First shot at OCW test

[gunrack]

I followed the loading instructions to the T. Got my targets ready just waiting on my new stock to get here and a good weather day. Oh yea and one more week so that i can drive myself to the range.

[gunrack]

Ok here we go; I shot the OCW test loads that I had loaded up. The results as I see it didn't tell me very much unless I used the wrong powder then I guess it told me that. maybe some of you can help interpret the results.

Here are the loads and the description of how they were down range.

Max charge weight on the Nosler website was 49.0 gr I backed away from it by 10% and loaded a round, added 2% to that charge and loaded a second, added 2% to that charge and loaded a third which were my sighter rounds.

At this point it said to add 2% to the last charge and load three rounds which I did. From this charge add additional 1% and load three more, and to this charge add 1% and load three more, etc until you pass the Max load by 1 increment. I ended up with 18 rounds counting the sighters.

The table I listed the loads in so that I could keep them arranged in my head (OCD) are listed below. The fact that I can't get the 2.83" in the right column lined up with the rest of the measurements is driving me nuts! LOL

From Nosler website most accurate powder tested
	Start		Max
IMR4350	45.0	47.0	49.0
Test Sighters	-10%	44.5
	2%	45.4
	2%	46.3
					Inches
Load 1	2%	47.3	3		3.50"
Load 2	1%	47.7	3		3.82"
Load 3	1%	48.2	3		4.00"
Load 4	1%	48.7	3		3.38"
Load 5	1%	49.2	3		2.83"

The column to the far right is the where the center of the group was located in relationship to the center of my POA. If I understand the directions correctly he stated not to worry about the group size only their relationship to the POA. As you can see from the column on the far right the POI were all high by a considerable amount from POA. The group sizes of each load was a little large ranging from .75" to 3.0" no having said that the 3" group and one that was similar were due to pulls on my part. There was a kid next to me at the rage popping off rounds out of a 40 cal S&W pistol like he was a movie star that made me about jump out of my skin while I was trying to squeeze off the shot. Anyway, what the targets show is there is no noticeable difference in the left or right of the groups only the spread of each group size and the elevation difference from POA to POI. If I could post a good enough pic for you guys to see I believe you would see the same as I. These groups are on a grid target with simulated cross hairs crossing the POA. All of the shots are perfectly centered up the vertical cross hair just high and like I sad some are larger than others.

The bullets I was shooting are 120gr Sierra Spitzers and were all seated .030" off the lands.

I will have to punch the primers out to see how much pressure the loads saw because I did see some flattening of the primers as I was nearing the max charge but I never did see any indentions on the back of the case. The bolt lift on that rifle is tight anyway and I could not notice any great difference in bolt lift so I would say I did not see an excessive pressures but a slight increase as I shot the max charge.

I hope this all makes sense to someone. Please feel free to comment I am open to any suggestions and criticism. I'm all about getting better at this and learning.

Thanks,
B