ORIGINAL: voz
I just made my first attempt at reloading and I'm not sure what my next step is. I made up 40 rounds of 243 with five different charge weights (increasing by increments of .5 gr)...I started in the center of the charge range and worked up...inspecting the cases as I went. I shot 2 groups of 4 of each charge weight. Anyway, I was under the impression that I would have one charge weight that would be clearly dominant...but they all shot descent. In the end I can't decide if the slight differences are the load or me. I'm not really a good shooter but I did manage to get three different loads to shoot in 1" or less groups (at 100yds). Not sure what the next step should be...I thought I'd make up some more of those three loads and retest. Anyway...thanks for any advice...I need it.
Oh, here's what I'm reloading...95gr BT, H4350 (40.5 - 42.5), and I'm loading it in remington brass from corelokts I have previously fired. I know the 42.5 is a .5 gr over the limit but I thought that since my barrel is shorter, the pressure wouldn't be quite as high...I checked the cases and primers and they looked just like the shorter charges.
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What powder(S) did you use? I normally pick a bullet, and try as many different powders as I have for the bulletI want to use. The fact that the gun shot this powder over different weight charges in a small group identifies this powder as being good in your gun. Pick the heaviest load for that powder that didnt show signs of pressure, and make 10-20 rounds, and play with the overall length within your chamber/barrel throat constrictions in your gun. shoot four 5 shot groups (slowly letting the barrel cool) and see which length was the most accurate with that powder/bullet combo.
That powder will perform for you over a large set of conditions which is what you want in a hunting load, as you will often be hunting in extreme conditions, hot cold wet etc.