Saving time & material developing a load

[ragenmoan]

I have found some pretty sweet 6.5 Creedmoor loads for 123g hpbt and 140g amax bullets using superformance powder. Would like to try the Berger 140g vld. Can I assume I may be able to use the same powder charge for same bullet weight or at least be real close to good accuracy node?

[bsumoba]

It will be close, but I would back off a 1/2-1 grain and then work up another load.

The bearing surface, overall length of the bullet, and how you seat the bullet will change pressure, ultimately changing the accuracy node.

[Eljay]

On average that would be a good place to start.

The strict advice of course would be to compare that against load data from a manual. Even if two bullets are the same weight if the shape is a little different the length could end up different, and if you set to the same OAL you might actually have more or less room in the case... in fact you might measure the length to get some insight as to if that's likely to be an issue.

Edit: Ha! bsumoba types faster than I do! And yes, even if you make a ladder around your existing sweet spot when you shoot them start at the bottom and check pressure signs as you go.