Thread: Room and advice to test my first reloads (Hamilton) ?

Originally Posted by kiwi-adam

@grandpamac 100% agree, I am a member of the Hamilton Deer Stalkers, most members use Tokaroa. Ideally need to tee in with the Thames Branch for use of the Paeroa Range. All are great options, but if you arent a member, short notice arrangements dont work so well.

I have a range to use in the general area I hunt, my issue is, I havnt developed a known working load. If I find the load that works best, I dont have my reloading gear handy to load up some more rounds. So just hoping on the off chance, I can try the new loads a week before, so I can refine / load more before heading away.

Greetings Kiwi-adam,
You should learn quite a bit by shooting the loads you already have. If your top load of 28.1 grains shoots OK and the velocity is acceptable you might consider loading up a small batch for your current hunting needs. This allow you to continue with your testing over the balance of the winter at a less frantic pace. If more are needed they can be loaded with whatever your current best load is at that time. Almost any load will do for goats. I am a bit of a heathen when it comes to load development having given up working up in tiny increments decades ago. An initial load is fired and chronographed somewhere between start and mid. This allows validation of the data for the components and rifle. Next probable max loads are calculated and a small number of loads below and up to that maximum tested. The best of these is further tested to validate the initial results and that's about it.
Regards Grandpamac.