Going back to the basics with this video to a classic load. 100gn Speer soft point boat tails with IMR 4831. Let's see if it still can perform after all of this time...
Some more thoughts! 😁 looking at your groups again, ignoring velocity as the primary driver of the load development. Personally, I would split the difference between the first two groups, they have the most stable POI. The centers of both of those groups are virtually right on top of one another. Then do a seating depth test to see if you can refine the groups size. That would give you the most stable load out of the groups shown. Slight powder deviation in charge weight (or temperature changes) would have little or no effect on accuracy. Groups are 4 and 6 are in an accuracy node, according to Dan Newberry( OCW) they’re typically 3% apart. So, scatter nodes would be 3% apart......or 1.5% up or down from an accuracy node. Your target sequence is good demonstration of the phenomenon. 39 grns + 3% = 40.17 Pretty close to targets 4 and 6. Target 5 is right at 1.5% up from target 4! Finding likely accuracy nodes is a simple process. Locate a scatter node, they usually stick out like sore thumb 😭, then simply move up or down 1.5% from there for a more likely accuracy node! 👍 IMO 😎
H4350 is usually way more temperature stable than IMR 4831. Now H4831/SC is more temperature stable than H4350. Anyway, initial testing is to locate a stable combustion node that coincides with a stable POI (using the OCW method for example). Group size is NOT important in this phase, stable POI is. Without a chronograph and knowing what charges have low ES/SD spreads, choose the center of consecutive charges with a stable POI. Do a seating depth test to refine group size. Once a the seating depth has been chosen, work up and down in .10 grn increments to locate the exact center of the combustion node at that seating depth. Load to the lower end in the summer and upper end in the winter with temperatures temperature sensitive powders. 👍
I agree with you although I don't do more load development after seating depth testing because I find that seating depth will tune any load. I think pressure goes up in cold weather also, but I'm not 100% sure. I didnt know that SC was more temp stable than H4350... thanks for the info and for watching.
I’m still new to handloading but I’ve just acquired some of these same bullets to make a .243 loading for my wife’s hunting rifle, this year I didn’t have time to get .243 loads made by hand and just had to stick with 100 grain federal power shoks for her. While they worked effectively on the deer she got, I’m excited to see what I can come up with with these speer bullets. I’ve found the data I need, just need to get to loading/testing some here come springtime hopefully
I’ve had great luck with around 42 grains of imr 4831 and loaded a little long. Can’t remember the jump but they group great. I hope the old IMR powders are here to stay.
I have heard (not sure how true it is) that a load will fall apart about 1.5% above and below an optimal charge. Kind of like your 39.5 is to your 39.0 / 40.0 Notice the Speed drop from 2991 fps? How is that powder with temp swings? (like cooler hunting temps) I would re shoot that corner too hoping to see the same thing. Nice test : )
Interesting. Your data from the Speer #11 published 1987 is for 36.0gn/2651fps, 38.0g/2774fps, max 40.0g/2890fps, 22"barrel, 1:10 Twist, no C.O.L. Hogdon Online Load Data today gives start of 39.2g/2733fps, 43.0g/2947fps, 24" barrel, 1:10 twist. C.O.L. 2.650"
Ya there is a lot that has changed over the years. It's why I always work up to a load and watch for over pressure. I just use the manuals for a guide to get me started. I really like the Speer manual, it was my first one.
What rifle and barrel twist are you using. I’m using a Tikka T3 1:10 twist, and no stabilization with Hornady 103 gr ELD X I have lots of old 100 gr speer SP non BT I should try.
Not so much the .243, I never had one. But, the 22-250, I struggled for many years finding a powder/bullet combination. I found that H-4831 was the winner in accuracy, but not in velocity. believe it or not, the Cheap Remington Core flat lock flat base 55 gr bullets and 40.0 of H4831 were the most accurate, I shoot @200 yards and they were in the one inch to shooting one-hole groups and out of a cheap Mod-788 I had at the time. I have found that Both IMR and H-4831 are accurate powders in most rifles. Good video dude. -Dave
@@pawild5594 I tried IMR 4064, H-414, IMR 3031, IMR 4895. That Barrel had a taste for the H-4831. Nothing could beat it. Here in Washington State, It is illegal to hunt with anything smaller than a .243 diameter bullet for rifle season and don't get me started on the hunting regs here. It's crazy. However, in the way of the 22-250, it is capable of clean kills on medium game like Deer. Just have to watch shot placement and boom,, deader than Clio Patra. There is a "Shock" value to the impact of bullets or "Shocking Power" that the caliber has. the .243 has that value and does quite well on deer. I also had a 7X57 and cleanly killed many deer with it as well, people get stuck with tunnel vision and believe that .30 caliber is the only way to go, and that is far from the truth. -Dave
