For precision rifle load development

A single group is not enough to call a load better.

Was that tighter group the load—or ordinary variation? Measure your targets, compare repeated groups, and see the rifle, recipe and chronograph readings behind each result.

Start free with your own rifle and load. Your target photos and results stay private. Email verification is required.

Illustrative comparison

Does the difference hold?

Did the smaller group come back on the next target?

Rifle + load

What changed

Target groups

What actually happened

Chronograph

Does velocity agree?

Comparison

Does it repeat?

Illustration only. Your result depends on the groups and measurements you add.

A better way to read the target

Compare loads on more than their smallest group.

One small group can make a load look better than it is. Compare the groups you fired, their average mean radius, and how much they vary—then decide what to test again.

Use more than the smallest group

Measure each target group and compare the full sample, not only the best result.

Check whether velocity agrees

See the chronograph readings beside the target groups. A low velocity SD is only part of the story.

Find the load that repeats

Compare group-to-group variation before choosing which load deserves another test.

The whole test matters

How to tell whether a load is better.

A promising result is easier to test again when you know exactly what you loaded and how it shot. Put the next target beside the last one.

  1. 1

    Start with the actual setup

    Which rifle, components and seating depth produced this target? Save the details you will need to repeat the test.

  2. 2

    Measure every group

    Set the scale and mark the holes on the target photo.

  3. 3

    Add the chronograph string

    Compare velocity consistency alongside the groups; neither one tells the whole story.

  4. 4

    Compare enough groups

    Look at the difference across repeated groups, including the uncertainty in a small sample.

Start with the next load test

Find the load that repeats.

Bring your next target photo and load recipe. Start measuring on Free; choose Pro when you need room for more rifles and load tests.

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