Magnumite
Ultimate Member
Considering all the variables involved in using any makers bullet with their manual, if any component differs from the loading information, starting charges should be reduced 10% unless otherwise specified.
Who to believe?
- Thread starter natsb
- Start date
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natsb
Ultimate Member
The consensus is to go with the bullet manufacturers manual, so I have gone with the Nosler load data. I have made a handful of rounds at 1gr increments each and I am ready for the range testing. My goal is to find a recipe for accuracy on paper targets.
DaemonAssassin
Why should we Free BSD?
1gr or .1gr increments?
natsb
Ultimate Member
Good catch... that should read .1gr increments.
DaemonAssassin
Why should we Free BSD?
If you were to go with .2gr increments, you would find the sweet spot a little easier and not have to make, then shoot a ton of your reloads.
natsb
Ultimate Member
I thought about that. I figured that as a new reloader, I could use the extra practice building rounds. Plus, it didn't take long to talk myself into doing the extra shooting.
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- Feb 4, 2013
- 28,175
.x grains is not an reasonable way to consider increments in general. OK for a single particular cartridge.
What you are looking for is a 0.75 - 1% increment.
With a .223/5.56 that is about 0.2 grains (more exactly, but hard to measure: 0.19 - 0.25 grains for 25 grain max). For a .308, 0.3 - 0.4 grains (0.32 - 0.43 grains for 43 grain max). For a .300 Win Mag more like 0.5 - 0.6 grains.
1% or less increment means that if one particular increment shows NO pressure signs, the next highest increment will not be dangerous. Larger increments may not be safe as you approach maximum.
Using the OCW method, you pick what is considered maximum by whatever source you use (and it may be that you use the lowest, highest, or average of several sources). Then reduce that by 10%. Work up in 1% or less increments (first 3 rounds are done at a 2% increment as you are well below max), until you see signs of pressure. The increment below that is YOUR max for YOUR components in YOUR gun. That may be lower or higher than the published max load.
What you are looking for is a 0.75 - 1% increment.
With a .223/5.56 that is about 0.2 grains (more exactly, but hard to measure: 0.19 - 0.25 grains for 25 grain max). For a .308, 0.3 - 0.4 grains (0.32 - 0.43 grains for 43 grain max). For a .300 Win Mag more like 0.5 - 0.6 grains.
1% or less increment means that if one particular increment shows NO pressure signs, the next highest increment will not be dangerous. Larger increments may not be safe as you approach maximum.
Using the OCW method, you pick what is considered maximum by whatever source you use (and it may be that you use the lowest, highest, or average of several sources). Then reduce that by 10%. Work up in 1% or less increments (first 3 rounds are done at a 2% increment as you are well below max), until you see signs of pressure. The increment below that is YOUR max for YOUR components in YOUR gun. That may be lower or higher than the published max load.
IndispensableDestiny
Ultimate Member
Using those bullets and powder, I got my best accuracy with 23.1 grains. But I didn't go any higher. I made a change to my gun and never went back to shoot more.
The gun was an AR with 18 inch barrel.
The gun was an AR with 18 inch barrel.
The thing about COLs is, not all 55 fmjs (as an example) are not created equal. An Armscor 55g. fmj is .746 long whereas Hornady's is .736 so setting them to the same COL might be a problem, especially if loading to the max. One would be wise to do the math and lengthen the COL on the Armscor by 10 thousandths to achieve similar pressures. Also, by setting the Armscor to the COL recommended by Hornady, you lose the cannelure.
