Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Load testing, 100 vs 200 yards

Like to hear some thoughts from you guys at which distance you test your loads and why?

For the most part I test only at 100 yd. strictly out of convenience.

100 yards. It makes all of the calculations easier as most data is printed for 100 yards. Once dialed in at 100 yards I will work out to greater distances.

I don't do much "load testing" as opposed to "sighting in." I have found that if you use a powder of appropriate burn rate near maximum loading, it's pretty accurate and you aren't going to get much better.

For sighting in most rifles, I use 200 yards. For most "flat shooting rifles," I sight in a couple of inches high at that range--3" with a 30-06 and 150 grain spire points, for instance. I use a High Power range where the 200 yard target measures 4' by 6' total. I can always get near the center with bore sighting only.

For "dangerous game" rifles, I sight in at 100 yards. Why? Because I don't need to sight in farther and it saves walking.

I do all my shooting at 200 yards. I zero spot on at that distance. All I do at 100 is get my bullets on paper close enough and then its out to 200. In my old age I have not gotten so picky as I had been in my youth. I use 3 inch Orange dots. I just look for all my shots to land on that. A load that dose that consistently is fine and plenty accurate for big game hunting. Poor shooting will show up faster at 200 too. Of course this what I do with high velocity cartridges like the 7mm RM. For something along the lines of the 30-30, I drop it down to 100, thou I do shoot that cartridge out to 200. Once I settle on a load, I tend to stick with it. As much as I like hand loading, I like to shoot and hunt even more. Besides it makes it interesting at the range.

I don't do all my testing at one range- I begin testing ( assuming the rifle is sighted in) at 100 yards. If the results are poor there, then find the problem and fix it. Then move out to at least 300 yards, both to build confidence and verify that everything is alright. It's not unusual to have a load do fairly well at 100 yards and not so good at 300. The reason can be as simple as reloading technique, but all problems don't show up at 100 yards.

With scoped centerfire rifles, I do initial load work up at 100. Less chance of atmospheric issues than further out, easy to spot bullet holes in the paper, and quick to walk out and back to switch targets.

Once a load is decided on, I move out to longer distances to either confirm or deny the veracity of the close range accuracy. Sometimes loads that seem good at 100 aren't so hot further out.

I always zero at 100 yds... when I am in the field and in open terrain, I will spin the turret up 3.5 inches for big game hunting... knowing the MV, that lets me know what my point blank range will be, when the bullet is 3.5 inches low...

I do that, as a deer is a minimum 14 inches from baackbone to breast bone...cut that in half, is 7 inches... hence 3.5 inches high at 100 and knowing what distance the bullet will be 3.5 inches low...

I do not totally trust a rifle/load combo to be used for western BG until I've put it on paper at 300yds. Notice the noun I was used, the rest of you can do what you think best.

I don't even shoot any anything closer than about 300 yards these days - A big waste of time generally if the load will be used at distance. Loads can fall apart quickly -

I test at the 1 and confirm at the 3-5.


Travis

Some loads good at 100, bad at 300.

Some loads bad at 100, good at 300.

I just go right to it. Just my way of getting the most out of a range session and can eliminate a load very fast.

Most testing at 100 but final verification for a BG hunt at 200.

I then print a trajectory chart out to 600.

Once I get the groups I want at 100, I dial for 500 and ring 12" steel. Then shoot groups at 200,330,425, and finally 500. If everything is kosher, make a range card and practice. Windy, crappy days are the most revealing. Then mess with different positions.

Ditto.

I sight in at 100yds. Where I hunt shots are less than 100 yds although there some places where a longer shot may present itself.

358win

Most rifles ( exception being things like my 358's, 44, 30.30 and muzzleloader) I do most load work up at 200 for a couple of reasons. First is that that's my zero range with most rifles. I can refine/check zero's as I shoot groups.

Second I can spot holes at 200 petty well, so it means I don't have to walk to spot much. I find that at 300 and 400 are hard to spot unless I use a shoot and see target. I guess that's partly my fault as I don't own a first class spotter. I have come closer to buying one from time to time, but as I don't hunt with a spotter I haven't pulled the trigger on a good one. I am hoping for one of those target camera systems to get both good and cheap. So for the time being I usually shoot steel past 200 yds or a shoot-n-see if I am shooting groups.

I've had loads that shoot like absolute dog doo at the 100 that group like a mofo from 3-800. I love that stuff.

Tanner

Depends on your definition of "test".

I prefer to do load development at 200, if the conditions let me.

Then I generally test to at least 600....sometimes double that.

I usually do initial work-up at 100, mostly because I have very easy access to a private range. If the load's also going to be used at much longer ranges, then I also test them there.

Generally (and this will probably start a typical Campfire schidtstorm), I've found that loads that shoot really well at 100 also do so at longer ranges. If they don't, it's due to either scope parallax problems, or even a mild wind. A lot of shooters assume neither are real problems, but they sure can be. Even a 6.5mm 140-grain Berger VLD at 3000 fps will drift over three times as much at 700 yards as at 400.

There tend to be accuracy problems if the range is long enough for the bullet's velocity drops to the transonic range, but that's not very common. Above the speed of sound bullets actually become more stable as velocity drops, contrary to popular belief.