Thread: Trying something, Eric Cortina method of load development

So I'm trying something different.
I have been watching Eric Cortina's vids on YouTube reference "chasing the lands" and how it's a really inaccurate method of working up a load.
So for those that are un aware basically it suggests using a method that relies on an average measurement to work out distance to the lands as a reference to your seating depth may not be the best approach.
Instead he suggests seating a projectile way out in an un primed but otherwise prepped case.
Then lube up the ogive with die wax.
Put the dummy round in then close the bolt on it basically using the lands to seat the projectile.
This becomes your no go or jam distance and in fact it is suggested you go minimum 10 thou back from this.
Then load up a charge weight ladder at your maximum length (as above jam minus 10 thou). 3 rounds at each weight.
Then shoot your ladder over a chrono to asses which charge weight gives you the most consistent fps (it may seem counter intuitive but Eric suggests not shooting these at a target, so you don't get tempted to go with a charge that shoots a fluke good group when there are more consistent speeds in your ladder).
Once you have worked out you most consistent charge weight then load up another ladder starting at your max length (jam minus 10 thou) load 3 rounds then load 3 at 3 thou deeper and do this working further away from your jam at 3 thou increments.
The idea being that the most consistent speed load can be tuned by seating depth.
The most consistent speed is what will get you accuracy out at extended rounds.
There's a fair bit more to it than that but that's a brief run down.
In my next post I will show my progress as I try this method.
My current load development is based far more on a bit of knowledge and a fair amount of luck.
I have good brass prep, and consistent loading practices but getting my load usually expended on seating my projectile at 20 thou of the lands or as close as I could get if the mag didn't allow then just doing a ladder of charge weights to find the best grouping.
Don't get me wrong this has worked extremely well and I've achieved some brilliant results (probably a fair amount of luck rather than skill)
Anyway after watching Eric's videos they just made sense to me and a lot of it is in layman's terms.