggested the same method it validated my opinion of this technique. I have shared this method with a few friends and some have been amazed at the accuracy improvements they have obtained from their handloads.

Even if you have been following the charge weight first then length for years, give this a try if you have a rifle that isn't responding well. You might be surprised.