Question Regarding Developing Loads

[Cyclepath]

I am getting ready to start loading my first few rounds in my press and I have questions regarding developing and working up loads for 9mm and .45ACP. What is good practice for developing accurate, reliable and safe loads? I have several reload books such as Lyman and Lee and I will cross reference with other load data but do I begin at the suggested start loads, test fire and work up from there until I find a recipe that works and is accurate for my firearm? How should I increment my loads up not to exceed the maximum charges?


Thanks for any advice.

[SixPointEight]

I just did some load development for my rifle, I don't imagine it's much different. I started at the MIN listed, and went up by .2gr increments to the max. Did batches of 5(you could to 10 for pistol, but I did 5 because I didn't want so many test loads to try out and have to pull if I got pressure signs). I shot each batch of 5 in ascending order, while I had a friend watch the target. After the 5 shots, we'd pick up the brass, check for pressure signs, and make some notes about the load and how I shot with it. Now I have batches of 10 each of the 4 best loads, to test out next time I go to the range. Hope that helps

[joelogic]

It's harder with rifle because the min and max have a greater range. But with pistol most people I shoot with just look for the lightest load that will cycle their gun. But if you are really working on accuracy go 10 rounds at .1 gr increments since the spread is only .5gr sometimes. Plus you will have to test varying lengths. It can be tedious and that why's people stick to a powder and bullet they know and like.

[Cowboy T]

Simple. Start with the minimum loads for the bullet weight you chose, and work up until you get something that your gun likes. By "likes", I mean the action cycles reliably, and your group sizes are the smallest you can get 'em.

It's only slightly tedious, actually, and it's even kinda fun. I'll give you the example of when I worked up my very-powder-puff .38 Special load. After consulting a couple of books, I started at the minimum and made 10 rounds of that. My next ten rounds had 0.3 grains more, and so on until I had 50 rounds. I also made sure that my "hottest" load here was under the max charge in the book. This is very important! Make like you're on The Price Is Right--"do not go over!"

The one I settled on was the one that gave me the best combination of accuracy and felt recoil. I then made a box of 50 of that load and tried it. It felt great, accuracy was good, and so I made a run of 100. That got me good results at the range, too, so I knew I had a good load.

At that point, I cast a bunch of boolits, filled up the powder hopper and primer feed tray, stocked the case feeder, and got to loadin'.

Eight thousand rounds later, I'm still enjoying that load. :-)