I thought it might be beneficial to relay my experience with the OCW and ladder methods for developing loads in a variety of rifles at different distances.
I have reloaded for a number cartridges including .338LM, .30-06, .308, .223 (AR platform), .243, 7/300WSM. I have used both a modified OCW and ladder test to develop loads at distances from 100 yards to 1000yards. I have shot all of these cartridges to 1000 yards and have taken my .338 to one mile.
My main load development method has been a modified OCW. I determine an approximate max load and then depending on the cartridge capacity, I'll determine what increments I want to work in (i.e. .2, .3 or .5 grain). I'll then load three charges at each increment until I reach my pre-determined max load. I'll shoot these in the traditional round-robin manner and then pick the best "group". This is where I deviate from the OCW as described by Dan Newberry. I feel that my loading method is precise enough that my powder charge will not deviate enough to cause issues (so I am not finding a “middle node” between two charges). Once I find a load, I may also play with seating depth using the same procedure. I have done most of my OCW development at 100 yards.
So how does this work at distance? Well, I developed a load for my .338LM doing this and have shot sub .5 MOA out to 1000 yards numerous times. As a matter of fact, my son shot a 5 shot group at 1000 yards that measured 2 5/8". Yes, I have a picture and I measured it and all 5 rounds were shot in a row. I have done similar things with my .243 Win (Yes, these are both custom guns).
Here is my OCW for 300SMK and my .338 (it's pretty easy to pick which load I chose)
When I started F-Class, I decided to develop my load using the method (with some modifications) which Jason Baney describes over at 6mmBR (http://www.6mmbr.com/laddertest.html). Since I would be shooting at 1000yards with this gun (almost exclusively), I thought it would be best to develop a load at the distance I would be shooting. This method yielded vertical spreads as little as .75”. I then did seating depth testing at 300 yards using the round-robin method to hone in on a final load. The load I have chosen has done extremely well for F-Class.
Here is a ladder test at 1000 yards
So, what is my point in posting this? Based on my experience, both methods do a great job of developing loads. I am also fairly confident that load development at 100 yards with long bullets, does indeed produce acceptable results at distance. Likewise, ladder testing at distance has produced loads which are very competitive for F-Class (specifically the open class in my case).
So which method is my favorite? Well, that depends. For F-Class I would use ladder testing as I am trying to minimize vertical and this method does a very good job of identifying that load. If all I have available is a 100 yard range, I’ll utilize the OCW and wouldn’t have reservations using it for mid-range F-Class (BTW – I have done this using my .243). Again, the beginners my find this useful, whereas the established shooters probably have a preferred method which may be one of the two I described or something totally different. YMMV.
BTW - These loads work in my rifle and my rifle only. They may not work well in yours.
Tony
I have reloaded for a number cartridges including .338LM, .30-06, .308, .223 (AR platform), .243, 7/300WSM. I have used both a modified OCW and ladder test to develop loads at distances from 100 yards to 1000yards. I have shot all of these cartridges to 1000 yards and have taken my .338 to one mile.
My main load development method has been a modified OCW. I determine an approximate max load and then depending on the cartridge capacity, I'll determine what increments I want to work in (i.e. .2, .3 or .5 grain). I'll then load three charges at each increment until I reach my pre-determined max load. I'll shoot these in the traditional round-robin manner and then pick the best "group". This is where I deviate from the OCW as described by Dan Newberry. I feel that my loading method is precise enough that my powder charge will not deviate enough to cause issues (so I am not finding a “middle node” between two charges). Once I find a load, I may also play with seating depth using the same procedure. I have done most of my OCW development at 100 yards.
So how does this work at distance? Well, I developed a load for my .338LM doing this and have shot sub .5 MOA out to 1000 yards numerous times. As a matter of fact, my son shot a 5 shot group at 1000 yards that measured 2 5/8". Yes, I have a picture and I measured it and all 5 rounds were shot in a row. I have done similar things with my .243 Win (Yes, these are both custom guns).
Here is my OCW for 300SMK and my .338 (it's pretty easy to pick which load I chose)
When I started F-Class, I decided to develop my load using the method (with some modifications) which Jason Baney describes over at 6mmBR (http://www.6mmbr.com/laddertest.html). Since I would be shooting at 1000yards with this gun (almost exclusively), I thought it would be best to develop a load at the distance I would be shooting. This method yielded vertical spreads as little as .75”. I then did seating depth testing at 300 yards using the round-robin method to hone in on a final load. The load I have chosen has done extremely well for F-Class.
Here is a ladder test at 1000 yards
So, what is my point in posting this? Based on my experience, both methods do a great job of developing loads. I am also fairly confident that load development at 100 yards with long bullets, does indeed produce acceptable results at distance. Likewise, ladder testing at distance has produced loads which are very competitive for F-Class (specifically the open class in my case).
So which method is my favorite? Well, that depends. For F-Class I would use ladder testing as I am trying to minimize vertical and this method does a very good job of identifying that load. If all I have available is a 100 yard range, I’ll utilize the OCW and wouldn’t have reservations using it for mid-range F-Class (BTW – I have done this using my .243). Again, the beginners my find this useful, whereas the established shooters probably have a preferred method which may be one of the two I described or something totally different. YMMV.
BTW - These loads work in my rifle and my rifle only. They may not work well in yours.
Tony
