What distance to shoot a group

[dan68]

Thank you. I'll do a google search.

[mark5pt56]

Google "optimal charge weight calculator" and you will have a spreadsheet for input and links to Newberry's site. You can save the sheet and name it whatever and of course have multiples on different loads.

[Eurodriver]

I just loaded Up some rounds using the OCW method.

I shit you not my very best loads For 308 were exactly where Dan Newberry said they would be. To the 10th of a grain.

http://www.sniperforums.com/forum/re...data-only.html

[dan68]

Thanks guys found it all! Wish he had more info on 338 but know I know how to get there.

[Warg]

Depends on the bullet, barrel, load, environmental factors, etc., but the consensus among many ballisticians and physicist is that it is a real phenomenon. Lookup epicyclic bullet motion (or gyroscopic precession) and check out Litz' YouTube video(s): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pF8W5liSRc. In short, many shooting longer bullets have experienced better groupings at greater distances. I would suggest a minimum of 200 or 300 yds for 338.

Regarding OCW- I work up nodes at one seating depth. Once I find the best of the lots, then I play with seating depth. This is easier with bolt action rifles if you're not concerned about the constraints of magazine length. Obviously on a semi-auto like the AR one has to be careful if jamming into the lands as releasing the bolt will force bullet into the case.

You hear so many different answers to this... So a 338 lapua to shoot a ladder group what would be the proper distance? I've heard they don't even stabilize until 300. Hey I heard it on the interweb so.....

Dan

[waveslayer]

yaw and pitch happens so fast over 100 yards it has stabilized by then. even Litz has not been able to prove that bullets stabilize farther out, like 200 to 300 yards. go with 100 and do the OCW test for nodes and then seating depth. you will be fine. foe more info on the above video get Litz's new book it explains it and shows that there is no evidence of what I just said. I used to think the same about my Grendel... but I proved myself wrong... focus on fundamentals of shooting and parallax adjusted properly you will shoot tight groups at 100 yards.

[Bimmer]

My 2¢:

100yds is too close: My .308 Savage FCP-SR will regularly shoot sub-moa with match ammo, and I have a hard time differentiating between a 5/8" vs. a 3/4" vs. a 11/16" group.

300yds is too far: Gusty winds and mirage starts screwing with me, and it's not clear that it's the ammo that's making one group better/worse than the next.

200yds is just right.

I've heard they don't even stabilize until 300. Hey I heard it on the interweb so...

I have a real hard time understanding how a bullet wandering at 100yrds can suddenly get on track at longer distances.

"They don't even stabilize until 300yds" always sounded like bullshit to me, too.

[T2C]

When developing a load using the OCW technique, I shoot at 200 yards minimum. I have found that 100 yards is too close to develop loads for a precision rifle.

[hypno02]

For load development I usually start at 100yds. For absolute fine tuning 300yds is a better option especially for the larger calibers because of the bigger bullets taking a couple hundred yards. I had a m700 sps varmint in 300wsm that would shoot .75-.85moa groups at 100yds but the groups would shrink in MOA size as the distance increased.

Take it for what it's worth...

[Pappabear]

I like to try 100 and 500. But I've never done a 338. A 100 yards seems minimal. But it's certainly a start. As one poster suggested. Wind and mirage become a major issue past 300 for me in AZ. However, I'm good with MOA performance out of my guns. I prefer .5 or .25. And I've certainly seen one inch groups at 100 and 3 inch groups at 500. I still have trouble with stablizing rounds at distance.