^ did you run a test string in .5 grain increments to see where you hit pressure signs before deciding to run this string? I would want to know where I hit pressure before running an OCW test. I guess it really doesn't matter all that much but according to this target string 23 looks like your OCW and you should have another at 3% higher. But also looking at this target string everything other than 23 and 23.1 looks like a scatter node. Which should not be the case. What neck tension are you running?
That's like your opinion, man. No I think both ways have their pros and cons. I feel from reading alot of your posts you are into the "Saterlee" method? Saterlee works awesome for decent shooters who have a fine tuned reloading process. OCW and ladder work well for people who are really good shooters who may have a little lacking in reloading process. They basically get at the same thing from different angles. Saterlee gets at it from an internal ballistics angle OCW and Ladder get at it from an external ballistics angle. But if youre a new reloader Saterlee will leave you wondering what the hell is going on and if you're a lack lustre shooter OCW and Ladder will have the same effect. This is all somewhat anecdotal to my experience with them.
Yeah people say ladder test alot when talking about Saterlee Method. I'm not sure why, it has nothing to do with a ladder test. I don't believe Scott Saterlee came up with the basis of what is called the Saterlee Method. He took an older method ( can't remember the name) and refined it. Basically the Saterlee Method is find a top end charge, go back a couple grains. Run one load each in .2 grain increments, find a velocity flat spot. Load in the middle of a flat spot ( what you call a powder node ) and tinker with seating depth to fine tune the load. If I read your posts right that is basically what you are running? Which it is a quick and easy way to find a load.. if your reloading process is tip top, you aren't throwing powder on a $20 dollar scale, and you know your neck tension isnt all jacked up.
Because people who think they can find a load in 10 shots don’t know what they are talking about lol
I've seen that on certain powders in large charge cases like my 7mm Rem Mag. I haven't seen that on low charge cases. Granted I have a fairly limited spectrum I have tested it on and by low charge I mean the >44 grains in my 6.5 CM. And yes if your reload process is a catastrophe you will get no where with any method. I just feel that the Saterlee type method is more dependant on a much higher skill based reloading. Vice-a-versa OCW and Ladder are very dependant on much higher shooting fundamentals basis. If you are hunting a Chrono node and your neck tension is +/- .001 or so you are going to chase your tail around. If you are hunting an accuracy node and you can't shoot 1/2-3/4 MOA with a good load you are going to chase your tail around. In no way am I trying to say that either method is bad or good. They all work. My original post was basically trying to hash out the OPs reloading process. I actually used both "Saterlee" and OCW for my 6.5 CM and got the same result. Granted the "Saterlee" I used was a more extrapolated version.
Yeah we kind of got off track there for a bit. Obviously with guns everyone has a different opinion about everything. So this is a gas gun ( black rifle )? My thoughts on it are that you can tune your reloading to make the SD/ES on the tight group get better. I would say the powder node could be tuned but it's a .1 grain powder node so if you load the low node and your scale drifts +/-.1 gr you are back into 15 SD territory. The powder node thing works best if it's around a .4 grain spread. Of course tuning reloading may open that node up to .4. But really everything depends on what you are wanting to do with the rifle. Are you wanting a tight plinking gun @ 100yds? Load the tight group as is and have a blast. Are you doing some kind of competition or wanting to stretch it's legs, you'll need to tweak some stuff around. I asked about your neck tension because that can have a pretty negative effect on chronograph and group size. What kind of Chrono are you running? If it's a Magnetospeed you can't read into group size since that is a tuning device. And if it is a Magnetospeed I bet that low SD node actually groups alot better than what you are seeing.
