Working up loads

[stork]

I was just wondering how do you guys work up your loads?

[New Hampshire]

For Handgun I start at the suggested minimum and work up at .1 grain increments till you hit the Max.  This usually gets you about 5 or6 loads, but sometimes more.  With Rifle its the suggested start up to the suggested max in .5 grain increments.  I was once told that .5 grains will give you the ability to safely test loads for pressure signs without having to go through 10 or 20 sets.  Then when you get all set you could tinker in .1 grain increments if you wanted so you can really fine tune.  Both handgun and rifle I usually do 5 round sets, but now that I have the chronograph Im probably gonna move up to at least 10 round sets so I can get a proper Standard Deviation figure for each load increment.
Good luck,
Brian M.

[hogship]

For rifle, I do the following if accuracy is the only objective:

Use 25 or 50 cases for testing, all the same lot, all the same primers, all prepared by FL sizing, if new or fired in another rifle. All neck sized, if fired in the test rifle. (bolt action only)

Use 5 shot groups.

Divide the difference between min and max charges into equal increments.

Load the cases using a seating depth of .020" off the lands or maximum SAAMI OAL for your magazine.

Shoot five or ten groups of five shots each and measure the groups for accuracy.
(Sometimes, I eliminate the worst shot of the five, and measure 4-shot groups for accuracy. That eliminates any pulled shots that are your fault.)

Once you've determined the best accuracy, load up more cartridges between the best group and your test powder charges before and after it. This will further identify your rifle's best powder charge.

If you are not limited to a specific OAL by your magazine, you can now load up more test cartridges using your best powder charge, and varying the seating depth of the bullet. I suggest testing in .005" to .010" increments in each direction from your original seating depth.

Once again, shoot for accuracy to determine your best load.

You've now got your "best" load.

Changing any of the components, (or sometimes, lot numbers), may necessitate your doing everything over again! Since I don't like testing forever, I find the load my rifle likes.......and then I have fun shooting it.

For a few rifles, I have more than one loading. This is usually because I want to change bullets.

It is absolutely necessary to keep good reloading records. Everyone has their own way of doing that, but mine is a 3x5 index card file.

hogship