Today was a day I love and that is the ladder load. There are two main ways to do a ladder load. One, you load multiple rounds at each powder level (I do three rounds). The other way is to load 10 rounds total, 1 round for each powder level.
| Get the gear in this reloading series |
Frankford Arsenal Intellidropper (seriously, buy this)
http://bit.ly/FAIntellidropperTLD (Frankford Arsenal) – Discount Code: Thin10
http://bit.ly/BRNFAIntellidropperTLD (Brownells)
Imperial sizing wax (stuff will last you a lifetime probably)
Frankford Arsenal digital calipers
http://bit.ly/FAECaliperTLD (Frankford Arsenal)Discount Code: Thin10
http://bit.ly/BRNFACalpTLD (Brownells)
There are pros and cons to each, but let’s discuss the first method since that’s what we go through in this video.
The idea behind this method, referred to as the OCW or Optimal Charge Weight Test, is that you do not need access to a long range or a spotting scope. You shoot out to 100 yards and you group the same charged bullet together. So, you shoot three rounds with 26.0 grains of powder and check their grouping. Then shoot three rounds with 25.8 grains and check their grouping and keep going on separate targets until you shoot all 30 rounds.
Before we start putting powder in case, we need some measurements. First, slightly crimp a fired piece of brass so it will barely hold a projectile. Then take your projectile and barely sit it in the brass – use your calipers to measure that length.
Next you sit your makeshift bullet into your rifle (this works for gas or bolt guns) then slowly bring your bolt forward. This pushes the projectile into the brass and sets your bullet at the length to the lands and grooves – use your calipers to measure this length.
The final measurement we are interested in is the magazine length. You can seat a bullet just off the lands and grooves, but if it is too big for your magazine, you basically turned it into a one-shot rifle…not fun.
Once we have all these measurements, we need to decide on a few things. You need to ensure your bullet is off the lands and grooves, but still fits in the magazine. In this video, I decided to load to magazine length even though it was about one tenth off of the lands and grooves, we will see how accurate we can get with this gun.
So, I loaded up my rounds three at a time. 3 rounds at 26.0 grains, 3 rounds at 25.8, etc. Now I need to go out to the range and fire for group size.
Thanks for watching.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.
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Music by: @Barren Gates