Load Development

[17remhunter]

Ive worked up accurate loads for two rifles. One thing i noticed is that with my 17 Hornet my max load was the most accurate. A factory Hornady 17 Hornet load chronographs at 3650 with a 20 gr bullet. My accuracy load shoots a 20 gr at 3816. I do see a little pressure but accuracy in a factory rifle was .386. My 17 Remington was the same way. Has anyone experienced this. That your best groups were with losds on the edge of high pressure?

 

[17remhunter]

Im doing a load development for a new 6 Creedmoor starting next week. We will see

 

[BobT1105]

I’ve had the most accurate loads with a particular set of components at both ends of the charge weight from the manuals. I will usually pick a powder that gives the highest speed with whatever bullet I want to use and start from there.

 

[std7mag]

Accuracy and max velocity seldom go hand in hand.

Does the rifle shoot the ".386"" consistently?
Or was it a one time thing?

What pressure signs are you seeing?
And what would make you think that it's wise or safe to continue shooting it as such?

Typically when you get "pressure signs" you are already over pressure.

The only rifle/cartridge of mine that likes the higher end of pressure is my 7mm Rem Mag.
And I'm still about 1.5gr of powder below "max" in the manual for bullet and powder.

Most of my accuracy nodes are lower in the charge range.

Group sizes can often be tuned by COAL (how close the bullet is to the lands) and action bolt tuning.

 

[brockel]

I work to pressure and then back off slightly. If that load doesn’t shoot I switch powders. So I guess all my accuracy loads are max on my rifles too.

 

[Brian in Montana]

Probably not every rifle. I load a .308 a good bit and often tend to find good accuracy at higher pressures. Same seems to be true, in general, for 7mm-08. But I also load 30-06, .284 Win, 280AI, and .270 win. Can't say I've really seen that with those. Accurate loads seem to be all across the spectrum.