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 THE OCW TECHNIQUE

Information Taken Directly from: http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/#/ocw-instructions/4529817134

Decide on the bullet you want to use.

Choose a powder. This is probably the most important step in the whole process. As a rule, you should choose the
so if you have it on good authority that a slightly faster powder works well with the bullet/cartridge combo you're u
4350 in the 30-06 and IMR 3031 in the .243 Winchester. An aside: When in doubt, consult the Nosler manual for th
results in the application listed.
Consult at least three load data sources for maximum charge weight for the powder you've selected. Powder manu
maximum charge will be.
Back away from the maximum charge by 7 to 10 percent, and load one test round with this charge. Add 2% to the c
cartridge with the next 2% graduation. You will use these three cartridges for sighters, and more importantly to det
Add another 2% or so to the charge level used in cartridge #3 of step 4, and load three rounds with this charge wei
graduation again, and load three more. Continue adding the chosen graduation until you have moved ONE increme
The seating depth for all test loads should of course be the same. I normally seat the bullet a caliber's depth into th
approach the lands is necessary, or even desirable in most situations. So long as the bullets are seated straight, wit
largely over-stated. This said, be certain that the seating depth you choose does not cram the bullet into the lands.

The primer brand you choose is entirely up to you. Use magnum primers only with magnum chamberings, as their
One exeption here would be with low density loads, as I believe that magnum primers improve ignition consistency
At the range, you should set up 5 to 7 targets at 100 yards. The number of targets you use will depend on how man
like to use a simple black square, drawn on a white background with a large felt tip marker. I draw the square abou
fit" of the crosshairs in the square, and thus a repeatable sight picture. For higher power scopes, draw the square s

You can also put up one "sighter" target, and use the initial reduced rounds to get the POI on paper, as close to the
Your barrel should of course be clean before starting. Depending on the number of rounds you will fire, you may de
foulers, and allow a couple of minutes to cool before continuing. With custom barrels, you may be able to fire 25 sh
wouldn't fire more than 15 to 18 shots before cleaning... This is all relative, of course.

After you have fired the sighters and confirmed that there are no pressure signs (hard bolt lift, flattened primers, et
sense--the hotter it is outside, the longer it will need to cool) you will then fire your first shot from the first group o
Allow the barrel to cool, then fire a shot from the second graduation at target number 2. Wait for cooling of the ba
this "round robin" sequence until you have been through all of the targets three times. At this point you will have a
It is assumed that you are an experienced reloader, and that you know to watch for pressure signs on each of the in
signs on the previous charge. You can safely fire the heaviest charge you loaded so long as the next charge under it
your selected maximum charge, but will be safe so long as the next lowest graduation showed no pressure signs.

Triangulate the groups. This means to connect all three shots in a triangular form, and determine the center of the
direction from the bullseye, and record the information somewhere on the target. Do this for all of the targets. If yo
if you have an additional round loaded with that charge.

You will now look for the three groups which come the closest to hitting the same POI (point of impact) on the targ
favoring one side, to high and favoring the other side. But along the progression, there should be a string of at leas
After you have carefully measured group sizes and distances and directions from the bullseye, you will know which
choose the powder charge which represents the center of this string. For example, if 34.7, 35.0, and 35.3 grains all
you would choose the 35.0 grain charge as your OCW (optimal charge weight). This charge will allow 34.7 and 35.3
"resilient" load.
Remember, don't get "bowled over" by a tiny group which falls outside the OCW zone. You can tune any of the grou
the OCW, you may want to try seating the bullets deeper or longer in .010" increments to see where your particula
seating depth alterations--especially for hunting cartridges--often don't seem necessary.
Your next step would be to confirm your load recipe at the maximum range you will expect to use it. Load one roun
fire a three shot group with these two charges plus the standard charge at the maximum range you will require the
grouping...
The OCW load development plan works best with rifles and shooters that are actually capable of MOA accuracy. If
to have it corrected before wasting time and material with additional load developement. If you are not confident t
want to hold off on intricate load development until your skills are better honed. Lots of practice with a scoped .22

I would sincerely recommend using shooting glasses during the firing sequences of ANY load testing. You can never
development, you're basically on your own. Just like any provider of load data or development instructions, I must
are outside the realm of your expectations.
 SLT / OCW WORKSHEET
Rifle Scope Ammo
Make Sako Make Nightforce Bullet Berger 155gn Hybrid
Model L579 Model Primer CCI 200
Cartridge 0.308 Reticle MOAR Powder S335
Barrel Length 582mm Elevation/wind adjustment Case Nosler / lite
Twist rate / grooves 1 in 10 Rings/base cant Overall Length (Ogive) 2.830 in … on the Lands
Environmentals Max Load in grains Graduation Incriment
Date 07 June 2019 Enter the number you want the
Temp graduations to increase by. (usually from .

