Thread: Testing a conventional approach to load development

Originally Posted by gimp

I recently got a new rifle. I picked a load at book max of 2209. At 200 rounds it is 50fps faster than 0 rounds. The precision is no different.

When I say I "picked a load", I mean -

I set the seating die so that the bullet is some distance off the lands and the COL is around the book max COL - not sure how far off the lands maybe 30 thou
I loaded 30 rounds, 10ea with 2209, 2208, and an old slow batch of 2209
I shot 3 10 round groups
All were fine for precision but the 2208 and the old slow batch of 2209 were a bit slower than my requirements

I then proceeded to select a max load of 2209 as my load at that random OAL, and use it.

Over the first 200 rounds it seems to have sped up around 50fps, precision hasn't changed.

As no-one else has repeated my "test of the test" - we can't say categorically that you should expect the same with every rifle, cartridge, bullet, powder combination - but I haven't seen any evidence to the contrary yet.