Load Development techniques and OCW method? Help please!

[TheBoyScout]

Okay so I uploaded my last ladder test results for IMR 4064 48-53 gn with .5 increments for my 30-06. I wasn't completely happy with the results but I did find some clues as to which nodes I should probably further investigate. So I would consider myself a fairly new reloader and shooter, definitely not anywhere near expert but I would say I have done quite a bit of research on ballistics and load development. But I have a few questions on how I should proceed from here out:

1. What method would you use to test out handloads in a hunting rifle?
2. What increments would you use between loads? .2, .5, 1 gn (to start with)
3. How long should I let my rifle cool in between shots?
4. If I were to do the OCW method should I do round robin style?
5. Is the OCW method effective?
6. What distance should I shoot at? (I feel like 200 yards would give me a better idea of spread rather than 100 yards and also a clearer picture than I would get at 300 yards)

Right now I have .5 increments from 48 grains to 53.5 grains 3 rounds each and 10 sighters/foulers

Please give me your opinion in what you would do to develop accurate loads for a hunting rifle. Here are my specs:

Remington 700 BDL
Leupold VX-3 4x12 scope
Hornady Interlock 150 gn sp
IMR 4064
Federal Brass (same lot)
Winchester Primers

every single load was weighed

Link to ladder test:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?p=16009649#post16009649

Thanks for your help!

[stand125]

The most frustrating thing that I did was load develop without using a good rest. I would have a great day of groups and then next time out they would open up and frustrate me to all hell. I finally realized one day when I took it out to 200 yards that I could see my heart beat which messed me all up. So now I use a sand bag front and rear rest so I take as much of me out of the equation which gives me good accurate data. Once I get a great load its all me if my groups have a bad day. I don't clamp the rifle down because I still want a little control but I have a much better feel with the sand bags.

[TheBoyScout]

Yeah I use sandbags for front and rear rest. Thanks for the tip tho!

[h.charlie]

I would shoot at whatever range you sight in at. I'm sure you already know when shooting a load test poa is always going to be the same and do not adjust your scope, when I load test I wait tell the rifle has cooled Down based on touch, I leave bolt open to allow air flow after it has cooled to my liking I run a brush 5 passes down the barrel and then a clean cloth using a jag, then shoot, and every shot I log to help show how chamber temp effects each shot, if your worried about chamber temp you will also want to note the temp you shooting in and keep your ammo in a cool dark place until you need the next rung of the test, I also do at least 5 shots per rung in a ladder test this helps give the last shots a more consistent chamber temp. Theres a lot that can go into load testing but the best and most important thing is consistency

[baih777]

Are you using those free Hornaday bullets ?

[Wrangler John]

I have never used the ladder test in some 55 years of loading and shooting. One reason is that I do not have access for a range beyond 100 yards, and the other is that I worked at a range with unlimited free access.

I use load increments that vary by cartridge case capacity and relative burn rate of a given powder: .1 grain for .221 Remington Fireball, .2 or .3 grain for the .223 Remington and .204 Ruger, etc.; .5 grain for the .308 Winchester and medium burn rate powders, and .5 to 1.0 grain for .30-06 Springfield depending on which powder I am using.

Equally important is the primer. Each primer brand has an effect on accuracy with each given powder. For example, the Winchester Small Rifle primer out shoots the Federal 205 Match primer in one .223 Remington load by a significant amount in one of my rifles. Where the Winchester Standard Large Rifle primer shoots better in my .30-06 than does the Remington. Primers count as does consistent primer seating depth. Experimentation is the best way to know. I keep Federal, Remington, Winchester, Wolf and CCI primers on hand in rifle and pistol sizes for developing loads.

Bullet seating depth also plays a part. Certain bullets prefer to jump a given distance before engaging the lands, while others do better seated near or in contact with the lands. As an example, the lead free bullets seem to prefer a jump of 0.020" to 0.050" or more, before producing their best groups.

You need a chronograph to determine what is going on, and a large enough sample to survey. I use ten shots per load as the sample size. Last weekend I had a .25-06 Remington throw a couple of flyers out of a group. Both flyer's velocity was considerably above the average of the remaining 8 shots, indicating some anomaly. When I checked the fired cases, both had split necks, a failure of reformed cases during fire forming. The chronograph told me that my rifle and shooting technique were not the problem, eliminating a lot of variables.

My practice is to place all cartridges in a plastic 50 round plastic ammo box, using a load map, then fire the loads left to right, rear to front, and always replace the fired case in the same position. That way the position corresponds to the shot number listed in the chronograph data, allowing me to inspect each case for later analysis.

There is a lot more to it, things such as action screw torque, scope mounting technique, stress free bedding, even firing pin impact consistency, a whole lot of mystery. One little jinx was learning that the rear sling swivel stud was hanging up on the seam of my leather sandbag during recoil and tossing shots on occasion. Now I remove all sling swivel studs before doing load development. One thing is for sure, even though I've been doing this for a half-century, I'll learn something new every range session. That's what keeps it interesting.

[J-cat]

Befriend someone with a chronograph and Quick Load. You'll have the optimum load in 10 shots.

[thospb]

I find the OCW method very effective. If you believe you have already found a Node to fine tune, then I would work up another set of loads that are .2 gr apart for fine tuning. You can also change your seating depth to fine tune. I always shoot in a round-robin because it eliminates many variables, I allow about 30-60 seconds between rounds. It usually takes me at least 2 firing sessions (15min) to shoot 6 loads at 4 rnds each. I do not bother to use a chronograph until I have found my load because I only use it to get my ballistic tables before I go to long range. I do my load work up at 100 yards unless the gun is shooting everything well and it's hard to read the pattern, then I would take it to 200.