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To: Lando Lincoln

Do you have a chronograph and know how to use it?

Do you have a comparator and overall length gauge know how to use them?

Are you neck sizing only? Are you using match quality dies, especially the sizing and seating die?

Are you rifle barrels match grade?

Do you record all of your data (powder and load weight, chrono data, group size, bullet data and so forth)?

Have you defined your goals?

Here is a freebie for data.... https://loaddata.com/

There are software programs that you can use to develop loads using powder/bullet/seating depth that are not conventional. I think these are subscription services which makes sense because in the last 5 or so years there have been quite a number of powders that were discontinued and new ones introduced.

There are many forums dedicated to handloading where you can ask a question, free advice. Personally and this is just my opinion, I would put the money that it costs for a program into the high quality dies and powder scale and get at least a dozen load manuals. Two books to consider, Powder Profiles and another titled Cartridge Comparison Guide 2. And stick to published tried and true loads.

Having said that I have worked up 1 rifle and 2 handgun loads using powders that have no data for the calibers I loaded them for. I did this because I had a bumper crop of odd powder and was looking for a use for it. As an individual that consumes 12K to 14K handloads per year I don’t think it is worth buying any software or working up loads using powders for calibers that are not recommended or have published data.

A good but low traffic forum for handloaders is handloadersbench.com There are guys there that use predictive software and might be able to help. Another forum which I don’t use is cast boolets http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/ These guys cast their won bullets (duh) but also get into the nitty gritty of everything handloading.


15 posted on 03/03/2019 2:06:37 PM PST by fatboy
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To: fatboy; GaryCrow
Thanks guys. I had a Caldwell chronograph but I hated the need to hardwire it to a iPad or smartphone to log the data. I just upgraded to a ProChrono with the bluetooth module. I haven't used it yet.

I log all my work. Early on, I made one mistake with my loads which taught me a lot. I seated magnum primers in some .30-06 which over pressured the cartridge. Split several... never again.

I size the neck and casing. I size the primer pocket. I gauge the length. I debur the mouth.

I really appreciate the comments.

19 posted on 03/03/2019 2:35:46 PM PST by Lando Lincoln (But that's just me.)
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To: fatboy

I had a chronograph - I shot it, oops


40 posted on 03/05/2019 6:55:01 PM PST by ezo4
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