Thread: Testing a conventional approach to load development

So I have a box of 68gr Hornady BTHP Match .224" bullets on the shelf. There are 85 bullets. I don't know where the other 15 went, but the box has been there a long time.

I decided to tune up a load with these so I can use them.
CCI 450, some ADI brass FL sized.
2206H - book max of 26.0gr listed as compressed and 3069fps from a 24" bbl. I'd expect maybe 2950 from an 18" at that load and pressure. Loaded just touching the lands.

Loaded 6x sets of 3rd, from 24.5gr up to book max.

Here's the results:


24.5: 2876fps avg, SD 6.7, ES 16.2, group 0.428MOA
24.8: 2926fps, SD 10.3, ES 22.2, group 0.897MOA
25.1: 2950fps, SD 5.1, ES 12.5, group 0.760MOA
25.4: 2999fps, SD 11.3, ES 25.1, group 0.523MOA
25.7: 3036fps, SD 11.3, ES 28, group 0.481MOA
26.0: 3069fps, SD 17.7, ES 42, group 0.808MOA

Based on book velocity, I'm probably hitting SAAMI max pressure about 25.1 - 25
4 grains. I expect the ADI brass is a bit thick and I certainly wouldn't load up to 26.0 as the load was becoming heavily compressed.

In the interests of selecting the best load to tune, I think it's 24.5gr - after all, it has the smallest group and a nice low SD/ES.