Typically I begin with what bullet weight I'd like to shoot, I tend to lean towards heavy for bore projectiles, but not always, just depends on the rifle, barrel twist, etc. Next I'll reference Nosler data if it's available because I've historically had good luck there, if Nosler says it's the most accurate tested powder for a given bullet weight I generally find that to be accurate information and a good place to start. Then I'll look at what velocity range I want to be in, I've found for the most part that a given rifle will be most accurate with any bullet weight at or near a specific velocity. For instance my 6.5 Swede, I've shot all sorts of bullets out of it, but mostly 140gr pills of various manufacturers, so I did extensive ladder testing with that weight bullet, found and accuracy node at about 2850fps at the muzzle fired over a chronograph. At one point I had to fireform some brass for the rifle and purchased some inexpensive Hornady 95gr VMax bullets specifically for this task. I opened a manual don't recall which one but I bet it was the Hornady book) looked for a powder that had plenty on hand of and a charge weight that got me in the neighborhood of 2850fps and low and behold I got lucky. They shot well, sub MOA and went to the same POA as my 140gr loads at least out to 300yds. Win win, now I have a varmint load for that particular rifle. Am I pushing those 95gr pills as fast as possible-NO, but I don't have to mess around rezeroing the rifle and an unlucky coyote won't know the difference.
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