As fellow newbie, here's my take on your starting point and questions:

As far as finding the best node is concerned, it seems that most do a variation on something referred to as the ladder test. Full disclosure, the follow is my process from a bunch of info fireman sent me.
1. Load 2 of each weight charge of powder in 0.3gr increments. I ended up doing about 8 sets.
2. I seated them all the same depth to start out with, which was about 0.010" behind the lands.
3. Get colored Sharpe markers and paint the who bullet exposed different color for each load. Tip, my sharpie pack was arranged in the color spectrum order. I paint the tips in that order for charges too.
4. I have a 600 yard range available so I shot mine at 300 yard. One of each load at the same target. Hopefully u shot those well.
5. Then ignoring mostly the horizontal spread, find the 2-3 shots that are the closest together vertically. They should be very close in charge weight. Fireman said supposedly he just makes and shoots one of these sets. I make 2 sets and shoot them separately to confirm results.
6. Then what ever range of charges was the best, then make larger groups of just that range in smaller increments.

My max OAL is 2.890 as measured with the hornady tool and one of their special cases, using a 168 hornady bthp. I have not measured yet to see if that will fit into my magazine yet. I am running a PTG bottom metal. I am going to use a comparator and measure off the ogive to set it off the lands the distance suggested and then work powder loads. Would you suggest starting in the middle of the range and work up or start at the bottom and work up?

Varget is what I have for powder and I am using 168 hpbt's. is the varget going to work well or is there a powder that will do a better job of filling the cartridge with so little of the projectile seated in the case?

I will start there, thanks for the input. So run a ladder on charges, find what is accurate and then come back and play with seating depths?

Let me save you some time, test fire from 44.5 gr up to 46.0 gr.

This is good info. But, depending on what brass and primer you are running, the 44.5 grains can be a little high as a starting point. I'd start about a grain less and work up to make sure everything is safe.

This is good info. But, depending on what brass and primer you are running, the 44.5 grains can be a little high as a starting point. I'd start about a grain less and work up to make sure everything is safe.

This is good info. But, depending on what brass and primer you are running, the 44.5 grains can be a little high as a starting point. I'd start about a grain less and work up to make sure everything is safe.