Long range load development at 100 yards.

[Hollywood]

Erik, what a long week! Couldn't wait to get this done but here it is. I think you're gonna need a cup of coffee or maybe a Jack and Coke! I'm including the initial target as a memory refresher.

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Here is where you said you'd love to see what 54.5 would do. So here's 54.5 to 55.5 in 1 gr increments. Whatever the verdict is I load a seating test and take it to the match next weekend. Drum roll please......

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Would love to see the target results after the match to see how things held up at distance.

 

[Eddie Vializ]

Me too! : )

 

[savageshooter86]

No flags but not very very windy either. Not enough to concern me. I'm at the bench ready to load for seating test. Tomorrow is my last opportunity at the range before a 1000 yd match next weekend. My gut tells me 55 from the first target and 54.9 from the second gave the lowest es. You concur?

Look at latest target. Look at velocity for each charge. What stands out to me are the three that velocity only changes a few fps over the three. The other charges have big differences between the prior and following charge. If it was me I would do 54.8 for now. Test seating at furthest distance you have to shoot at.

Also look at original target. 56 to 56.5 has better ES for difference and low teens ES. Seating test should show best area then I'd redo powder test to narrow it in. That's just me.

 

[Eddie Vializ]

Well God hates a coward so here's my seating depth test with the 54.9 gr load.

 

[savageshooter86]

Well God hates a coward so here's my seating depth test with the 54.9 gr load.

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I'd load 3.521 to 3.527 and shoot one seating per relay. See what shows best vertical. Hold dead center oand only hold off or click windage

 

[Eddie Vializ]

Thats an interesting idea! You would imagine the lower es stands to produce the best vertical, but as I saw earlier 55 grains had an es of 1 on one occasion and 18 on another. That is the frustrating part of this endeavor!

 

[savageshooter86]

Thats an interesting idea! You would imagine the lower es stands to produce the best vertical, but as I saw earlier 55 grains had an es of 1 on one occasion and 18 on another. That is the frustrating part of this endeavor!

Low ES doesn't mean less vertical or best group. Been several big discussions lately from some well known shooters

 

[Hollywood]

I'd load 3.521 to 3.527 and shoot one seating per relay. See what shows best vertical. Hold dead center oand only hold off or click windage

Just thinking aloud here, In looking at the group center's vertical change in POI between 3.521, 3.524, and 3.521. Those three seem to have the greatest change. The ES is lowest in those groupings, but as I understand the process we are to look for the least amount of vertical change through out the strings of fire. Please correct me if I am misunderstanding the process.

As for how I read the steps, I see two potential node's, .512, .515, .518 for the first, then .527, .530, .533. Between the two of them, the ES is lowest between the .527, .530, and .533 depths so I would take the .533 and proceed to the final step in the Cortina process. If you need the extra speed to make the distance then explore the other. JMHO

 

[Eddie Vializ]

I know we are looking for the least amount of vertical change throughout the string of fire when testing powder charges but I understood for seating depth test we were looking for group size primarily. I'm not clear on this point.

 

[TZaun]

Eddie, what are you using to clock your speeds? Also, did you stop and let the barrel cool between 3.521" and 3.524"? I see your velocity popped up for the bottom row.

 

[Eddie Vializ]

I'm using a LabRadar. Yes, I shot the first group and waited 5 or 6 minutes for the second group. Then waited 10 or more for the next pair. The barrel was barely warm to the touch.

 

[TZaun]

It sounds like you're running out of time to test any more. If the velocity and corresponding elevation increase are related to taking a break at that time, you could load up 3.523" and go see how it does at your match. Otherwise, I'd personally try different primers. ES is too erratic.

 

[Eddie Vializ]

Well I managed to be overall winner at 1000yd f-open as an unclassified master with my 54.9 grain load. I'm tickled about that because my goal is to be competitive. My best score was 195/8x (it would have been 197 but I dropped 2 points to an 8 ring!) I needed 96.5% for master classification. I shot 96.3%. That might be a blessing! This past Saturday the same load gave me a 592/26x at 300 yds. I was feeling it in the last match with a 199/11x. So there is much learning to be done about shooting in the wind and shooting in general but most important it was fun. My thanks go out to all who chime in to help us new guys. I hope this thread lives on!

 

[Hollywood]

Well I managed to be overall winner at 1000yd f-open as an unclassified master with my 54.9 grain load. I'm tickled about that because my goal is to be competitive. My best score was 195/8x (it would have been 197 but I dropped 2 points to an 8 ring!) I needed 96.5% for master classification. I shot 96.3%. That might be a blessing! This past Saturday the same load gave me a 592/26x at 300 yds. I was feeling it in the last match with a 199/11x. So there is much learning to be done about shooting in the wind and shooting in general but most important it was fun. My thanks go out to all who chime in to help us new guys. I hope this thread lives on!

I'd say over all winner is pretty darn competitive. Congratulations!

 

[TZaun]

Good shooting Eddie. That's a heck of a start.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Low ES doesn't mean less vertical or best group. Been several big discussions lately from some well known shooters

3.523 is what I would load. 54.9

Sorry for delay. Good shooting!

 

[Shynloco]

Erik,
I'm trying to digest and understand what you and the other more knowledgeable (experts) are saying with regard to load development and finding the node. My question is, the first few targets had POI left of center/bullseye. Did the POI change solely because of the increase/change of powder load amt or did you make a scope adjustment? I just want to make sure I'm not misunderstanding the reason for POI change and finding the node where my rifle performs the best. And BTW, CONGRATS on your teams recent success as well as your personal placement. And are you guys going to be at the Berger Nationals again in Feb 2018 at Ben Avery? Thx.

Alex

 

[Eddie Vializ]

Well I took my 54.9 grain load out to my second 300 yd match in two weeks and scored 200/15, 200/14 and 200/15. It almost felt effortless so needless to say I'm sticking with this load for now. Too bad I got a late start on this shooting season. It's gonna be a long wait for the spring!

 

[JASON50CAL]

Ok this is my first try at ocw method with a new rifle I had built. 6.5x284 with 142gr SMK’s and H4831SC. Excuse the bad target but it was what was available at the time. I don’t see any change vertically in groups, only a horizontal change as charge weight goes up. If I’m reading it right it would appear between 49-50hr is a node with 49.5 showing the least amount of vertical. Seating depth was .010 jam for this test.

 

[Papa Charlie]

I am still learning how to read these, but to put it out, I would say between 49.5 and 50.0.
If it were me, I would run another set between 49.5 and 50.0 with 0.2 increments.