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View Full Version : Anybody here have any experience with Long's Optimal Barrel Time?



IceAxe
09-19-2014, 15:13
http://www.the-long-family.com/OBT_paper.htm

I have just started playing with it and did workups on my 24 inch 6 milli using some 65 grain OTM that I couldn't get to group before, at least when loaded at mag length and was able to really tighten it up. I also did a workup on my son's 30.06, and it too demonstrated improvement right at the prescribed node. I realize two rifles are not significant but if it works I wonder why others are not using it? Seems like it should be the starting point or at least a short cut for fine tuning load development. Any thoughts?

IceAxe
10-09-2014, 17:31
Ok tried another rifle, a Remmy in 7mm-08 I picked up last year. I remember when sighting it in after getting it, not being impressed with its grouping and relegated back to the safe. I did a single ladder test back then and everything I feed it patterned like a good 12 gauge. Well I figured if this stuff works, this rifle should be a good candidate. After reading more of the process there was mention of modifying the computation for barrel length by subtracting half the cartridge length, then determine the nodes. This turned out to be a bad idea and had me questioning whether my earlier results were a fluke. Lesson learned, use the barrel length from bolt head to muzzle when computing the target nodes. Attached are 10 shots using factory Hornady superformance ammo as my baseline, then 5 shots using an "adjusted" barrel length node 6, and finally 5 shots with the unadjusted node 6.

Tim K
10-10-2014, 10:45
I tried the OCW method on the last barrel for my .260. I saw the predicted behavior and got the results I expected for the most part. The science seems good, the results were good, and I'll likely use the method again.