OCW results, opinions please

[scissorhands]

Savage 12 FTR .308, Lapua brass, varget, fed primers, .018 off the lands. All rounds were shot round robin @ 100 yards. This is the first time I tried this method. What am I looking for?

 

[scissorhands]

new photo showing POA with an orange dot.

 

[savageshooter86]

according to your orange dots, 42.6 would be your OCW. If you didn't see pressure signs at 43.8 keep working up until you find next node. It looks like You should be able to find 3 nodes--a high, low, and middle node.

You want to aim at the same aiming point, fire your groups. Look for the 3 groups together with same POI and then you chose the middle charge. From there you can do seating depth test to see what shrinks your groups. Did you shoot the groups "round robin"?

What bullet are you using? I think you could keep going higher in charges since I do not see a scatter group at all over those 6 charges.

http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/

 

[jsthntn247]

You've got one node in between 43.2 and 43.5. You should get another node around 45. That's looks like a good shotting gun.

 

[scissorhands]

I actually had 9 loads for the test and all were shot round robin ( the lower charges averaged 1 moa). I would shoot loads 1-9 then let the barrel cool and proceed with the next round of loads.... etc...

I'm using the 175 SMK.

Rob

 

[BlackEagle]

I think you need to be shooting at a much longer distance to really get good results, especially with the 308. I think a minimum of 300 yards, preferably farther. Maybe load up the same charges you used for this round and shoot in the same order but at longer range and see if the results are the same.

 

[savageshooter86]

the OCW is meant to be shot at 100 first. Then you can load them and shoot at distance to confirm/tweak the load if need be.

The high node should be 44.5-45.0 grains from what I have seen/read. Your gun may be different. Unless you are satisfied with that velocity I would step them up in charge to mid 44 and see what you get.

search http://practicalrifler.fr.yuku.com/forums/4/Handloading-and-OCW-related-topics#.UU9l4ByceSo
there is a ton of info on this load over there with photos.

 

[scissorhands]

Andrew,

Thanks for the link. Lots of info there.

I'll probably look for a high node the next time out and then I will pick from there and start chronographing the loads. I'm looking for a 1000 yard round. Over all, I'm pretty pleased with how the rifle shot for its first time out.

Rob

 

[savageshooter86]

I've not shot that bullet but I think the 44.5-45 will get you happy and out to 1000 with good results.

That site has a ton of info. Just look through the threads and learn a lot about the OCW method

 

[kelbro]

I think you need to be shooting at a much longer distance to really get good results, especially with the 308. I think a minimum of 300 yards, preferably farther. Maybe load up the same charges you used for this round and shoot in the same order but at longer range and see if the results are the same.

Agreed. I have performed many OCW tests and the results at 100 are not always reliable predictors of longer distance results. Especially with BT bullets.

 

[shoot4fun]

I think you need to be shooting at a much longer distance to really get good results, especially with the 308. I think a minimum of 300 yards, preferably farther. Maybe load up the same charges you used for this round and shoot in the same order but at longer range and see if the results are the same.

Agreed. I have performed many OCW tests and the results at 100 are not always reliable predictors of longer distance results. Especially with BT bullets.

OCW is a 100 yard test platform. If you desire to shoot test loads at longer ranges you should look into the Ladder Test method.
Doing the OCW exactly as prescribed by Mr. Newberry will give consistent and gratifying results. If you are not getting that then you are not following the procedure.

 

[BlackEagle]

I think you need to be shooting at a much longer distance to really get good results, especially with the 308. I think a minimum of 300 yards, preferably farther. Maybe load up the same charges you used for this round and shoot in the same order but at longer range and see if the results are the same.

Agreed. I have performed many OCW tests and the results at 100 are not always reliable predictors of longer distance results. Especially with BT bullets.

OCW is a 100 yard test platform. If you desire to shoot test loads at longer ranges you should look into the Ladder Test method.
Doing the OCW exactly as prescribed by Mr. Newberry will give consistent and gratifying results. If you are not getting that then you are not following the procedure.

Your opinion about my opinion is not what the OP asked for. And I'm not interested in it either. This isn't an invitaion for an argument.

 

[savageshooter86]

well since the OP is doing the OCW he needs to continue with how he is doing it. 100 yards is what the OCW is. Not sure why all these "further distance must be done" are coming from :-\ Just try to help op with reading his target and giving opinion on which load the node is at is all he was asking.

OP just hit the link up I sent and read for a long time. And you will understand it better and see examples and how Dan Newberry reads them. Then you will be on your way to a good consistent load

 

[shoot4fun]

well since the OP is doing the OCW he needs to continue with how he is doing it. 100 yards is what the OCW is. Not sure why all these "further distance must be done" are coming from :-\ Just try to help op with reading his target and giving opinion on which load the node is at is all he was asking.

OP just hit the link up I sent and read for a long time. And you will understand it better and see examples and how Dan Newberry reads them. Then you will be on your way to a good consistent load

Agreed!

 

[BlackEagle]

I think the OP would be better served by moving out farther based upon the target he posted. That is my opinion. And by the way, if you were following the OCW method the optimal charge would be around 43.2 gr. not 42.6 for that target.

 

[savageshooter86]

Why do some people try to look for confrontation

OP looks like your gun is a shooter. You should do well with finding your load at a higher node. If you read the other forum you will see most loads found using OCW will shoot at distance

Happy shooting

 

[shoot4fun]

I think the OP would be better served by moving out farther based upon the target he posted. That is my opinion. And by the way, if you were following the OCW method the optimal charge would be around 43.2 gr. not 42.6 for that target.

What "you think" has nothing to do with the methodical approach taken by Newberry in developing OCW. You probably view reloading manuals as just interesting reading and suggestions rather than scientific data produced by real tests.
One should follow his instructions. BTW, if you do follow them you will see that after OCW is done at 100 and optimal bullet seating depth is found Newberry recommends shooting this load at your maximum range.
Also, the OP has this same thread posted in another forum where I suggested the OCW to be 43.2 grains.

 

[scissorhands]

I appreciate all the replies.... I know the 42.6 gn load hits the POA far better than the others....Just trying to follow the OCW method to the T....... So far out of 27 rounds, I think I have saved a lot of time from the OCW method than the others.......

Not to complicate things.......After I find a my OCW, I will move out to 300 and do some ladder testing and do some not so scientific reasoning to come up with the load I feel will work best.

Rob

 

[Hombre0321]

I am not a proponent of the OCW method, now with that said, I have seen it work and work very well when the shooter stays within the parameters of this method of load development. My personal likes and dislikes are my own and based mainly on the fact that I just don't like to shoot at a 100 yds. Also two of my F-Class rifles, with 20MOA rails and Nightforce 10x42 scopes won't go that low.

After working up a good accurate 100 yd load and having that as a foundation. Then moving out to distance is a simple thing.

OCW is meant to be shot at a 100 yds mainly to test the load, and not have to mess around with the wind. Move OCW out to 300 yds or so and the results are flawed for the basic purpose of the OCW testing. There is that wind thing complicating the test.

Roland

 

[kelbro]

Hmmm... I haven't reviewed Dan's method for several years. I would have sworn that it was originally spec'd as optimal at 200 yds but you could try 100 if that was all that you had available. Maybe my memory is flawed.