The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Where in the powder charge range works best?

**44 AMP** · April 25, 2017, 01:34 PM

Standard reloading doctrine for generations has been that max loads usually don't produce the best accuracy. But also that every gun is different and there are combinations where it is possible, but these combinations are not the general rule.

The difference in group size may be small, or may be large, every gun is different. Most are very similar in performance in this aspect, but there are exceptions.

What point in the range of published charge weights works best? The one that shoots the smallest groups from your gun. YOUR gun. The only way to find out is to shoot different loads from YOUR gun. The only way to tell if your gun "runs with the pack" or if its at either end of the bell curve is to shoot it.

There's no other way to know.

And, FWIW, the same gun can be in the middle of the pack with load A, and also be at the extreme end (either end) of the performance curve with load B.

Again, only shooting it with the ammo in question will tell. Everything else is just a guess, and may, or may not be the way your gun & ammo combination works.

April 25, 2017, 01:34 PM	#9
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 30,477	Standard reloading doctrine for generations has been that max loads usually don't produce the best accuracy. But also that every gun is different and there are combinations where it is possible, but these combinations are not the general rule. The difference in group size may be small, or may be large, every gun is different. Most are very similar in performance in this aspect, but there are exceptions. What point in the range of published charge weights works best? The one that shoots the smallest groups from your gun. YOUR gun. The only way to find out is to shoot different loads from YOUR gun. The only way to tell if your gun "runs with the pack" or if its at either end of the bell curve is to shoot it. There's no other way to know. And, FWIW, the same gun can be in the middle of the pack with load A, and also be at the extreme end (either end) of the performance curve with load B. Again, only shooting it with the ammo in question will tell. Everything else is just a guess, and may, or may not be the way your gun & ammo combination works. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.