Baro (inHG) 44.1 2 to .5 grains.

Wind (mph)
Sky
0.2
Load 10 rounds (or more) of lowest Load at least three rounds. Fire 1 shot from each charge in ascending order on it's coresponding target. Allowing time
charge. Use as sighters to cool every 5th shots or so.

Charge 1 Charge 2 Charge 3 Charge 4 Charge 5 Charge 6 Charge 7 Charge 8 Charge 9 Charge 10 Charge 11 Charge 12

41.9 42.1 42.3 42.5 42.7 42.9 43.1 43.3 43.5 43.7 43.9 44.1
Resources: OCW Method Web Page Official OCW Targets Practical Riflery Forum

Notes: Change values in orange only. Everything gets auto populated from there, on this sheet and the following sheets. Print the "For Printing" page and
take with you in the field. Fill out and bring back to computer and input those number in the "For Printing sheet, then "Summary and Chart" will be
completed. The most prominent green will determine best load according to numbers alone. Use this paired with actual targets to determine best load.

After load is chosen, use Sheet1 (instructions therein) to build muzzle velocity changes curve.
Notes: Change values in orange only. Everything gets auto populated from there, on this sheet and the following sheets. Print the "For Printing" page and
take with you in the field. Fill out and bring back to computer and input those number in the "For Printing sheet, then "Summary and Chart" will be
completed. The most prominent green will determine best load according to numbers alone. Use this paired with actual targets to determine best load.

After load is chosen, use Sheet1 (instructions therein) to build muzzle velocity changes curve.
ery Forum
 Date Shot Sako
OCW Analysis:
07 June 2019 0.308

CARTRIDGE CONDITIONS
AVG Brass Volume 63gn
Range
AVG Brass Weight 163gn

Bullet (BC) Berger 155gn Hybrid Range

Primer CCI 200 Officer
Powder S335 Temp (OC) #N/A

Brass Nosler / lite Baro P. (inHg) #N/A

COAL 2.830 in … on the Lands Wind (mph) #N/A

BCL 2.830 in … on the Lands Sky #N/A

Group # and Velocity (fps) Group # and Velocity (fps) Group # and Velocity (fps) Average Velocities:
Charge Wt. Charge Wt. Charge Wt.

41.9 2989 42.1 3000 42.3 3049

1 2989
2992
Smaller incr. Smaller incr. Smaller incr.
xx.x gn xx.x gn xx.x gn
2985
2 3000
Primary LD Primary LD Primary LD
Average
2989 Average Average
Velocity xxxx Velocity xxxx Velocity xxxx
fps 2991 fps fps
3 3049
42.5 3099 42.7 3150 42.9 3160

Smaller incr. Smaller incr. Smaller incr. 4 3099

xx.x gn xx.x gn xx.x gn
Primary LD Primary LD Primary LD
Average Average Average
Velocity xxxx Velocity xxxx Velocity xxxx
5 3150
fps fps fps
43.1 3200 43.3 43.5
6 3160
Smaller incr. Smaller incr. Smaller incr.
xx.x gn xx.x gn xx.x gn
7 3200
Primary LD Primary LD Primary LD
Average Average Average
Velocity xxxx Velocity xxxx Velocity xxxx
fps fps fps 8 #DIV/0!

