Finding that perfect reload recipe

[West_Coaster]

First off, I'm new to reloading.

I have the basics, and I'm doing things slowly and safely, weighing everything, trusting nothing.

I've seen a million threads on how to reload, but haven't seen a good thread on how to dial in that perfect, cost effective round.

My primary toy is an AR15, Black Hole 1:8 SS match barrel, and I'm adding a AR gold trigger. Scope is a Redfield Revenge 6-16X.

I am "shooting" for a good target load, I primarily shoot at 100 yards indoor. I want to maximize the accuracy.

Here's my dilema, it's confusing trying to put the options down and come up with a plan.

I bought some match ammo in 55, 69 and 75 grains, and shot them. I used On Target to analyze the MOA. I shot 5 rounds of each, then repeated until I had 2 targets with 5 groups of 5 holes. All of them seemed to shoot pretty well, the 75 Hornady match seemed to be the best.

I also reloaded 50 rounds to contrast the match ammo. All were done with Hornady match 75 bullets, and Varget. I did 5 different grains of powder to see what the best recipe would be. I did 22.5, 22.9, 23.3, 23.7 and 24. The 23.7 and 24 shot the best, the 24 was .97 MOA. I had ranges from 1.8 to .97 MOA, mostly I had a flier in every few groups that killed me, and I know its due to my 5-6 lb trigger (AR Gold on the way). Next batch will run from 23.3 to 25C, and I think I'll find the best combo for that bullet.

My reloads did better than the Hornady 75's.

Here's where it gets confusing. I want to try 55, 62, 68 and 69 grain bullets also, and again go through the powder ranges.

Then I want to try different powders.

The combinations become somewhat endless.

Groupings will undoubtedly be close in several bullet weights, so how do I decide what bullet weight to choose in the end? Do I go for the cheapest recipe in the end?

What have you long term reloaders done?

Is there a process that a new reloader should follow to zero in on that holy grail load?

To complicate it even more, I have a .223 bolt gun I also want to maximize with reloading.

After getting over the stress of shooting my first reload, now I am pondering how to strategically fine tune this process.....

HELP!!!!


:BTW, this is the best article I've found so far.. http://www.nosler.com/news-and-artic...your-own-loads

[baih777]

Try Hornaday 52gr A-Max. Use Benchmark. You won't have to compress the load. CFE223 and AR Comp are good choices also. Varget will require you to compress the load a lot.

[stilly]

I was the same way in 44 mag. When you are new, EVERYTHING is new. I had close to 80 lbs of powder at one point but I have whittled that down to 64 lbs now... At one point you just need to ask yourself if you are happy with the results and if so, lock it in and make a lot of them. Now, just because it is good for you does not mean it is good for ME, I might want more precise ammo so after all of my best compiling and reading of loads from all over and various sources, I might see if one is better than another and hunt down those components. OR, like I have recently done, I might clean out as much brass as I can and start cranking out ammo a little here and a little there and before you know it, I have a mountain of it. JUST to use up a 5 lb bottle that I got with a press...

But instead of going through a handful of powder and moving to another bottle, try this, get a single bottle of powder, and try all of the various loads and components and keep notes on what seems to work best and when and where. Then when that bottle is used up, if you are not done, get another bottle of the same powder and continue on until you finish your loads. Just take it slow, one step at a time. When you have tried all of your combinations of components, then it is time to move on to another powder that you heard or read might be good for your application, rinse and repeat as needed.

I am a hoarder mentally so I do not like to use powder. I will buy it and hold on to it. But I had to break that nasty habit and I feel good about it, but the problem with that mentality is that I have like 30+ different powders and I can not get a good batch of ammo because once I get a sizable amount started, I am out of that powder and have to now switch over to a different load. It sucks but oh well. I have a lot of plinking ammo now with 800-x, 700-x, hp-38, pb, blue dot, wst, wsf, and bullseye. They all yield different results so when I grab a handful to go shoot at the range, I need to be sure I grab enough of certain ones if I am going for accuracy.

But really, if you do find results that you are very happy with, buy a good amount of that powder when you can, and until then, just keep making ladder loads and developing your notes.

If you want to cheat, there is a guy named Ken Waters. Bigbronco turned me on to his book called PET LOADS. IF that guy really did load all of that, DAMN. He certainly does have a lot of load development under his belt. I can appreciate that data all compiled in the "cliff notes" of reloading data, but the book itself is kinda shoddy and pissed me off. For it costing what it cost (a X-mas present from mah g/f) I felt the quality was lacking. Clearly they did not digitize and clean up many photos and many photos are photocopies of photocopies. Hey I like me my picture books! Anyways, I was pissed that he had so many loads for .45 acp, but then NONE of them were like less than 185gr. I thought- WTF kinda loader was he to NOT load a 150gr or 160gr boolit? Yeah anyways, the data contained is really good information, but the presentation is sub par. I also did not like how one caliber was spread out over the book in several places. I think they did it like that to preserve his order and basically just regurgitate all of those magazine articles. Again, focus on the data, not the presentation... If you can do that, it is a joy to read.

