You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
ladder test or OCW system ?
- Thread starter rebs
- Start date
The ladder test doesn't really tell you anything about how accurate a particular load is out of your rifle. Only tells you where a particular load shoots in relation to other loads.
OCW is some guy named Dan, dreaming. No mention of his qualifications anywhere on his sites. One part of his "instructions" says, " Use magnum primers only with magnum chamberings". Magnum primers have nothing whatever to do with the cartridge. They're about the powder used.
And there's a lot more involved with accuracy than just the bullet and powder combination.
This works.
Beginning with the starting load given in your manual, load 5 rounds only(A mag load if your rifle holds less than 5). Go up by half a grain of powder, loading 5(or a mag load) of each keeping them separate until you get to the max load in your manual.
Then go shooting. Shoot at 100 yards, for group only, slowly and deliberately off a bench.
Change targets between strings of 5(or a mag load) and allow time for the barrel to cool.
When you find the best group, sight in 4" high at 100. That'll put you on target out to about 300 yards with no hold over with a .30-06/.308 and the like.
OCW is some guy named Dan, dreaming. No mention of his qualifications anywhere on his sites. One part of his "instructions" says, " Use magnum primers only with magnum chamberings". Magnum primers have nothing whatever to do with the cartridge. They're about the powder used.
And there's a lot more involved with accuracy than just the bullet and powder combination.
This works.
Beginning with the starting load given in your manual, load 5 rounds only(A mag load if your rifle holds less than 5). Go up by half a grain of powder, loading 5(or a mag load) of each keeping them separate until you get to the max load in your manual.
Then go shooting. Shoot at 100 yards, for group only, slowly and deliberately off a bench.
Change targets between strings of 5(or a mag load) and allow time for the barrel to cool.
When you find the best group, sight in 4" high at 100. That'll put you on target out to about 300 yards with no hold over with a .30-06/.308 and the like.
jwrowland77
New member
Ladder test needs to be done at distance further than 100yds
300 yards or further. Preferably 400yd or further
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
jwrowland77
New member
I use both depending on what I'm looking for in my final results.
I use OCW of sorts for my hunting ammo and shoot it at 100yd.
I personally prefer Ladder for my F-Class match ammo. I shoot my ladder at 400yd. Then do seating depth test at 400yd. Have had decent success with this in the past.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I use OCW of sorts for my hunting ammo and shoot it at 100yd.
I personally prefer Ladder for my F-Class match ammo. I shoot my ladder at 400yd. Then do seating depth test at 400yd. Have had decent success with this in the past.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I recently did both test using similar components . The ladder test I changed brass and primers . The Primers were very different Fed match primers and LC-12-LR cases for the OCW test and Win LR primers and LC-14 cases for the ladder test . Bullet , powder , case sizing and COAL all were the same at start of tests .
The ladder test was done at 300yds and the OCW test was done at 200yds
The Ladder test took about 25 shots to zero in on the load with another 10 to confirm accuracy and chrono
OCW test took 60-ish rounds to find that perfect load
They both produced very accurate loads and I'll add very different loads that are equally accurate , The ladder load is 41gr IMR 4895 & 168gr BTHP ( Hornady ) @ 2510fps . The OCW load is 43gr IMR-4895 & 168gr BTHP @2680fps
They both worked as advertised and I'll likely use them both again .
For what it's worth , since I started loading I've been doing a traditional load development
Which has resulted in some very accurate loads as well . IMHO they all work if you can shoot well and are honest with your self through out the testing .
The ladder test was done at 300yds and the OCW test was done at 200yds
The Ladder test took about 25 shots to zero in on the load with another 10 to confirm accuracy and chrono
OCW test took 60-ish rounds to find that perfect load
They both produced very accurate loads and I'll add very different loads that are equally accurate , The ladder load is 41gr IMR 4895 & 168gr BTHP ( Hornady ) @ 2510fps . The OCW load is 43gr IMR-4895 & 168gr BTHP @2680fps
They both worked as advertised and I'll likely use them both again .
For what it's worth , since I started loading I've been doing a traditional load development
T. O'Heir said:Beginning with the starting load given in your manual, load 5 rounds only(A mag load if your rifle holds less than 5). Go up by half a grain of powder, loading 5(or a mag load) of each keeping them separate until you get to the max load in your manual.
Then go shooting. Shoot at 100 yards, for group only, slowly and deliberately off a bench.
Change targets between strings of 5(or a mag load) and allow time for the barrel to cool.
Which has resulted in some very accurate loads as well . IMHO they all work if you can shoot well and are honest with your self through out the testing .
Last edited:
brasscollector
New member
That's more than just an opinion, that is a fact. I've found the traditional and the ladder tests to both work effectively to get me to the desired end-result, an accurate load. The biggest factor is being honest with yourself.they all work if you can shoot well and are honest with your self through out the testing