Help with load development

gr8lakes · September 24, 2017, 03:25 PM

I was finally able to get a box of Lapua 6.5 creedmoor brass
and wanted to get a good load dialed in for my Savage
I was using Hornady brass before and had to cut down my load a bit.

Savage 6.5 Creedmoor 5R rifling
Athlon 6x24x50 Scope @18x

I have available
Hornady Brass
Lapua Brass
140g Hornady BTHP
140g Hornady ELD M
CCI 400 primers
CCI 450
FGMM 205
IMR 4350
RL17

This is the first test with the new
6.5 Creedmoor Lapua Brass @ 100Y
140g Hornady BTHP

**Unclenick** · September 24, 2017, 03:33 PM

Welcome to the forum.

You seem to have got off to a good start. Is there a specific piece of information you are seeking?

gr8lakes · September 24, 2017, 03:49 PM

Thank you for the welcome !

Was wondering if the first shots at 41g were more accurate
and if that was all me moving, or if the climb in the 41.3 was the start of the spread

Also where about would the next accurate node be, is it like 3% or so

Thanks again

Nathan · September 24, 2017, 03:49 PM

What caliber?

Which bullet?

What rifle? Optic?

What do you want out of it? This is very important to define....chasing best often leaves folks throwing good money after bad for little to no gain.

hounddawg · September 24, 2017, 04:11 PM

I shoot 140 SMK's with appx the same load in a 260 Rem with sub MOA results out to 800. Looks like you are ready to fine tune

I would go back and reshoot that 41 g load a couple of times because it has the least amount of vertical stringing. The horizontal could be wind or mirage induced

Lately I have gotten into the habit of narrowing a load down to two or three nodes that seem promising using a ladder with 5 shot groups then shoot a 15 round group of the two or three best. Then I do a string of 20 increasing the yardage

When 3 shots are worthless, 5 get you into the ball park with a bit of luck but 15 or 20 shot groups will give you a pretty good idea of how a load/barrel/gun will perform

here is a good post on why 3 and even 5 shot groups are really pretty worthless in determining the precision of a load or gun

https://www.ar15.com/forums/ar-15/-/118-279218/?

September 24, 2017, 03:33 PM	#2
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	Welcome to the forum. You seem to have got off to a good start. Is there a specific piece of information you are seeking? __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

September 24, 2017, 04:11 PM	#5
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 4,232	I shoot 140 SMK's with appx the same load in a 260 Rem with sub MOA results out to 800. Looks like you are ready to fine tune I would go back and reshoot that 41 g load a couple of times because it has the least amount of vertical stringing. The horizontal could be wind or mirage induced Lately I have gotten into the habit of narrowing a load down to two or three nodes that seem promising using a ladder with 5 shot groups then shoot a 15 round group of the two or three best. Then I do a string of 20 increasing the yardage When 3 shots are worthless, 5 get you into the ball park with a bit of luck but 15 or 20 shot groups will give you a pretty good idea of how a load/barrel/gun will perform here is a good post on why 3 and even 5 shot groups are really pretty worthless in determining the precision of a load or gun https://www.ar15.com/forums/ar-15/-/118-279218/? __________________ “How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek Last edited by hounddawg; September 24, 2017 at 09:47 PM.

September 24, 2017, 03:49 PM	#3
gr8lakes Junior Member Join Date: September 24, 2017 Posts: 2	Thank you for the welcome ! Was wondering if the first shots at 41g were more accurate and if that was all me moving, or if the climb in the 41.3 was the start of the spread Also where about would the next accurate node be, is it like 3% or so Thanks again

September 24, 2017, 03:49 PM	#4
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,328	What caliber? Which bullet? What rifle? Optic? What do you want out of it? This is very important to define....chasing best often leaves folks throwing good money after bad for little to no gain.