Would just doing a chronograph test at 100 give you close to the same data as a 500 yard ladder test? Meaning the load with the best sd and es would be the same as shots coming together at the ladder test?
Nope, that's the whole debate here in this thread. Sure if you have low ES and tight vertical at distance, you have it all. But you can have tight vertical and mediocre ES at the same time, as well as low ES but mediocre vertical spread at distance, so what does a guy choose?? The guy without a chrono chooses the tight vertical. The guy with the chrono isn't sure.
Another debate is whether the best groups at 100Y always give the least vertical at distance. I've had loads shoot good at 100Y but great at distance, and the opposite, as well as great at both, was it the bullet or barrel??? Too a point I'm not overly concerned how tight my 100Y groups are, what turns me on is one splat on steel for 4-5 shots way out there, which a good load in a good rifle will do.
For instance a few months back I used the same bullet Spife uses, 105RDF in my 6mmBR. At 100Y they shot sub 1/2" and decent at 300Y with half the groups at 1", both with the occasional flyer, but by 981Y and 1122Y they shot horrible with huge vertical -3 to 4 feet.
Next I went to the old proven go-to, the Berger hybrid 105, I shot 4.5" vertical at 1025Y for 12 shots.
Another edit, lol, sorry but I thought of something else. My 6mmFatRat hates the Berger hybrids, the bullet all my other 6mm's love. I tried the 95smk and it was miraculous the difference.