Dan Newberry's Optimal Charge Weight Load Development...

The fastest and most effective way to develop accurate handloading recipes for your rifles and handguns.

Work up carefully to these loads, some are at published maximums!  These are loads that we have tested and used over the years with good success.

.223 Remington, using W748 powder:
40 grain bullet, 28.0 grains
50 grain bullet, 27.1 grains.
55 grain bullet, 26.6 grains
(a good milder load is 26.0 grains of W748 with a 55 grain bullets)

22-250 Remington using IMR 4064
55 grain bullet, 36.5 grains

22-250 with IMR 4895
55 grain bullet, use 34.0 grains for a good moderate power load
try 35.5 grains for max load, but work up to that from 34 grains

22-250 Remington using IMR 4350
55 grain bullet, 39.0 grains

(can also use 39.0 grains of H414 or W760)

.243 Winchester, using IMR 3031
58 to 60 grain bullet, 39.8 grains
75 grain bullet, 39.0 grains

.243 Winchester using IMR 4350
75 grain bullet, 46.4 grains

.243 Winchester using Varget
70 grain bullet, 42.0 grains

.243 Winchester using IMR 4064
Try 41.0 grains in Remington brass with 70 grain bullet
Try 40.0 grains in Remington brass with 80 grain bullet

.243 Winchester using IMR 4831
100 grain bullet, 42.2 grains
105 grain bullet, 40.7 grains

.243 Winchester using Hodgon's Retumbo
(use magnum primers with these loads)
105 grain bullet, 48.5 grains
107 grain bulllet, 48.1 grains
(107's work well in 8 twist barrels only)

.243 Winchester using W760
55 grain bullet, 52.7 grains
(use inside 300 yards, overstabilizes in 10 twist barrels,
harming long range accuracy)

6.5x55 Swedish Mauser using RL22
140 grain bullet, 46.5 grains
142 grain bullet, 46.4 grains (this load is a good duplicate of the M41 "Prickskytte" sniper load)

6.5x55 Swedish Mauser using H4350
140 grain bullet, 45.0 grains (MODERN rifles only)

6.5x55 Swedish Mauser using Varget
142 grain bullet, 37.2 grains (use magnum primer in this low density load)

260 Remington using IMR 4064 or Varget
140 grain bullet, 38.0 grains
130 grain bullet, 39.0 grains
120 grain bullet, 40.0 grains (work up carefully to these charges)

.270 Winchester using IMR 4350
130 grain bullet, 55.0 grains

.270 Winchester using H4831
130 grain bullet, 60.0 grains (O'Conner's load)

.270 Winchester using IMR 4350
150 grain bullet, 52.5 grains

30-30 Winchester using RL15
170 grain bullet, 32.6 grains

.308 Winchester using IMR 4895
150 grain bullet, 46.6 grains (extrapolated from following loads, untested at this writing)
155 grain bullet, 45.6 grains
168 grain bullet, 43.6 grains
175 grain bullet, 42.4 grains
178 grain bullet, 42.0 grains
178 grain bullet, good match load... use 41.7 grains with Lapua brass, 41.5 with FC brass.

.308 Winchester using IMR 4064
168 grain bullet, 42.8 grains
175 grain bullet, 41.8 grains
(these replicate Federal Gold Medal, use FC or Lake City brass)
We like 178 grain bullet and 41.5 grains in FC or LC brass

.308 Winchester using Varget
155 grain bullet, 47.8 grains
168 grain bullet, 46.0 grains
175 grain bullet, 45.0 grains (an all around favorite)
180 grain bullet, 44.1 grains
200 grain bullet, low node 41.5 grains (10 twist barrel)
200 grain bullet, high node, 43.1 grains (10 twist barrel)

CCI 200's, BR-2's, and Federal 210's work well with Varget

.308 Winchester using W748
125 grain bullet, 51.5 grains (also a Nosler accuracy load)

30-06 Springfield using IMR 4350
155 grain bullet, 58.6 grains (extrapolated from following two loads, untested as of this writing)
165 grain bullet, 57.5 grains
180 grain bullet, 56.0 grains

338 Lapua Magnum using Retumbo
300 grain Sierra Matchking, 89.3 grains (Lapua brass)
285 grain Hornady Match, 94.0 grains (Hornady brass, duplicates factory load)