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.

 

[17remhunter]

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.

.386 is average some lower and some higher. I use this load shooting Squirrels in alfalfa fields in Nevada some years there all over the fields and I will shoot 200-300 rounds until the wind comes up. I do see small amounts of pressure but then im using Fereral 205 primers and i stopped using Federal primers in my 17 Remington because of flattening primers where when i use Remington 7.5 i have no pressure issues. I was told its because the 7.5 have a thicker cup

 

[17remhunter]

I dont know if anyone has experience with CZ Rifles. Ive had six of them and in my opinion their the most accurate out of the box factory rifles. Ive had two that were 22 Hornet. 22 Hornets are know for being an inaccurate cartridge. I read that if you have a 22 Hornet that shoot 1” groups thats excellent both of mine shot in the .6’s. My pistol is a CZ. Excellent

 

[Salmonchaser]

So much depends on the initial choice you make. Then throw in what really amounts to the witchcraft of reloading, that intangible bit that makes all the components put together achieve everything you hoped while it gets logged as never try this again in my book.
Generally speaking I don’t push the limits and in a great many rifles found my best accuracy somewhat below max, particularly with older powders, like 4350. I also had to hammer open a bolt on a 30/06 when I was 13 or 14 years old, nearly 60 years ago. That lesson stuck with me.
I have found that some of the “newer” powders shoot better for me at the high end, Rl 17 and 26 come to mind, however I generally tap out before going much over 60k pressure. If a 22 Hornet isn't doing what I need I buy a .22-250.
I’ve owned and loaded for a rifle in just about every niche from 22 hornet to 577 NE. All those lessons taught me if I see pressure to back off and if needed try a different combination.