Originally Posted By: ackleymanOriginally Posted By: CatShooterOriginally Posted By: rickybYes I know I can go back and look for these topics but I want to ask. What method do you use working up a load..
**When working up a load do you guys drop down from max and shoot the three shot groups goings up in powder per .05gr.
**Shoot a ladder test
**OR use the optimal charge weight load development.
I don't really have the place to shoot three hundred yds so I use the first method.
I will usually load up around 21 to 24 rounds and shoot them. After I get home I clean the bore and look at results. What works for you?
Ladder and OCW are bogus myths... you cannot get repeatable results, so the results are worthless.
"do you guys drop down from max and shoot the three shot groups goings up in powder per .05gr."
I'm not sure what you mean by "drop down from max", and then, "Going up in powder per 0.05gr"
You are nutz to work down from max... start low and work up.
For smaller cartridges, I start about 2 grains under max (checked from several source), and work up in 1/2 grain increments (NOT 1/20th of a grain)., and continue until I have loads one or two grains over max.
I load 5 of each load - if a group is bad in the first 2 or 3 rounds, I stop, and move to the next row.
I continue until I see signs of pressure, and I am finished. I analyse targets at home.
With fire breathers like the 264 Win Mag, I load 2 rounds of each load, and shoot them. Then I take the best and load 5 and pick the best.
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Cat, I must have been taught by the same guy you were taught by.
+1
I load for a lot of wild cats and use non canister surplus powder often. So, years ago I learned to find my max safe working load. I load one round at a time, increasing powder charge 0.5g at a time, to find what I consider a safe working max load for my rifle. Since my rifle and components can not read a reloading manual, no telling where that max load may be found, note also that temp the day the loads are shot and info is only good for that rifle.
Once I find the safe working max load, then the accuracy load will usually be found within 2.0g of that safe working max load.
I will shoot three shots at a time working up to that safe Max load, tweek the powder charge, play with the primer choice, and play with seating depth. I load at the rifle range and the changing of components may sound like a long drawn out affair but accuracy is usually achieve within 30 shots on the long side.
In custom guns with super barrels, you can work on two shot groups, you are looking for bullets to go in the same bullet hole. I was taught the above method in 1968 by an old time benchrest shooter that had lots of wild cats for that era.
Cat's method is a hands down winner for a guy that does not load at the rifle range, make no mistake about it.
I have spend so much time working over wind flags shooting Benchrest Competion, that I had rather eat a rat than shoot a ladder test. I expect much better accuracy than the OCW test would ever produce.
Hope this helps
If you load five sets of loads for the ladder or OCW tests... and shoot five separate sets of "tests", they will all be different - so none of them are worth anything.
It has to do with statistics and is easy to prove... plus, the explanation that these guys give of their "theories" would make a 5 year old giggle.
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