Help with OCW loading

[FLSTFO2]

Here's the instructions from the Berger site , it talks about a sweet spot and believe me every bullet has a different one.

For years we have relayed that it is best to jam the VLD into the lands for best performance. This works for many rifles however there are many rifles that do not shoot the VLD well when the bullet is jammed. We have learned that the VLD can shoot best as much as .150 jump off the rifling. VLD bullets can be sensitive to seating depth and it has been found that these bullets shoot best in a COAL “sweet spot”. This sweet spot is a COAL range that is usually .030 to .040 wide.



The quickest way to find this sweet spot is to load ammo at four different COAL. Start with a COAL that allows the bullet to touch the rifling. The next COAL needs to be .040 off the lands. The third COAL needs to be .080 off the lands. The last COAL needs to be .120 off the lands. One of these COAL will outperform the other three by a considerable margin. It has been reported that the VLD bullets don’t group as well at 100 yards but get better as the bullet “goes to sleep” at further ranges. We have learned that by doing the four COAL test you will find a COAL where the VLD bullets will group well at 100 yards. Once the COAL that shoots best is established you can tweak +/- .005 or .010 to increase precision or you can adjust powder charges and other load variables. Frankly, those who do the four COAL test usually are happy with the results they get from this test alone.

 

[SoBored]

Here's the instructions from the Berger site , it talks about a sweet spot and believe me every bullet has a different one.

For years we have relayed that it is best to jam the VLD into the lands for best performance. This works for many rifles however there are many rifles that do not shoot the VLD well when the bullet is jammed. We have learned that the VLD can shoot best as much as .150 jump off the rifling. VLD bullets can be sensitive to seating depth and it has been found that these bullets shoot best in a COAL “sweet spot”. This sweet spot is a COAL range that is usually .030 to .040 wide.



The quickest way to find this sweet spot is to load ammo at four different COAL. Start with a COAL that allows the bullet to touch the rifling. The next COAL needs to be .040 off the lands. The third COAL needs to be .080 off the lands. The last COAL needs to be .120 off the lands. One of these COAL will outperform the other three by a considerable margin. It has been reported that the VLD bullets don’t group as well at 100 yards but get better as the bullet “goes to sleep” at further ranges. We have learned that by doing the four COAL test you will find a COAL where the VLD bullets will group well at 100 yards. Once the COAL that shoots best is established you can tweak +/- .005 or .010 to increase precision or you can adjust powder charges and other load variables. Frankly, those who do the four COAL test usually are happy with the results they get from this test alone.

Thanks man, I was looking for that earlier today and couldn't find it. Now I just need to pick a powder charge to work off of. What do you think? The round, (circular), group or the smallest group or the group that would be smallest with a flyer removed?

 

[Mystic Precision]

From the targets posted, redo 24.1gr, then move up in 0.1gr increments to 24.5gr.

I bet you find your ideal load around 24.3gr.

If you are using a standard primer, consider moving to a magnum primer. you will need to restart you loads but some SR primers loose a lot of zip in the cold.

leave your OAL the same as it is working more then enough. you are just below where you need to be powder wise so just move it up

Jerry

 

[SoBored]

From the targets posted, redo 24.1gr, then move up in 0.1gr increments to 24.5gr.

I bet you find your ideal load around 24.3gr.

If you are using a standard primer, consider moving to a magnum primer. you will need to restart you loads but some SR primers loose a lot of zip in the cold.

leave your OAL the same as it is working more then enough. you are just below where you need to be powder wise so just move it up

Jerry

Thanks for the advice Jerry, that's exactly what I'll try.

 

[ivor]

Thanks man, I was looking for that earlier today and couldn't find it. Now I just need to pick a powder charge to work off of. What do you think? The round, (circular), group or the smallest group or the group that would be smallest with a flyer removed?

I find the trick to getting powder to work is find one that works for the cartridge, and through bullet seating depth and charge make it work.
The most accurate 223 load that I ever assembled was for a Remington that wouldn't keep factory stuff within 6 inches.......and it was with Winchester 760(not748). 5 shots would consistently go into one ragged little hole. I stupidly sold that gun.
Ivor