Here's a way of doing it that I tried and be darned if it didn't seem to reduce the number of shots necessary to "zero" in on the correct amount of powder to use with a given bullet.
There's a name associated with this process but I don't recall what it is.
If this thread goes long enough someone will chime in with the good stuff.
Here goes.
Pick a bullet, primer and powder.
Start at "low book" and load one round at that powder weight. From there on load one (1) round with increasing powder weights of say 0.2 gr. NUMBER them consecutively from lowest weight up.
The go to the range. At least 200 yds is best.
Set up the chrono and shoot the round number 1. Record velocity and point of impact on a target (log) at the bench. Then shoot each consecutive round number recording its velocity and point of impact.
You will sprobably see some clusters of several consecutive round numbers. Maybe one cluster maybe more. Who knows.
Now you know where that combination of of primer, powder and bullet shoot the best and you have only expended 4 5-round groups worth of rounds.
If velocities are acceptable then you can start messing with primers, seating depth etc to squeeze things down a bit more.
I did it recently with a 223 and was impressed with the results.
If I would have used this process for the last 30 years I probably could have financed a pretty fair hunt with the savings. But..................
