I'll step in and say how I work up a load hopefully not get blasted from those that do not agree.
All this that I am about to say is with a rifle with no issues. If the rifle has issues no need to waist my time till I get the issue fixed.
#1 I pick a bullet that I think will do what I want it to do. Whether it be shooting Paper Targets for the wholly Grail or an adequate load for animals.
#2 I'll research powder selection and pick one that seem to preform in the cartridge and bullet weight in more than one manual ETC.
#3 I will start my powder charges at least 2 Grains below Maximum from the Manual of the brand bullet I am using and work up to the maximum charge weight in the manual in 1/2 grain steps. I load 5 rounds per charge weight of powder. I then shoot all 5 rounds of each charge weight using different targets for each charge weight (starting with the lowest charge weight) ETC till I have shot all rounds ALWAYS looking for signs of pressure.
If I reach the book max. with no signs of pressure and the group is getting better as the charge goes up I will load as before going over max by 1-1/2 grains or more total. Till accuracy falls off or signs of presure raises it's ugly head and act accordingly. I'll set the seating depth per Manual to start with unless I know the rifle seems to prefer a certain OAL per bullet comparator.
I choose the load that grouped the best and try again with 10 rounds, If it proves to be a consistent group I will load up 5 rounds .4 of a Gr. lower then add .2 of a GR to that. then I will load up 5 Rds of each .2 Gr.and .4 Gr. higher and test them and choose accordingly.
Then I play with seating depth Till I find what shoots the best. If a load improves by adjusting the seating depth I may once again tweak the powder charge.
I let the barrel cool between groups.
I never worry about how much time it takes.
Now what I would like to know how can other ways of working up a load arrive at a better load than the one I arrived at.
Another way may be faster but if we wind up with the same load what is the big difference.
I have read about the OTC and the OCW or what ever they are. At first I thought "hey this just may be the cats meow of working up loads"((nothing to do with Catshooter)). But the more I turned it over in my pee picking little brain the less sense it made to me. So I just kept doing it as Frank Sinatra said "my way"
I guess what I am trying to say if it works for you , Go ahead and DO IT. Whether there is any advantage or truth to it or not.
No skin off my butt.
DAB
All this that I am about to say is with a rifle with no issues. If the rifle has issues no need to waist my time till I get the issue fixed.
#1 I pick a bullet that I think will do what I want it to do. Whether it be shooting Paper Targets for the wholly Grail or an adequate load for animals.
#2 I'll research powder selection and pick one that seem to preform in the cartridge and bullet weight in more than one manual ETC.
#3 I will start my powder charges at least 2 Grains below Maximum from the Manual of the brand bullet I am using and work up to the maximum charge weight in the manual in 1/2 grain steps. I load 5 rounds per charge weight of powder. I then shoot all 5 rounds of each charge weight using different targets for each charge weight (starting with the lowest charge weight) ETC till I have shot all rounds ALWAYS looking for signs of pressure.
If I reach the book max. with no signs of pressure and the group is getting better as the charge goes up I will load as before going over max by 1-1/2 grains or more total. Till accuracy falls off or signs of presure raises it's ugly head and act accordingly. I'll set the seating depth per Manual to start with unless I know the rifle seems to prefer a certain OAL per bullet comparator.
I choose the load that grouped the best and try again with 10 rounds, If it proves to be a consistent group I will load up 5 rounds .4 of a Gr. lower then add .2 of a GR to that. then I will load up 5 Rds of each .2 Gr.and .4 Gr. higher and test them and choose accordingly.
Then I play with seating depth Till I find what shoots the best. If a load improves by adjusting the seating depth I may once again tweak the powder charge.
I let the barrel cool between groups.
I never worry about how much time it takes.
Now what I would like to know how can other ways of working up a load arrive at a better load than the one I arrived at.
Another way may be faster but if we wind up with the same load what is the big difference.
I have read about the OTC and the OCW or what ever they are. At first I thought "hey this just may be the cats meow of working up loads"((nothing to do with Catshooter)). But the more I turned it over in my pee picking little brain the less sense it made to me. So I just kept doing it as Frank Sinatra said "my way"
I guess what I am trying to say if it works for you , Go ahead and DO IT. Whether there is any advantage or truth to it or not.
DAB