working up a new load ?

rebs · May 14, 2013, 06:31 PM

when you guys work up a new load, do you adjust the powder amount first to get the most accuracy and then start adjusting the OAL ?

what is your procedure ?

bedlamite · May 14, 2013, 06:58 PM

Ladder/OCW to get the charge, then 5 shot groups varying the OAL to get the best accuracy.

Clark · May 14, 2013, 07:28 PM

I have never found the load charge to be tuned to accuracy that was repeatable on the next trip to the range.

There are a million guys that disagree with me.

More people than that believe in astrology.

But seating depth? I can get repeatable results with good seating length.

rebs · May 14, 2013, 07:51 PM

What is ladder/OCW ?
How do you find the good seating depth ?
What procedure do you use ?

BumbleBug · May 14, 2013, 08:05 PM

Quote:

What is ladder/OCW ?
How do you find the good seating depth ?
What procedure do you use ?

Follow this thread & it will lead you to info on the ladder & OCW techniques.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=522619

For me at least, seating depth is a refinement once a good load is determined.

I use the "trial & error" technique to develop a load starting with a proven combination.

FWIW...

...bug

Bart B. · May 15, 2013, 11:46 AM

One very interesting thing about testing any load recipe is, if you shoot a few to several or even many groups with it and all the groups are not within 10% of the same size, you're not shooting enough shots per group to represent the real accuracy that recipe produces in your firearm.

It's my opinion that the smallest groups happen when one of two things take place. One is everything is perfect in the shooter, rifle and ammo for each of their component parts. The other is all the variables in the shooter, rifle and ammo's component parts cancel each other out.

How does one tell which of those two things produces their smallest groups?

Sarge · May 15, 2013, 12:08 PM

I will pick the velocity range I'm trying to achieve and then start a half-grain below the powder manufacturer's recommendation for that velocity with the bullet I'm using. Chrono, shoot for groups and bump up a little if it doesn't gel- but historically, I have had very good luck on the first or second try.

I am usually loading for a couple of rifles, so I go with published OAL. If I were looking for benchrest accuracy, I'd trickle each charge instead of throwing them, play w/OAL and a few other things. As it stands, my loads are holding 1 MOA to 200 yards and I'm happy with that.

May 14, 2013, 06:31 PM	#1
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	working up a new load ? when you guys work up a new load, do you adjust the powder amount first to get the most accuracy and then start adjusting the OAL ? what is your procedure ?

May 14, 2013, 06:58 PM	#2
bedlamite Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2000 Location: WI Posts: 1,395	Ladder/OCW to get the charge, then 5 shot groups varying the OAL to get the best accuracy. __________________ A plan is just a list of things that doesn't happen.

May 14, 2013, 07:28 PM	#3
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	I have never found the load charge to be tuned to accuracy that was repeatable on the next trip to the range. There are a million guys that disagree with me. More people than that believe in astrology. But seating depth? I can get repeatable results with good seating length. __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?

May 15, 2013, 12:08 PM	#7
Sarge Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2002 Location: MO Posts: 5,457	I will pick the velocity range I'm trying to achieve and then start a half-grain below the powder manufacturer's recommendation for that velocity with the bullet I'm using. Chrono, shoot for groups and bump up a little if it doesn't gel- but historically, I have had very good luck on the first or second try. I am usually loading for a couple of rifles, so I go with published OAL. If I were looking for benchrest accuracy, I'd trickle each charge instead of throwing them, play w/OAL and a few other things. As it stands, my loads are holding 1 MOA to 200 yards and I'm happy with that. __________________ People were smarter before the Internet, or imbeciles were harder to notice.

May 14, 2013, 07:51 PM	#4
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	What is ladder/OCW ? How do you find the good seating depth ? What procedure do you use ?

May 15, 2013, 11:46 AM	#6
Bart B. Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Posts: 8,927	One very interesting thing about testing any load recipe is, if you shoot a few to several or even many groups with it and all the groups are not within 10% of the same size, you're not shooting enough shots per group to represent the real accuracy that recipe produces in your firearm. It's my opinion that the smallest groups happen when one of two things take place. One is everything is perfect in the shooter, rifle and ammo for each of their component parts. The other is all the variables in the shooter, rifle and ammo's component parts cancel each other out. How does one tell which of those two things produces their smallest groups?