I am about to embark upon a study I suspect some folks may have an interest in and because I love doing this kind of stuff.
A member who appreciates some of the work I've been doing sent me 25 new Hornady cases to play with. They were a random collection, not pre-graded in any way. Interestingly, do you suppose all shipped at 1.70 inches? How about 1.70 -.03 inches? Would you believe anywhere from 1.691 to 1.696 with the average being 1.694 inches. For what they cost, I must confess I expected them to be of closer tolerance than they were, but perhaps I just have high expectations. Anyway, I identified 15 of them that are 1.694 +/- .0005 inches, which is the accuracy rating for my caliper. They will be the test bed.
I will create and update a chart for 15 loads. The chart will contain both fired and resized length and maximum girth just above the web, velocity, AVG, SD and ES for each cycle. I will load one set of 5 repeatedly at what I consider to be a safe, lower charge for the 225gr FTX bullet, 5 at a somewhat middle charge where I previously got a good group and 5 at what I consider to be a safe, upper charge for the 225gr FTX. I don't own a Lead Sled, so despite my own skills being less than stellar, the chart will also have a score assigned to each shot for it's placement relative to the center within a group as best as I can deliver and measure. I may opt to just post images of the groups along with the chart and graphs, rather than meticulously measuring them and let you be the judge. Cases will be grouped in 5's by closest weight to one another. Ditto on the bullets. Rifle will be cleaned prior to each trial, but not in between groups of 5 to reduce fouling shots stringers. Scope POI will not be adjusted. All shots will be preceded by a rifle tip-up to try to keep the powder as rearward as possible. Due to availability, Remington Small Rifle Benchrest primers (7 1/2) will be used. They perform very close to the WSR primers.
Sound interesting? Worth the trouble? Any other metric, easily recorded, that you'd like to see included in the chart? The 100 yard range where I shoot is fairly well shielded from wind and I will strive to shoot under the same conditions as many times as my powder and bullets last up to. Not being retired, this will no doubt take a while to complete, but will be updated immediately after each trial run. why the 225gr FTX? They're the cheapest and the bullet I get my best groups with.
Hoot