New powder lot…..

Knowing powder lots can be different, when starting with a new lot do you:

A) Load a few to see if any difference first.
*B) Load a few of several different powder weights.
C) Start all over with a ladder test.

* since any variance is probably small, do you use .1 gr. Increments?

start with A...go to B (I try to chase the velocity)...sometimes that doesn't work and then I go to C or sell the gun

B

Load your current charge for groups.

And load .2 gr less, .4 gr less for groups.

And load .2 gr more, .4 gr more for groups.

Somewhere in there is probably your old load. Different powder charge, or same powder charge, same consistent shooting, probably at the same speed.

On medium size cases +/- .2 grain has always worked for me. On a 7mm Weatherby Mag I had to go +/- .4 to find the load. That was with H4831 SC.

Oh hush, Buzz. You just sold a gorgeous, great shooting rifle (with factory loads) that you never even went to the trouble to load for and find out just how good it could be. Imagine if you loaded for it and it shot itty-bitty groups (1/2 the size of the factory ammo)…..you could sell it along with 200 of those loads and maybe not lose that $1300+.

A

Preach!

This^^^

What I do is a little different but close to the same. I load one of each from a half grain under to a half grain over in.1 increments and shoot them through the chronograph. When I find the charge(s) that produces the same velocity I test that load for groups and consistency. That usually works for me.

If I have to fall back to C I will but it seldom happens.

I’ve had Varget that was significantly different.

just loadem up. no need to reduce charge on Varget lots

Wrong.

Yeah I wasn’t even going to respond to that.