Where To Start "Tuning"

[805moparkid]

ok guys after getting my head wrapped around .223 and 5.56 im onto the next thing!

Where to start tuning for any given combo!
please just number them or add to it!

OAL
powder load
powder type
bullet brand per gr (so like some montana gold 55's, hornady 55's etc)

running a 20" bull black rifle. want 55's in .223 for plinking and the for the 14. then 5.56 in 62 and 69gr's for working...

will start with 55 .223 though.

Thanks

 

[125JHP]

I think the first thing is to pick the bullet you want to use. You might buy a few of several to try out in general, but when you find one you like, buy a larger quantity of the same lot so you'll have enough for development and a stash when your done.
Then determine the best OAL for your gun/magazine length. For a semi it may not really matter that much like in a bolt gun.
Third pick your powder - lots of factors there, so you may want to test 3 or 4 powders.
Finally load up several rounds in small increments of each powder, enough to give you a couple 5 shot groups at 50 and 100 or so yards plus some sighters.

Keep detailed record and shoot em to find the best loads, then do it again with just the best loads, maybe refine the powder charge range a little to see if one tunes in better than another. Eliminate and do it again with just the best 2 or 3 and finalize your selection to load the rest of your bullets.

Rinse and repeat for the next weight class.

 

[805moparkid]

I think the first thing is to pick the bullet you want to use. You might buy a few of several to try out in general, but when you find one you like, buy a larger quantity of the same lot so you'll have enough for development and a stash when your done.
Then determine the best OAL for your gun/magazine length. For a semi it may not really matter that much like in a bolt gun.
Third pick your powder - lots of factors there, so you may want to test 3 or 4 powders.
Finally load up several rounds in small increments of each powder, enough to give you a couple 5 shot groups at 50 and 100 or so yards plus some sighters.

Keep detailed record and shoot em to find the best loads, then do it again with just the best loads, maybe refine the powder charge range a little to see if one tunes in better than another. Eliminate and do it again with just the best 2 or 3 and finalize your selection to load the rest of your bullets.

Rinse and repeat for the next weight class.

cool thanks! i cant wait to get going. i have been scouring the internet and powder sites so im making leaps on info!

 

[805moparkid]

also do you hand load the powder for your "testers" so they are exact, then just deal with the +/- .2 or so grains when you decide a set?

 

[Twoboxer]

also do you hand load the powder for your "testers" so they are exact, then just deal with the +/- .2 or so grains when you decide a set?

Hand-weigh. Once you find the center of a sweet spot, the load will likely tolerate that kind of deviation.

There's not much sense testing a specific load, unless it actually *is* that specific load.

 

[H Richard]

Different guns and different models of the same gun will shoot differently. Usually "acceptable" accuracy can be had with a variety of powders and bullets and using the load from the manual that is a few tenths of a grain below max. But when you wan to load "accurate" loads you must be consistent and precise. If the barrel of your gun is capable of?? 1/4" @ 100 yards or is it 1" @ 100 yards. You have to determine what your gun is capable of. Most factory barres in a AR style rifle are capable of not too much better than 1" @ 100 yards. A custom barrel or heavy match barrel should do better. You have to determine what you need. Then:
1. Bullet, brand/type/weight.
2. Powder, brand/type.
3. Powder load, weight (must weigh every load to within +/- 1/10 grain).
4. OAL, this will be different with every different bullet. Some rifles like the bullet touching the lands, some rifles like a .0015" to .0025" jump to engage the rifling. With an AR,you are limited to the magazine dimensions.
5. Chronograph the loads and determine the consistency of the velocity and extreme spread and standard deviation. The better the consistency and the lower the extreme spread and standard deviation the more accurate the load will be.

 

[805moparkid]

Different guns and different models of the same gun will shoot differently. Usually "acceptable" accuracy can be had with a variety of powders and bullets and using the load from the manual that is a few tenths of a grain below max. But when you wan to load "accurate" loads you must be consistent and precise. If the barrel of your gun is capable of?? 1/4" @ 100 yards or is it 1" @ 100 yards. You have to determine what your gun is capable of. Most factory barres in a AR style rifle are capable of not too much better than 1" @ 100 yards. A custom barrel or heavy match barrel should do better. You have to determine what you need. Then:
1. Bullet, brand/type/weight.
2. Powder, brand/type.
3. Powder load, weight (must weigh every load to within +/- 1/10 grain).
4. OAL, this will be different with every different bullet. Some rifles like the bullet touching the lands, some rifles like a .0015" to .0025" jump to engage the rifling. With an AR,you are limited to the magazine dimensions.
5. Chronograph the loads and determine the consistency of the velocity and extreme spread and standard deviation. The better the consistency and the lower the extreme spread and standard deviation the more accurate the load will be.

so i guess i need to buy one of those sight in rests to see if it will go MOA or sub MOA then... i will start there.

how does this sound:
do 2, 5 shot groups with .223 and then the same for 5.56 so get a grouping and average. should i also do 200 or 250yrds?

lastly what about barrel temp changing POI?

 

[fredj338]

First establish an accuracy benchmark for your rifle. Shoot a known accurate round like Fedral or BlackHills match or even a good milspec round liek the green tip. My 20"hvy will shoot 5 well under 0.75 MOA @ 100. That is my benchmark. Shoot w/ as little wind as possible. You are testing the gun not so much your shooting skills.
Accuracy always starts with a good bullet. THe best rifle will not shoot a bad bullet well. So if the intent is best accuracy, match bullets are the first step. Then do your load develeopment. Forget a "best" powder, they do not exist in practice. All rifles will show a preference.
Some powders are good in many guns. So choose one that gives you the vel you want within a safe pressure range. I load on a 550 so I prefer ball or spherical powders. Lots of choices, get one or two choices in 1# cans. Use one type of bullet only & do load development for each. Your rifle will likely show a pref. If the accuracy still sin't there, try another powder first, stick with your match bullet of choice.
For best results, put your loads together in matching headstamped brass, I prefer once fired, but as long as they all have the same # of times reloaded, it's fine. Stick w/ one primer brand to, later you can try fine tuning by switching primers. If that one bullet will not shoot w/ 1 of 2 or 3 powders, switch bullets & start over.
Yes bbl temp changes POI. SO shoot slow enough to keep the bbl from over heating or you will start walking shots off POA. You MUST have a steady rest to accurately test ammo. Shooting off the hood foa car or over a back pack is fine for field accuracy but not the best for testing ammo. A solid set of shooting bags or good bipod & rear bag for best results.

 

[kd5exp]

Find you a couple pairs of old jeans (preferably with out holes)and cut the legs off. Fill half way with sand and sew them up so you can mold them as needed. works great.

 

[LittleCooner]

If the wind is light, you can tell more at 200 than 100 yards on tuning.
3 shot group work better than 5 shots. I would rather have 2 - 3 shot
Groups any day than one 5 shot group. Nosler blastic tips in 55 are a great
Accuracy bullet for the price. Hornaday also makes great bullets
The bergers are great also. Stick with the powders the
Bench rest people have used over the years. There is a huge
Difference in powders in the accuracy category
H322, A2015 and VV 133 or VV 135 can not be
Beaten by any of the powders being manages tired
By anyone. Pick a primer and stay with it for all you
Loading. CCI BR 4 or federal match will always
Turn out the most accurate in a test
Get a chronograph for serious work. The smallest
Standard deviation = best accuracy ( that's just
The law of physics). Good luck. Some bullet manufactures
Sell packs of 10 bullets for this type of
Testing and tuning
There is always a "sweet spot" in velocity due
To barrel vibration