first time handloads 7-08 M700 and .44 Handi---any advice?

[bluebayou]

I fired my first handloads this weekend using a new M700 SPS in 7-08 and my .44 Handi Rifle.  I was really happy with the first loads.  They give me a place to start.  If anyone has some advice then I would welcome it.  I threw the powder charges at the kitchen table with RCBS scale and measure.  Next time I think that a more stable bench would help with consistency.  It was a 90 odd degree day with the wind in my face, so maybe early morning would have been better.  Anyway this is what I got with 3 shot groups:
7mm Hornady 139 SP
40.5 Varget 1.62"
41.1 Varget 1.57"
41.7 Varget 2.75"
7mm Nosler 150 BT
38.5 Varget 1.19"
39.4 Varget .808"
40.3 Varget 1.14"
7mm Hornady 139 SP
41.0 BLC-2 1.84"
41.6 BLC-2 1.14"
42.2 BLC-2 1.97"
42.8 BLC-2 1.93"
43.4 BLC-2 0.78"

The Nosler Ballistic Tips surprised me since they were 150 grain.  Everyone seems to favor 139-140 grain in 7-08 Remingtons.  

The only .44 load that I tried in the Handi was 18.0 of H4227 and the 300gr XTP.  I was a disappointing 2" with 3 groups.  Some of the Handiholics say to use 270 or less, so I will try a lighter bullet.

I was thinking make a new series of loads in .5 grain increments above and below the more promising loads.  Where do I go from here?

[Patriot_1776]

bluebayou, it sounds like you are off to a good start.

I would suggest that you reload the most promising loads again, such as the 150gr. Nosler BT and 39.4gr. of Varget.  The key there is to see whether it will shoot very close to that again (consistency).  If it does shoot very similar, then try changing the powder charge a little.  Instead of .5gr increments I suggest changes in .2gr increments.  This helps you be more precise ; a change as small as that can improve your groups immensely in some circumstances.  Personally, I work up all rifle loads in .2gr. increments or so, that way I won't "miss" anything.  

Once you find out the best load in that department, try changing the seating depth a little.  Example would be: If the OAL is 2.75", seat it .010" longer if the gun allows conveniently or safely.  It might be best to "soot" or use a marker on the bullet of a dummy round (no powder and no primer) after seating it longer.  You want to see if the bullet contacts the rifling or not.  If it does, then seat it back .005" and try the soot/marker test again.  If it doesn't, that's good.  Then try .010" deeper from the original setting, bearing in mind what is said above.  Reason I say that is you know your gun's limits and capabilities better than I do!  Just remember to make a dummy round with the way your seating die is already configured first.  If the seating changes only make things worse, you will have something already "loaded" to your original length to set it back to.  

Another tool that would be a good investment is a bullet comparator (I'm going to get one of those pretty soon!).  It attaches to your micrometer to measure the bullet's ogive instead of the tip.  Tip damage can give varying results, whereas the bullet's ogive is more reliable for taking fine measurements.

These are a few tips to "sift" out your loads to help make sure they are accurate, consistant, and reliable.  I hope this helps you out some.  Always bear in mind: safety first!  There is no subsitute for safety; and that can never be emphasized enough!


-Patriot

[bluebayou]

Thanks for the info.  Funny that you should mention the ogive.  I loaded some 160 Sierra SP at the same time as the others.  They were all loaded to 2.80 OAL.  I figured to just keep it simple.  Well, when I went to chamber the first of the Sierras, the bolt was hard to close.  I pulled it out and there were rifling marks on the jacket.  So, I figured to take a pass on those and seat them a little deeper.  

Thanks for the tips on using a marker and about just retrying my original loads.  I was going to start tweaking, but it does make sense to retry the original "good" loads.

[bluebayou]

I was also going to load up to 20 grains of H4227 in the 44.  I used the Search on 44 NEF's and see that people are loading max of H110 for better accuracy with the 300 grain XTP.

[jerkface11]

With heavy bullets in a .44 you really can't go wrong with H-110 or WW296. If you want a plinking load with cast bullets use some unique.