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LADDER or OCW ????

Depends on what I plan on doing with the rifle.

I like the ladder for mid to long range shooting and OCW for hunting.
 
I have done both and the results or final load were dang near the same results. With the ladder test you need to
shoot at least 300 yards or so to really get an idea of your results. With the OCW test you can shoot at 100 yards
and find what works. Some places do not have ranges more than a couple hundred yards so the OCW test would
work at the shorter ranges...just my experience!;):)
 
I've done the same comparison with essentially the same results so I don't stress about which test to use. Much prefer a ladder though because it requires fewer rounds. OCW I've found to be more versatile because it can be done with anything whereas it can be hard, at least for me, to make sense out of ladders with less accurate rifles.
 
I too have used both and both have delivered great results. There are those who have been lead to believe a load for long range can't be tuned at short range. I think either method requires the shooter to have an open mind and the know-how to interpret the results objectively.
 
I use a ladder test, on a calm morning before mirage kicks up, in .1 grain increments, at 400Y, concentrating on the high node. If one does his job and the rifle is capable, it'll be obvious where the node is.

Last one a few months ago gave .2" vertical for 3 consecutive shots - done.
 
Well than where do you get your ammunition

I load it myself . Just started with the Sierra accuracy load because I needed to start somewhere . It seems to shoot pretty good , but just wanted to see if there was more accuracy to get !
 
So , 30.0 gr Varget and a 107 Sierra is fine just may not be the exact tune for your rifle as far as seating depth and final tweaks

I’ve got 5 each loaded 29.0-30.0 in .2 increments . Hopefully will be able to try this weekend . The Sierra OAL 2.375 put me into the lands , which I thought was odd , but 28.1 load shoots pretty good that way . Don’t mind going higher if I get good accuracy still and it’s not too hard on brass or barrel life . Do u think I should try the 28.1 to 29 also, or just 29-30 ? Thx for your help !
 
What is OCW?
Got an answer back from Dan. He moved the info to a new site:

http://www.ocwreloading.com

Too many times I see guys talk about their OCW results and too many times, when questioned, they have not followed instructions. Dan went thru a lot of work to get this down in the correct order and it has to be followed to the letter to provide meaningful results.
 
I dont even bother putting rounds on paper anymore for load workup. I have a steel plate at 400 yards and a magnetospeed to record velocity. Hits on steel are noted and i go with the tightest ES/SD velocity i find . I usually find a couple nodes that shoot good at max load and one below that. I dont shoot any competition,just long range steel plinker.
 
OCW, Ladder? My suggestion is to start with velocity... AND the best barrel you can buy.

1. For starters, determine, though research and asking questions, a known accuracy node for the cartridge and bullet you're using. Then work up velocity info with chrono.

2. I feel with a really good barrel, shooting 3-shot groups, you can have a very good load with under 40 rounds expended. For the smaller cartridges, try 0.2 grain increments. Suggest, for bench bolt guns, you try .006-7 into the lands vs. .020 out for starters. Confirm with a couple 5-shot groups. Into the lands means .006-7 past "first touch" as explained below.

3. Guys who are spending 150 rounds + with OCW are really going overboard. I see guys doing OCW in pursuit of some magic load, when they are really just struggling with a mediocre factory barrel (and/or a crappy rest set-up). See this article today:

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2019/04/dont-waste-time-and-ammo-on-a-poor-factory-barrel/

4. Another comment. When you have a really good barrel, it probably is not fussy. My best 6BR barrel shot four different bullets, with four different powders, all into quarter-inch or less. Bullets: 80gr Berger, 95gr Berger, 90gr Scenar, 105gr Scenar. Powders: Varget, Norma 203B (RL15), IMR 8208, H4895.

Regarding "into the lands". We find that many shooters don't measure this correctly at all. They push the OAL tool's plastic shaft too aggressively. You want to find "first touch". If you use the tool correctly, this should be repeatable 4 of 5 times within .001-.002. If you are not getting a repeatable measurement of first contact you are using the tool incorrectly (typically pushing too hard).

Note, with a new barrel, that "first touch" point can move .010" or more after 40+ rounds, but then should stabilize.
 
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I like Alex Wheeler's method of finding the lands with a stripped bolt, but I can imagine this is a bit intimidating for a lot of folks.

Edit: Also agree that all my "good" barrels shot pretty much anything I loaded with great accuracy right out the gate. No "break in" periods or anything; they just immediately shot very well. Everyone needs to be honest about their setup and capabilities: are you wasting time and resources chasing a load when you honestly can't see or shoot the difference between them? Half the time, I'm in that boat. It'll shoot 0.25 MOA with any reasonable load, and a 5 or more thousandths in or out on seating doesn't change it one lick.
 
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Ocw with labradar to find the area of the node. Prove with ladder. Depth/primer to tune. Ocw and ladder will show the same node if correct. Length and primer will maximize accuracy.
 

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