Stupid reloading question; which group?

[Dave626]

look up OCW reload on youtube. it gives you more idea of what you should look for.

[NorCalFocus]

Thanks Norcal!

That's the information I was looking for. I wasn't sure where I read it but I think it's the lack of vertical spread one needs to look for and you've confirmed it. I will shoot a few more loaded between 41.7 and 42 if that sounds right?

As another poster stated above, being just shy of a max charge, could there be a more accurate load between 43-45? 45gr is max charge from where I've read online as well as my reloading manuals.

Yup I would shoot one more round between those charges and make sure your right in the middle of your node.

There is almost always two nodes, a high and a low. Your right now in the low node. You have accuracy, consistency, and presumed enough speed to get you to 1000. Why do you hope to gain by going to a higher node? More speed? More speed means, more wear and tear on your brass, bolt face, and barrel. More speed just means you miss the target faster.

You can also verify your speed with Vortex's online ballistic calculator. Plug in a good guess on your speed and print/save your drop chart. Go out and shoot out to some distance. Take notes of what you dialed for drops vs where you really high. Come back, use the verify option and it will verify your actual speed.

[longrange1]

i agree with NCF...the loads you shot at 100yds need to be shot out further to verify before you start chasing or changing anything else...i think your good with 41.7g because if its warmer or cooler or a little more or less power its going to group like the charges on either side.

also like NCF said theres normally 2 nodes and some times 3..i was solely focused on speed for a long time and have since found that most times your most accurate(and more importantly)consistent loads are on the lower to mid end.

[17+1]

I believe max load is 45gr with RL15; is it possible that there's a more accurate node higher up vs where I'm at?