Help with OCW test

[Torque]

I'm shooting a new 280AI. This is my first time to the range with it. I am doing a standard OCW ladder and want to sew where you guys think I should move forward. I am very new to examining OCW data. So, if you leave advice, please explain your advice so that i can better understand the process.

280ai Peterson brass, new,
160 Barnes TSX,. seated 0.040 off lands
RL16
CCI BR-2 primer
3 rounds per load

Load 1
53.6g
avg velocity: 2789
ES: 18
group size: 0.75"

Load 2
54.0g
avg velocity: 2816
ES: 35
group size: 1.25"

Load 3
54.4g
avg velocity: 2823
ES: 3
group size: 0.89"

Load 4
54.8g
avg velocity: 2848
ES: 22
group size: 1.06"

Load 5
55.2g
avg velocity: 2868
ES: 9
group size: 0.85"

Load 6
55.6g
avg velocity: 2883
ES: 17
group size: 0.59"

Load 7
56.0g
avg velocity: 2923
ES: 15
group size: 0.48"

 

[Mw01313]

If no pressure signs with load 7, load 10 and shoot a group.
Not trying to give you a short answer, but I used to do all the tinkering with small charge changes and seating depth adjustment. I wasted a lot of components and time. (Learned alot though) Link below to the painless method. I assume from the bullet choice this is a hunting rifle. Using the method in that thread has really simplified loading for me.

Painless load development (mine)

Wish I'd found this method earlier. Burned up a lot of components adjusting charges by .1s of a grain and incremental seating depth changes. On my 2nd rifle now. Much easier.

rokslide.com

 

[Torque]

If no pressure signs with load 7, load 10 and shoot a group.
Not trying to give you a short answer, but I used to do all the tinkering with small charge changes and seating depth adjustment. I wasted a lot of components and time. (Learned alot though) Link below to the painless method. I assume from the bullet choice this is a hunting rifle. Using the method in that thread has really simplified loading for me.

Painless load development (mine)

Wish I'd found this method earlier. Burned up a lot of components adjusting charges by .1s of a grain and incremental seating depth changes. On my 2nd rifle now. Much easier.

rokslide.com

No pressure signs of any kind. Thanks!

 

[FLHunter87]

Are you using this as a hunting or target match rifle? The guy that said shoot a 10 round group is a little ridiculous if its a hunting rifle. 3-5 is plenty of data. How often do you shoot more than 2x back to back hunting? I can only count a few myself. What are you after, accuracy or velocity? Everyone is different and sometimes you can't have both pending what your personal preference for accuracy is. If you don't have pressure signs just keep going. Once you hit that, you have the data you need to decide. You can always try more seating tests as well. TSX work when seated deeper. I have met a handful of guys that reload at the shooting range i go to and all have said working a load at 100 yards really doesn't benefit you due to more stabilization of the bullet at 200 yards and you'll know now about the rifle and the load your using. If it's true or not i don't know, but I have seen things on forums saying the same thing. If you're using the TSX, look at the ballistics of the bullet with velocity and as long as your 1600FPS the bullet will do it's job no matter the distance. Don't worry about energy! I have done the same thing you do and your in the right direction. I would also suggest neck tension is the same as that can affect accuracy more than you think. If you end up seating a bullet too deep and pulling it out, I would resize the brass and start over. I have noticed accuracy problems due to that and learned as I go. I use a 6.5 PRC and I only get 2835fps out of my rifle with my load. But I can stack a 5 shot group at 100 and cover with a penny. At 200 yards I'm around 1.25" group but have only shot 200 a couple times now. I use the ABLR so as long as I'm at least 1300fps the bullet will perform. Even at 1k yards I'm good for velocity but I'll never shoot an animal that far. I also load a 243 and the ES is 35. At 100 yards i can stack just like my PRC. At 200 yards or shoots pretty good also, but i don't like the scope magnification is to low so it's hard to see out that far. If you're not really going long range ES And SD you really don't need to worry about as much. Hope my perspective helps.