First Ladder Test

[P7id10t]

Gotta admit I need to keep better records. Some of my loads were not marked well

DPMS LR308, 1:10, 16" barrel. 100 yards. All loads COL 2.800 (mag length)
Late evening, so no chrony data. Shot from a bench using Harris bipod.
Scope wasn't level so I leveled it, then sighted it in, then did the shots. All aiming at the yellow dot.

IMO the 2230 produced chit. Too bad I still have 6# of it.
The N550 and RL17 look promising, need to do more accurate workups.
Supposedly VV powders burn the cleanest, but I found them to be the smokiest of all. Perhaps too slow.
The RL17 seemed the loudest, which to me would indicate incomplete burn in the barrel. However, I think I'll use it to test out my heavier bullets (180 & 200gr BTs)

 

[melloyello]

A ladder test is not done at 100yds. More than likely you won't be able to tell anything from a ladder test at 100yds. Were you using increasing charges for each particular powder or what? It looks as though you just chose random charges of each powder and shot groups.

 

[exx1976]

A ladder test is not done at 100yds. More than likely you won't be able to tell anything from a ladder test at 100yds. Were you using increasing charges for each particular powder or what? It looks as though you just chose random charges of each powder and shot groups.

^^^^^^This.

 

[P7id10t]

Thanks - I'll read up on a ladder test since I don't know what I'm doing on this one....

 

[exx1976]

It's pretty simple, really.

I'm making up numbers here, simply to illustrate the concent. Say you have a start / stop of 37.0 / 40.0 grains. So load up one round each, starting at 37.0 and stopping at 40.0, in .3 or .5 gr increments (or whatever floats your boat).

Take a tall target (at least 2 feet, preferably 3), and put it at at least 200 yards (preferably 300), and shoot at it, aiming at the same spot every time, without adjusting your scope between shots. Pay very close/careful attention to which bullet hole on the target is from which charge weight. Label them all, take a picture, and post it here. You'll get plenty of help interpreting it then.

 

[Bob 964]

If you are committed to doing a ladder test, then I recommend you read this. Otherwise, I suggest you read up on Dan Newberry's OCW method, which a lot of Hide members use to develop loads.

http://www.desertsharpshooters.com/manuals/incredload.pdf

 

[melloyello]

OCW is another good way to do it. I have tried ladder testing and OCW and I can't tell which I like better. If only I had the time needed to compare both to see if they give you a similar conclusion or something totally different. OCW can give you velocity, POI change and group size all at the same time. Ladder being done at distance can have a lot of different things affecting the outcome of bullet placement on the test target. Group size for a particular charge can skew a ladder test. Also, bad inputs from the shooter or wind can play a factor.
Either way you should be able to see a trend and that is what you are looking for. The wider the area of that trend the more stable your load should be over many variables.

 

[P7id10t]

If you are committed to doing a ladder test, then I recommend you read this. Otherwise, I suggest you read up on Dan Newberry's OCW method, which a lot of Hide members use to develop loads.

Thanks - downloaded it earlier today when it was apparent my head was stuck in a dark place.
Also pulled up Long-Range Load Development and The Ladder Test

I had worked up a bunch of .4gr increment loads but when I started shooting, I just grabbed 5 of a load at a time.

 

[AZ.noob]

I just shot a ladder test today as well. I've run ladders before, but this time I followed TresMon's procedure here http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...44763-hand-loading-long-range-4-powderin.html

If you haven't read his write-up, by all means do so. In fact, read it two or three times to make sure you get a firm grasp on all of it. His methods are straight-forward and precise. With 1% increments (.4) I found two sweet spots to further test, which I'll now reduce increments to .2 and increase my range to 400 yards (out from 200). I seems like trying to split hairs on a gnat's a**, but that's what this is all about