Help with load dev, Where's my node?

[LynnJr]

Sheshotme
When your looking for a node your only interested in the vertical aspect of your shots.
Ignore the horizontal.

[sheshotme]

got it

[Whiterabbit]

I have a dumb question. Was that 43.2 shot with a cold barrel? first shots after sighters, or even the first shots of the day?

[boomer135]

What do you expect to get out of the rifle, and what is your's and the rifles purpose? There is so many routes to start a load test. For me to start you off in the right direction please post your intended use, and maximum range you will be shooting.

you can also PM me for further info.

[ar15barrels]

your logic is sound. Is there something wrong with my way of measuring or perhaps my calipers (calipers are zeroed). I'm at home sick right now, perhaps my maths and logic skills are compromised.

Measure ONE bullet hole and then subtract that diameter from the overall group diameter.
A bullet hole is usually smaller than the bullet that made it.

[ar15barrels]

When your looking for a node your only interested in the vertical aspect of your shots.
Ignore the horizontal.

These are 100yd groups.
With that in mind, it does not appear that the shooter is skilled enough marksman to gain something from the OCW method.

He needs to repeat the test 3-5 times and see if the results are always the same or if they differ.

If they are always the same, then he is on to something.
If they differ each time, then the testing method is not going to work for this shooter.

[Whiterabbit]

Or the gun, for that matter, maybe the shooter is fine enough. Doesn't matter. My take on the available data is what "might" shoot best, and what definitely doesn;t shoot best, assuming there are no fliers due to the shooter. That's not something I can judge, nor need to. The OP can judge that for himself.

If he vouches for that, then the data is clear. The best "potential" is groups 5, 8, and 10. The rest, given a confident shooter, show the most vertical spread. I throw out the horizontal because I don;t know the wind.

So I'd be targeting 5 8 and 10 for optimal charges and go from there. Assuming OP wants to develop all at 100 yards.

I certainly agree that OCW doesn;t apply here. Name of hte game here is shoot for groups and see what does best. None of the good groups tells us the load is good, just that it might not be bad. The others might be the best that load can do, unless the shooter was off his game.

That's something the shooter can evaluate for himself and doesn't need us to interpret for him.

And heck, we certainly don;t need to know the expectatings and rifle's purpose, and max distance the OP plans to shoot with the load. That's lunacy to interpret the existing data.

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I agree 100% with you. I'd target 5, 8, and 10 and repeat the test a few times. See if they were flukes or if they truly have potential. While paying attention during shooting, to idiot check inadvertant flyers I might be causing but previously though were shot confidently.

[sheshotme]

@whiterabbit first shots after sighters. all shots thru cold barrel. bore snaked every 10 shots.
@boomer I just want to find my rifle preferred load. But I will be shooting out to 500.

I definitely be loading for 5 each interval. that should indicate better if it's luck or consistency.

[boomer135]

@whiterabbit first shots after sighters. all shots thru cold barrel. bore snaked every 10 shots.
@boomer I just want to find my rifle preferred load. But I will be shooting out to 500.

I definitely be loading for 5 each interval. that should indicate better if it's luck or consistency.

You may want to develop with a 175SMK. I found the 175's were better for me at distances past 300yards. I have only shot them to 625 so far, and prefer them to the 168's. They help in the wind also.

[sheshotme]

New results. not counting that flyer on #1. I know #4 could have been better. Start seating depth test at 33.9gn??? 20160109.jpg

[mskochinski]

I like #2 myself, might have been a pull on that shot but pretty tight grouping and the vertical spread isn't too bad. How the cases looking? Any pressure signs on them?

[noylj]

I am lost. Someone answer me.
This is normal old-school load testing.
I was taught that OCW or ladder-testing was to fire one shot at each charge weight at a distance of at least 300 yards, note the charge weights where shots clustered, and the mid-charge of that cluster would be close to the optimum charge weight.

[LynnJr]

Sheshotme
Nodes have width to them. That means with a small case your node will only be 0.2 grains wide.
As your cases volume increases so does your node or window with least vertical. As you keep going up to the 300 Weatherby size cases the node will run 2+ grains wide and as you go to the 50 BMG case the node is 15 grains wide.
In your last target if we eliminate the flyer from each group you can see a node about 1 grain wide which is normal for a 308 sized case.
Best accuracy is usually found very near the top of the node so if this was my rifle I would start playing with the seating depth in 0.005 increments at 43.9 grains.
You always want to work in only one direction on seating depth. In your example your maximum magazine length and working shorter.
It is best to use a comparator when seating bullets because you will get less variation.

[Witch Hunter]

If I was you, I would repeat this exact test to see if you get the exact same results. That will tell you where you are, not trying to offend, but I use aggregates of 5 shot groups whenever possible. one group tells me nothing. See if they are all repeatable.

[sheshotme]

all cases look fine. primers are fine. no craters, no flattening, no leaks, no seperation.
taking out 1 flier on #4, brings it down to .9