Preliminary load development charge increments - large magnum rifles
I hope it's a general enough question it can help others as well.
I've never developed up a load for a large magnum rifle. In my case, .338 WM.
The often-stated 1% of total powder charge for increments, it feels, would not be useful here. That would mean approximately .7 grains. In my example, using IMR 4831 and the Speer 200 Hot Cor bullet, the spread is pretty narrow: 70.5 - 74.5 gr IMR 4831.
Additionally, customarily I will start at midpoint unless anecdotal data from shooters suggests otherwise for some reason. I also stop short of the maximum charge. So here, using 1% increments, that would mean starting at 72.5 gr and working up to about 74.0 by 72.5, 73.2, 73.9 and...we're out.
I've seen it said that the 1% is correct for all cartridges - that a 338 has a lot more powder, so .7 grains is 1%, whereas it's a massive step in something like the .17 Hornet. Still, with such a narrow spread, it sure feels inadequate.
Ignoring chrony work for now, how do you guys approach powder charge increments on large magnum rifles?