Thread: My first load development

Originally Posted by zimmer

@Remmodel7 if you haven't decapping those cases yet could you stick up a photo of them.7

Another indicator that you may be pushing the envelop is loosening primer pockets after only a few firings. This can happen without the extractor wipe or ejector plunger ring appearing. A warning nevertheless.

Primer pockets can be quite tight when the cases are new and will loosen up a bit after firing. If however the primers become super easy to seat there may be a pressure issue.

Otherwise, as stated, try and chrony your loads and compare against a couple of reloading manuals. Taking into account your barrel length.

Also, as pointed out, sadly one 3 shot "group" does not constitute game over. I only ever fire 3 shot strings at the early stages of load development and that is to get a feel for velocities. A series of 5 shot groups is my method. With the strings with progressive increases of charge many times I have jumped a charge and gone to the next charge up because I know the velocities are so low and don't wish to waste components. Those loads come home and are stripped.

I am not a huge fan of ladder testing. Old habits/methods are hard to quit.

Yes realize one group is not definitive but I have to start somewhere. Plan on loading a few more, Checking velocity and looking for pressure signs at that load.
How do people calculate velocity change compared to book data from a 26" barrel in the load data to my 20” barrel?