Few questions about OCW

[G38xOC]

I have 16" AR that is going to be use upto 3-400 yard max and I want to be able to hit 6" diameter accurately.

Please enlighten me if my method needs to be corrected.

Rifle is zeroed @100 with factory ammo .

When I shoot my LD , do I go with the most tightest group and adjust my zero to match my POA ? ( this way I have been using )

I've read somewhere , that it is recommended to not to fall for tightest group , but look for the that matches the POA and use that to tighten the group by seating depth , neck adjust and such .

I feel like I have been using my method wrong all this time .. but I really dont shoot past 300yards that often . But I much rather fix my mistake early and do it right .

* I'll get the picture of the target this thursday .

Thanks

[ar15barrels]

I have 16" AR that is going to be use upto 3-400 yard max and I want to be able to hit 6" diameter accurately.

Please enlighten me if my method needs to be corrected.

Rifle is zeroed @100 with factory ammo .

When I shoot my LD , do I go with the most tightest group and adjust my zero to match my POA ? ( this way I have been using )

I've read somewhere , that it is recommended to not to fall for tightest group , but look for the that matches the POA and use that to tighten the group by seating depth , neck adjust and such .

I feel like I have been using my method wrong all this time .. but I really dont shoot past 300yards that often . But I much rather fix my mistake early and do it right .

* I'll get the picture of the target this Thursday . If I can get good group and accuracy together , that'll solve the problem . Well see

Thanks

You need to reliably keep your 100yd groups under 1" to reliably keep your 400yd groups under 6".
You will gain some group size from wind and aiming error so don't automatically expect a 1" 100yd group to be a 4" 400yd group.
That's a common mistake upon people with no longer range experience.

As for OCW (optimum charge weight), you have no control over that with factory ammo.

When you reload for distance, you want to find the load with the least velocity variation and vertical stringing on target as well as sufficient accuracy for your intended target size.
You will not notice a difference at 100yds, but at 300 or 400yds, there will be notable differences in vertical stringing due to velocity variation.

If you ONLY do your load development at 100yds and do not know what your velocity ES are, you will be ill prepared for longrange shooting.

[G38xOC]

Thanks randall .

Since I dont have a chronograph yet , I like to focus on my proper load development method only at 100 .

For that distance , which 1 should I go with ?

The one that has most tightest group or one that is most accurate place upon POA ?

[ar15barrels]

Thanks randall .

Since I dont have a chronograph yet , I like to focus on my proper load development method only at 100 .

For that distance , which 1 should I go with ?

The one that has most tightest group or one that is most accurate place upon POA ?

For 100yds only, go with the tightest grouping and then adjust your zero to make your point--of-impact match your point-of-aim.

For group shooting, purposely adjust your point-of-impact away from your point of aim so that you do not effect your aiming point by placing bullets there as you shoot a group.
That keeps your group from growing due to the aiming point getting changed by the forming of the group.

When you are ready to make a load for 400yd shooting, do your testing at 400yds or get a chronograph and watch your velocity as well as group sizes at 100yds.

I prefer to shoot a 0.1gr ladder test of about 15-20 rounds at 600yds and then look where you find the 3-4 shots with the least vertical climb per powder weight increase, pick the middle charge weight and then tweak the bullet seating length for best group size.

[G38xOC]

Thanks a bunch ! Once I get situated for 100 , I'll just get by for this coyote rifle . But chronograph is on my top my list so I can expand bit more . Although I have wasted time and money testing other method , but lesson learned and looking forward to next adventure.