Fine tuning a recipe

18 August 2010, 23:29

Wanted to know how guys "fine tune" a recipe that shows potential. Do you tweak the bullet seating depth or do you play with the number of grains? up/down, etc. Want to tighten the groups alittle...

18 August 2010, 23:35

rcamuglia

Both.

18 August 2010, 23:37

craigcampbell

Which option would you try first?

18 August 2010, 23:49

Antelope Sniper

Powder charge first, then bullet seating depth.

19 August 2010, 01:43

LWD

A 1/2 grain of powder usually doesn't make the difference between great and awful. The Audette method is based on there being accuracy nodes that are achieved with a small range of powder---e.g. +/- 1 grain. The exception to this is the Barnes all copper bullets. Here a grain can make a big difference. A slight change in seating depth, however, could make a huge difference---or it might not.

Don't waste a lot of time with very small incremental changes in powder charges. Do see if there's another node out there. Then adjust seating depth.

LWD

19 August 2010, 02:27

vapodog

quote:
Originally posted by LWD:
A 1/2 grain of powder usually doesn't make the difference between great and awful. The Audette method is based on there being accuracy nodes that are achieved with a small range of powder---e.g. +/- 1 grain. The exception to this is the Barnes all copper bullets. Here a grain can make a big difference. A slight change in seating depth, however, could make a huge difference---or it might not.

Don't waste a lot of time with very small incremental changes in powder charges. Do see if there's another node out there. Then adjust seating depth.

LWD

For me the biggest gains are to try different bullets.....then to try different powders.....then different amounts (and in whole grain increments is fine).....then adjust the seating depth.....and don;t adjust a few thou.....adjust .03 at a time.....

You'll soon see where the time should be spent.

And of course.....this assumes the gun is completely adequate to your accuracy needs....

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19 August 2010, 03:00

aliveincc

I start w/ 1 brand and weight of bullet seated just off the lands and then assemble multiple--usu 4 each of the same powder in 1 grain increments. Then go shoot for groups. If they group well, I load up usu 50 at a time. Only once have I really had to play w/ seating depth to get a rifle to really shoot.