How many rounds for a test load?

[bobgengeskahn]

Hello all,

So I finally have/have access to everything to start pressing, and am going to try and pick up the consumables over the next few weeks as I find them available.

I am loading for two .223 rifles and am wondering how many rounds you guys usually load for a test load?

One is a chopped Mini-14 (~14" barrel with brake, I think its a 1/7), the other is an AR with a 20" 1/9 barrel.

After reading on the Mini, most people have recommended light rounds using IMR4198 or AA2460 and stepping up from ~19.0 to ~21.0 in 0.2 increments for the short barrels.

I don't know what I am going to do for the AR yet, mainly because I really want a 1/7 barrel before I start dialing loads for it.

So how many rounds would be a good test statistic for each 'step'? 5, 10, 20? I am not sure what gr. rounds I am going to go with yet, I'll probably jump on whatever I can find in the ~40gr. range when I'm ready to place an order.

[hambam105]

If you want to shoot a 1:7, then try to duplicate the standard issue M885 round. When you can keep 8 out of 10 shots inside the size of a basketball at 300 yards, like a 18 year old Marine Recruit does, with less than two-weeks training on the range, with a Drill Instructor always on his case, then you too will be ready and relaxed enough to start, "experimenting''.

[emptybottle151]

I do 5 rnds at 100 yrds with 20'' 1/9

[krwada]

5 shots each, approximately 0.3 to 0.5 grain ladder, from starting charge to max charge. Let the barrel cool down after each group. This is what I did... before I went out and purchased a shooting chronograph. The Chrono will allow you to dial it in much faster.

What you will see is crappy groups .... then shrink to decent, then shrink to very good groups ... then expand back up again ... this is usually what happens.

Then again, you may have selected a bullet weight that just will not work with your rifle ... then you will have mostly mediocre groups.

[Bastard]

how many rounds is going to be whatever you feel like doing, personally I have found that I am never finished "testing"

as a bare minimum starting out with a new load/rifle I will load 50 using rounds with incremental powder charges, prefer to only load 5 different charges that way I can get 3 different 3 round groups (I use the other 5 as sighters)
but that is just me.

also, I would be weary of the light rounds with a 1/7 as if memory serves correctly the 1/7 is more suitable for heavier pills.

as a start I would actually recommend a generic 55gr bullet for both, however its your gun & your choice.

[bobgengeskahn]

Thanks for all the posts.

I was thinking of starting out heavier, around 55 since that's what I normally shoot, and I was thinking heavier because of the 1/7 barrel on the 188 series minis, but the consensus from most of the mini-14 guys is that the chopped barrels tend to like lighter rounds with faster burning powder in order to cycle correctly. The GB models that came with short barrels are a whole different breed since the gas systems were designed for the shorter barrels and chamber pressures.

I know that in the AR with the eventual 1/7 I'll be looking heavier, probably in the 75-80gr realm, but I still have the 1/9 on there, so if I load for the AR I'll probably max around 69gr rounds, although I might just get some 62gr and see what I can do in mimicking a M885 like what Hambam suggested.

My main concern, and most of the reason I am getting into reloading is because of the Mini. I have it shooting decently right now, but I have seen what reloads can do for Mini-14 performance and would like to have performing to its potential.

[John Browning]

I shoot 10 rounds of any load into one group. Patterns and realistic and repeatable performance results from a 10 round string. 5 shot groups are too open to luck unless you shoot five 5 shot groups.

[Raralith]

5 per load at 0.3 increments starting at minimum load, and up to 10 loads (i.e., 50 rounds) if I don't hit the maximum. It's pretty simple on both semi and bolt actions when I did it.

[Whiterabbit]

I usually load 10. 5 each at 50 and 100 yards.

This is way too many components. I'll know within 3-4 rounds if a load is worth working with, or worth dumping. However, since I have to drive 30 minutes to metcalf and pay $15 to shoot, it's worth it to treat every load as one worth working with, and go to the range with 10x each.

If they are boutique solids I am shooting, I can always take them back home and pull them.

I shoot identical targets and check the chrono, vertical dispersion within group, and vertical dispersion group-to-group. I disregard horizontal dispersion. The more inconclusive the data, the better (usually because its getting too tight to differentiate at 100 yards) and I "get to start over" farther. 300 yards (panoche) always tells the truth at that point.

[mark501w]

I shot 10 rounds that day pretty obvious. Same load different bullet.

[the86d]

In reference to twist and bullet weight, I have seen this posted many times here as far as twist vs bullet weight:


I don't know if it is accurate... just reposting.

When working up I usually do about 10 per .1/.2 work-up.

[DSMeyer]

I load 50 rounds at a tine for testing. In these 50 rounds, my ladder consists of 10 round per group. Example would be for my 300 win mag 168gr TTSX bullet h4831 powder ( this is what I loaded Saturday evening) first string of ten rounds was 73, second-74,3 -75, 4-76, and fifth was 77 gr. my max was 78 gr, but I rarely go there.
Now I'll go and test five rounds of each string for grouping and chronograph speed. On a single day. Then go back another day and see how well it duplicates for different temperature weekend ( usually,except it has been unseasonably warm). Then I'll compile the data and decide which part if the ladder I'll use and break it down to .2 gr increments above and below my initial load. From that I'll choose the load that works best for that rifle.
It's tedious and time consuming work, but it'll be tailored to your rifle.

[damndave]

I start with 5 shot groups in .3-.5 powder increments. After I find the most accurate node in the initial testing, I narrow it down even further with multiple 5 shot groups.

[Enfield47]

For my ARs I like 10 rounds for each test ladder in .5 grain increments to test in each gun. I have a 16" 1/9 and a 20" 1/7, both shoot 55 gr bullets without any problems. I believe it will be the same for you with the AR and Mini 14 and it will be much easier to only have to deal with one bullet for both. If these will be for plinking, you should easily be able to find a load that will be accurate and cycle the action of both rifles instead of having to reload two different rounds.