Tim, I take the bullet that I want to use, select a powder that appears to be appropriate for the bullet in that cartridge case, and look up the starting load (lowest velocity) in several manuals to get an idea of what would be a mild load to start with. Then I load five rounds of that powder charge, and five more at each increasing charge level, 0.5 grain increase per five-round group for standard cartridges, and at 1-grain steps for true magnums (not so-called "magnums" that usestadard capacity cases!). Up to withing 0.5 grain of what the maximum load is in the book that gives the HIGHEST maximum load.

Then I go to the shooting bench and fire five-shot groups starting with the lowest and then the next, etc. I check each five-shot batch for both accuracy and MV using a chronograph. I stop working upward in powder weight when I get to the most accurate load that produces an acceptable velocity level. This load usually appears before the maximum load is fired, and signs of too much pressure show up. If I get up to where the pressure is unacceptable, and no accuracy was obtained during the workup process, I will usually change to the next slowerpowder, and do the drill all over again.

So, what am I saying? I work with one powder at a time. The powder charge weight will be the only thing I change-case make, primer type, and bullet seating depth will not be fooled with until I find a promising powder charge - I never change more than one variable at a time. Otherwise, you won't know WHICH factor is important in obtaining the results you got.