Thread: Testing a conventional approach to load development

So I've not done much reloading for the last year or so, as both my current hunting rifles shoot factory fine, however I've shot through most of my ammo, and have heaps of components so dusted off the reloading gear and went about developing a load for both rifles.

Original plan was to do the usual powder workup however during a bit of interneting I got on to this new stats based approach and ended up at this thread.

My prc is a very precise rifle with factory but I had previously been chasing my tail with seating depths etc on the berger 140 vlds (supposed to be very depth sensitive) as they were showing apparent horizontal stringing. Probably allready shot at least 50 rounds in 4 or 5 shot groups trying to dial it in with less than what I would consider acceptable results for a custom rifle of this potential, average groups around 1.25 moa.

After reading through this thread I thought what have i got to lose, and rather than do more depth testing on this, I'll try the modern method and twiddle the big dial by changing powder. Switched to h1000 a grain under max, and loaded 20 rounds to mag length (so back where I started).

First 10 shots went into like .6, with an 11fps sd (first target), velocity maybe slightly slow @ 2500fps but in reality totally fine for my intended use of sub 500m.
Adjusted zero and sent 5 more to confirm (second target) combined sd across the 15 still 11 fps

Took data, ran a quick ballistic profile and sent a further 3 into less tham moa at 300m. Happy days, data confirmed, hunting load sorted in 18 shots. Really didn't need to confirm zero either so whole thing could have been sorted in 13 shots.

Bonus pic of the little 16.5 inch kimber shooting 5 into less than an inch as per. 130 Eldms at 2650, grain below book max as above. Shot 2 almost identical groups.

Honestly really refreshing to be able to just throw out most of the usual variables and focus on shooting.


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