Which Load to chase

[JTROKS]

Been a while since I followed up on this load development. I finally finished up my brass prep to do another test batch. It's for my box stock Winchester 70 HBV in 22-250. Out of the batch it seems 34 grains is very promising. It's listed as max load with Hodgdon data, but there is no sign of over pressure with my brass. Should I just play with a longer COAL and/or load up a batch of 33.7 grains with a longer COAL. Or load try 34.3 and 34.5?

[Kwikvette]

Tag.

I'm learning load development

[SBsasquatch]

My guess as an beginner 32.5 to 33?

[sofbak]

If it were me, I would retest at 33.5, 33.7, and 33.9 or (34.0) at the coal just to convince myself the results are repeatable.

Then I would pick the best two and start dinking with coal variables.

[pennstater]

What powder? I'd leave it as is at 34.0gr and don't change anything. Load twenty more and do some 4 shot groups.

[longrange1]

id try 34.2 and 34.4 at the same seating depth just to see if things tighten up at all...id also load 34g and play both ways with seating depth...if things dont tighten up leave as is and shoot it...thats not a bad group for an outta the box gun.

ALWAYS REMEMBER...when fine tuning a load NEVER change more than one thing at a time or youll be chasing your tail.

[jimmykan]

If you are already near the published maximum charge weight, be cautious about testing even higher charges in the cool weather season. You may not be able to safely shoot the same load when ambient temperatures increase.

Since the rifle has a heavy barrel, I suggest shooting 10 shot groups of each of 33.7 34.0 and 34.3.

[tonyjr]

I would load about 15 maybe 20 and see if you can repeat. 3rounds id not enough to make a decision . Gun may have warned up , cartridges or you just settled down .

[rm1911]

I would load about 15 maybe 20 and see if you can repeat. 3rounds id not enough to make a decision . Gun may have warned up , cartridges or you just settled down .

[JTROKS]

Powder is Ballsee2.

[kcstott]

Three round groups mean nothing.

Shoot some five round groups

[JTROKS]

For me 3 rounds is good enough. As long as the cold bore shot is right on the money I don’t need a subsequent shot. The last time I got the barrel on this rifle heated up was shooting prairie dogs. I’ll shoot 5 shot groups when I get a chance just to see. Then I’ll do a 10 shot just to see which way the spread goes as the barrel heats up.

[RiskyBusiness]

if there isn't any pressure signs i'd carefully push beyond that listed max by .2gr increments. its clear that your groups were getting tighter the higher you went.

[JTROKS]

if there isn't any pressure signs i'd carefully push beyond that listed max by .2gr increments. its clear that your groups were getting tighter the higher you went.

Yes! I must do that for I haven't visited the red line with any of my ammo loads for a long while. It seems 34 grains is not the max for this rifle/load data combo.

[JackEllis]

I'd leave it at 34 and fiddle with OAL a bit but the 34 grain load looks darned good to me.

If this was my rifle and I was using it for squirrels and prairie dogs, I'd be done. The way I double check loads for hunting is to shoot at a 3" gong at 100 yards from a field rest (tripod or sticks). If I can hit it consistently, I can kill what I'm shooting at and that's good enough.

I realize competitive shooting is different.