Advanced Marksmanship Has anyone done BOTH a Ladder and OCW test for a load?

[punkwood2k]

I am developing a new load for 175 gr .308.. Thinking of running Both a Ladder Test AND the OCW test, to see if the results from each support the other.. Has anyone else ever done this? How did it work out, and any tips for me?

I will be doing the Ladder from 400 yds, which should give me a 6-7" spread between 11 rounds.. OCW will be from 100 yards. Unless you have a better plan.

 

[TheGerman]

I did exactly that with the 175g SMK.

Loaded up a batch of each charge interval for each powder I was wanting to explore and did a ladder at 400 yards. Took the 400y results back home and narrowed down the powders and charge ranges I wanted to look into further.

Loaded those up and did OCW at 100. Narrowed further and did another OCW.

 

[Bigwheels]

I do exactly the same thing as TheGerman for all my load development.

 

[punkwood2k]

sweet.. I thought I was being overly anal.. Glad I'm not the only one. lol

 

[matt2143]

I do the same

 

[Rthur]

I have always started with a ladder test at 300 and followed up with a fine tuning ocw. Also a fine tune can be done with slight change in seating depth.


R

 

[Punisher29073]

Sounds like my plan too.

Ryan

 

[josh.rizzo]

I always do an initial ladder test in .5 grain intervals to see where my pressure limits and nodes are. Doing this in an OCW test would take a lot more ammo. Then once I have a node picked out I fine tune the charge weight OCW style. In both tests I always look for nodes where POI doesn't shift between charge weights, and I don't pay attention to group size at all. AFTER those tests, I fine tune my group size with seating depth and other variables. This method produces a good robust load that will be less sensitive to changes, while minimizing the amount of ammo you have to expend, IMHO.

 

[para72]

Hello, some what new to the hide and long distance shooting. I understand the ladder test, But what is a (ocw) test?

Thanks for the knowledge!

Sent from my SCH-I605

 

[vinsonr]

Hello, some what new to the hide and long distance shooting. I understand the ladder test, But what is a (ocw) test?

Thanks for the knowledge!

Sent from my SCH-I605

OCW Overview - Dan Newberry's OCW Load Development System

 

[para72]

Vinsonr

Thanks for the info! Looks like I have some reading to do!

Sent from my SCH-I605