[NoHeavyHitter]

I've seen a million threads on how to reload, but haven't seen a good thread on how to dial in that perfect, cost effective round.

One word - testing.

As your skill in interpreting test results grows, so will your ability to dial in that perfect load.

[phdo]

Finding that perfect reload recipe

I know my ARs so I usually stick with heavier stuff like the 77gr because I know they'll stabilize better. They're usually readily available, too. I work my way down from there in regards to bullet weight. Typically, I lean towards heavier stuff if the selection has -/+5gr difference (from the same manufacturer or type of bullet) and don't bother with the other(s). I will then do a ladder test with 10-20 rounds. If I like how a recipe groups, I will make 10-20 more with -/+3gr charge weight. Once I find a load I like, I load a bunch and move on. I apply this system to every caliber that I load. Make sure you keep a log of everything. It'll save time and money in the future. Then, go through your data and find out which powders are most versatile and buy them in bulk. For my plinking loads, I use bulk 55gr with whatever powder that groups the best and has the lowest charge to be cost-effective. Reloading is my therapy so I like being in my little lab. I like shooting more so I crank out a lot of ammo.

[highpower790]

BY the time your done testing ,better have a new barrel ready to go.

[rsrocket1]

Here's a start:
One gun
One bullet design
One bullet weight
One powder

Optimize for just that. If you don't you'll look like that guy who goes duck hunting for the first time and sees a flock of birds suddenly take off all around him. Spray and pray and you won't hit a single bird.

Any of those bullet weights should get you under 1" at 100 yards if your gun and you are good enough. Once you optimize for that round you are either good to go or find out why you can't make it better. Your bolt gun will probably shoot better with a different load than your gas gun because the barrel harmonics are different and .223 barrels are more "whippy" than say .308. You might find a load that is a compromise that is optimized as a balance for both guns, but all you've done is duplicated factory ammo.

You need to work on one variable at a time. That will keep you occupied for quite a while.

[bsumoba]

Ladder test to look for a stable vertical at a range of powder charges at distance (300 yds). Then, testing of that node at short distance in a OCW style testing (100). Then seating depth testing of the most accurate charge from the OCW testing. Then, chronograph to confirm velocity and verify a low ES/SD. Then take it out to distance to confirm.

Repeat anytime you get a different powder or bullet or maybe even primer or brass.

[J-cat]

Get QuickLoad, a barrel time chart, more better dies, and a magnetospeed chrono.

[eric n]

Seat to mag length and work up .2 at a time, it will be easier to find a node. You should find something acceptable.
How stable is your position? Without a stable position you will never find consistency.
Trigger and stable rest will go a long way to start.
What are your expectations and goals? How tight can you group with quality factory ammo?

[milotrain]

I want to try 55, 62, 68 and 69 grain bullets also, and again go through the powder ranges.

Then I want to try different powders.

The combinations become somewhat endless.

Groupings will undoubtedly be close in several bullet weights, so how do I decide what bullet weight to choose in the end? Do I go for the cheapest recipe in the end?

You will shoot 24.5gr of Varget under a 75gr Hornady HPBT. You will attempt to develop a load that shoots better than this. You will fail as you can not hold tighter than this combination will shoot, and all your test groups will be nearly the same size. Any differences will be from you and not the group.

Or you could have Young build you an AR test rig for $2500 and find out what shoots better than 24.5gr of Varget under a 75gr Hornady HPBT.

[highpower790]

You will shoot 24.5gr of Varget under a 75gr Hornady HPBT. You will attempt to develop a load that shoots better than this. You will fail as you can not hold tighter than this combination will shoot, and all your test groups will be nearly the same size. Any differences will be from you and not the group.

Or you could have Young build you an AR test rig for $2500 and find out what shoots better than 24.5gr of Varget under a 75gr Hornady HPBT.

Well said Milo!,and I will add One powder charge will take care of your needs,just change the bullet.

[West_Coaster]

Thanks for the info so far, keep it coming, appreciated.

BTW, I am not going to fiddle with a load for my bolt gun anytime soon, I'm concentrating on a highly accurate and repeatable target load, and then a cheap load for plinking that maximizes what I can get on a budget.

Fun stuff for sure.

[RandyD]

To learn about reloading ammo that will give you the best accuracy, I recommend joining the accurateshooter.com or 6mmbr.com website (they are the same website), and read all of the threads and posts in their reloading forum. Take your time reading and take notes and by the time you finish reading the entire forum, you will be knowledable on how to develop reloads specifically for your rifle. Many of the shooters on that sight are benchrest competitors and that is the sport that knows how to extract the last possible bit of accuracy out of a rifle-ammo combination.

[FromTheGrave]

http://www.6mmbr.com/laddertest.html

Above is a good article on finding your accuracy nodes for a certain load.

The combinations are endless, obviously. Gotta narrow it down to a certain load and work it. It doesn't make it easier when you can't find your "go to" powder.

The there's the fact the brass, primer, neck tension and many other variables all play a part.

Just enjoy and take it as fast or slow as you want!!