How many grains do you skip while working up a load in a .30-06?

[Jerry D]

The title says it all... If I'm working up a load how many grains would you skip per load?

If you find two that are pretty good would you then work up and down .1's from them to find the best?

How do you do it? I'm shooting a .30-06 and so far my best load is right at 52.0 grains if IMR 4350 using Fed 210 primer, rem brass, and nosler 168 grain CT ballistic tip. I've tried 53/54/55 grains so far but I'm getting 1.5-2" groups.http://thehighroad.org/editpost.php?do=editpost&p=5724710

O - I should say the 52.0 grain load - all 5 bullet holes where touching!

 

[Walkalong]

If that is 100 yards, and is repeatable, you are there.

.1 if you are close.

 

[Grumulkin]

Are you measuring center to center or to the outside edges of the group? It's standard to measure center to center. In a 30/06, I would want 100 yard 3 shot groups to measure no more than about 1 inch.

For 30/06 loads, I increase the powder charge in 1 grain increments until I approach what I believe to be a maximum load at which time, I increase the charge in 0.5 gr. increments. Once I've found what I believe to be the most accurate load, I shoot some more with that load to be sure and might try charges 0.5 gr. higher or lower. Changing the powder charge in just 0.1 gr. increments is pretty worthless in a cartridge case of this size in my opinion.

You also have to take into consideration the temperature you're shooting at. If you're working up the load in cool temperatures, it's best to be a bit conservative since the loads will be hotter when it's hotter.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Looks like it's been answered. You sure don't need my comment...

I've been quite happy with 1 5/8". three shots at 200 yards with my .30-06...

 

[Shoney]

My data shows
168 GR _ IMR 4350*_3.230"*_ 54.0--2720*___*58.0C --2903*

Your start/accuracy load is under Hodgdons start.

Even though your accuracy load is quite good, I would try 56, 57, and 58 to see what happens.

 

[ranger335v]

.3 gr.

 

[USSR]

When doing load development to determine velocity over the chronograph, I vary charge weights by 0.5gr. Once I understand the charge weight/velocity relationship, I vary charge weights by 0.3gr to find an accurate load. A 0.1gr variation will show you nothing, as the difference is virtually indistinguishable on target.

Don

 

[jpwilly]

.5gr ladder loads till you find a sweet spot then up and down in .2 or .3gr incriments - just like USSR said.

 

[interlock]

like ussr and grumulkin.
my load is 60 gr of imr 4350 under a 165 sgk. this is max in my rifle. work up steadily. i get uner 1 inch @100 yards

 

[JDGray]

I've been quite happy with 1 5/8". three shots at 200 yards

Yeah.... I spose I would be too!

 

[The Bushmaster]

It's MY story and I'm stickin' to it, JD...

 

[Walkalong]

I've been quite happy with 1 5/8". three shots at 200 yards

My Sako .308 will barely do that at 100. It has a neglected bore. It's the only inaccurate rifle I keep around. I like it.

I may be wasting my time tweaking by .1 when I get real close (.5, then .2 or .3, then .1), but I do it that way, unless I feel like I stumbled onto a sweet spot accidentally. If it shoots lights out a couple of times in a row, I quit tweaking usually. If it just shoots real well, I will go .1

 

[freakshow10mm]

I work up in 1gr increments. Last two grains are in .5gr increments. For sweet spot tuning I load 3rds each at .1gr increments.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

My data shows
168 GR _ IMR 4350*_3.230"*_ 54.0--2720*___*58.0C --2903*

Your start/accuracy load is under Hodgdons start.

I was about to post the same thing but Shoney already posted this information. It's not a good idea to go below the powder company's recommended minimum charge.

 

[kelbro]

1% of the max is a good guideline. Then 0.5% to find the sweet spot.

.6 gr for your load, then .3gr when you find a sweet spot.

You found a good accuracy node down at the low end. There's at least one more under max and probably another one right near max. Keep working. You can have both accuracy and velocity.