0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Grp in MOA 7 Grp in MOA 8 Grp in MOA 9 Grp in MOA 10 Grp in MOA 11 Grp in MOA 12
12 #REF!
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
OCW Analysis Summary
Sako Date 07 June 2019
0.308 Sky #N/A
Bullet Berger 155gn Hybrid Temperature #N/A
Brass Nosler / lite Baro. Pressure #N/A
Powder S335 Wind #N/A
Primer CCI 200
OAL (Ogive) 2.830 in … on the Lands

Load # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Grains 41.9 42.1 42.3 42.5 42.7 42.9 43.1 43.3 43.5 43.7 43.9 44.1
shot 1 (FPS) 2989 3000 3049 3099 3150 3160 3200 #N/A #N/A Err:508 Err:508 Err:508
shot 2 (FPS) 2992 #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A Err:508 Err:508 Err:508
shot 3 (FPS) 2985 #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A Err:508 Err:508 Err:508
shot 4 (FPS) 2989 #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A Err:508 Err:508 Err:508
shot 5 (FPS) 2991 #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A Err:508 Err:508 Err:508

Average FPS 2989 3000 3049 3099 3150 3160 3200 ### ### Err:508 Err:508 Err:508
Median FPS 2989 3000 3049 3099 3150 3160 3200 ### ### Err:508 Err:508 Err:508
Std Dev 2.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ### ### Err:508 Err:508 Err:508
Extreme Spread 7.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Err:508 Err:508 Err:508
Group size (MOA) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Difference :2 11 49 50 51 10 40 ### ### ### ### ###
Difference :3 60 99 101 61 50 ### ### ### ### ###

Average Velocity
3,099 Standard Deviation Extreme Spread
3100 100.0
3,049
3050 90.0
3,000
3000 2,989 80.0

2950 70.0

2900 60.0
 3,049
3050 90.0
3,000
3000 2,989 80.0

2950 70.0

2900 60.0

2850 50.0

2800 40.0

2750 30.0

2700 20.0

2650 10.0

2600 0.0
41.5 42 42.5 43 43.5 44 44.5

Results/Load chosen:
 Ammunition Temperature MV Calculator
Enter MV for Assumed Standard Ammunition Temperature of 70 Deg F

Ammo Velocity Velocity Velocity Velocity

Temp. nearest to nearest to nearest to nearest to
(deg F) 2840 fps 2910 fps 2950 3950 fps
0 Deg 2709 -94 -95 -127
10 Deg 2714 -88 -89 -119
20 Deg 2722 -80 -81 -109
30 Deg 2732 -70 -71 -95
40 Deg 2743 -58 -59 -77
50 Deg 2758 -43 -43 -58
60 Deg 2777 -24 -24 -32
70 Deg 2800 < Enter Your Load's Measured MV Under
80 Deg 2829 29 30 40
90 Deg 2865 66 67 90
100 Deg 2910 113 114 153

see Chart1 see Chart2 see Chart3 see Chart4

below below below below

This calculator was created on Microsoft Excel by TiborasaurusRex using data

obtained from the "Ammunition Burn Rate Conversion Chart" figure in the book titled:
"The Complete .50-Caliber Sniper Course Hard Target Interdiction" by Dean Michaelis,
pages 175 and 176. ISBN 1-58160-068-2 www.paladin-press.com
Load's Measured MV Under the Appropriate Velocity Range Collumn
 Ammo Temperature MV Curve
Remington 700 5R Mil-Spec
Muzzle Velocity (fps)

2950 175g SMK; Win Brass; 44.5 IMR 4064; Fed 210M Primer

2900

2850

2800

2750

2700

2650

2600

Ammo Temperature (deg F)

 Muzzle Velocity (fps)

-50
50

-150
-100
0
100
0 Deg 150

10 Deg

20 Deg

30 Deg

40 Deg

50 Deg

60 Deg

Ammo Temperature (deg F)

70 Deg
Ammo Temperature MV chnage Curve

80 Deg

90 Deg

100 Deg
 Ammo Temperature MV Curve
Muzzle Velocity (fps)

150

100

50

0
0 Deg 10 Deg 20 Deg 30 Deg 40 Deg 50 Deg 60 Deg 70 Deg 80 Deg 90 Deg 100 Deg

-50

-100

-150

Ammo Temperature (deg F)

 Muzzle Velocity (fps)

-50
50

-150
-100
0
100
150
0 Deg 200

10 Deg

20 Deg

30 Deg

40 Deg

50 Deg

60 Deg

Ammo Temperature (deg F)

Ammo Temperature MV Curve

70 Deg

80 Deg

90 Deg

100 Deg