Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
Articles
Latest reviews
Author list
Classifieds
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Hunting
Long Range Hunting & Shooting
Audette ladder test questions
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Fiftydriver" data-source="post: 285124" data-attributes="member: 10"><p>I have a question for those using the ladder method for load development. I am not trying to pick any type of a fight, I just want your experience because I do not use this method any longer for one specific reason and I will expound on that in a bit.</p><p> </p><p>How many of you have performed a ladder test on a certain day and then repeated that same ladder test several times on different days?</p><p> </p><p>The reason I ask is because I did try ladder testing several of my rifles several years ago. Before that I always just shot groups at long range to find the best loads for my rifles. I figured with all the buzz about ladder testing I would try it.</p><p> </p><p>One was with a 257 STW. Ran through the test pretty much identically as discribed above and came up with what I felt was a great load.</p><p> </p><p>I used that load for a bit practicing at long range and I was never really happy with the consistancy, it was good but nothing special. So, I went back to my old method of shooting groups at long range and before long, I had several loads that were holding 1/2 moa or less at 500 yards. The load from the ladder test was averaging around 3/4 moa, good but nothing special and not what the rifle could do.</p><p> </p><p>This made me curious. The loads I was getting the best accuracy and consistancy with were not the loads that the ladder test showed would be the best choices....... This just confused me. I wanted to give the Ladder test a good honest go so I did it again. </p><p> </p><p>If I looked at the two ladder tests side by side you would have never known they were out of the same rifle......</p><p> </p><p>Cleaned the rifle thinking that may have been the problem and tried it again, same results, totally different then the other two tests..... </p><p> </p><p>Now this was a sporter weight rifle with a light contour 30" barrel. I was shooting the 130 gr Bonded Core HP Wildcat bullet. Ladder test #1 said that the best load would produce around 3380 fps. Test #2 showed that it looked like around 3430 fps was best. Load #3s best results looked to be around the 3350 fps range....... This totally blew me away and that was the last time I used the Ladder test.</p><p> </p><p>I went back, loaded up some ammo until the cases started to show very slight pressure signs and then backed off two full grains. Velocity average was 3480 fps and three shot groups at 500 yards averaged Just under 2" at 500 yards center to center for five three shot groups.</p><p> </p><p>Tested on different days, if conditions were good, that load would always produce sub 1/2 moa groups at 500 yards while I could not get that consistancy with the Ladder test loads.</p><p> </p><p>So, my question has always been, has anyone done repeat ladder tests on several different days to see of those tests repeat themselves time and again? Or do you just run the test once, take the best load from what that test shows you and use that load without question?</p><p> </p><p>I just have not had that much luck with the Ladder tests. It may have had to do with the extremety of the chambering I was using but I had no problem getting 1/2 moa consistancy the old fashioned way.</p><p> </p><p>Just curious what you guys are seeing when you compare ladder tests for same rifles and loads on different days. Do they support each others findings or do they very from day to day?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Fiftydriver, post: 285124, member: 10"] I have a question for those using the ladder method for load development. I am not trying to pick any type of a fight, I just want your experience because I do not use this method any longer for one specific reason and I will expound on that in a bit. How many of you have performed a ladder test on a certain day and then repeated that same ladder test several times on different days? The reason I ask is because I did try ladder testing several of my rifles several years ago. Before that I always just shot groups at long range to find the best loads for my rifles. I figured with all the buzz about ladder testing I would try it. One was with a 257 STW. Ran through the test pretty much identically as discribed above and came up with what I felt was a great load. I used that load for a bit practicing at long range and I was never really happy with the consistancy, it was good but nothing special. So, I went back to my old method of shooting groups at long range and before long, I had several loads that were holding 1/2 moa or less at 500 yards. The load from the ladder test was averaging around 3/4 moa, good but nothing special and not what the rifle could do. This made me curious. The loads I was getting the best accuracy and consistancy with were not the loads that the ladder test showed would be the best choices....... This just confused me. I wanted to give the Ladder test a good honest go so I did it again. If I looked at the two ladder tests side by side you would have never known they were out of the same rifle...... Cleaned the rifle thinking that may have been the problem and tried it again, same results, totally different then the other two tests..... Now this was a sporter weight rifle with a light contour 30" barrel. I was shooting the 130 gr Bonded Core HP Wildcat bullet. Ladder test #1 said that the best load would produce around 3380 fps. Test #2 showed that it looked like around 3430 fps was best. Load #3s best results looked to be around the 3350 fps range....... This totally blew me away and that was the last time I used the Ladder test. I went back, loaded up some ammo until the cases started to show very slight pressure signs and then backed off two full grains. Velocity average was 3480 fps and three shot groups at 500 yards averaged Just under 2" at 500 yards center to center for five three shot groups. Tested on different days, if conditions were good, that load would always produce sub 1/2 moa groups at 500 yards while I could not get that consistancy with the Ladder test loads. So, my question has always been, has anyone done repeat ladder tests on several different days to see of those tests repeat themselves time and again? Or do you just run the test once, take the best load from what that test shows you and use that load without question? I just have not had that much luck with the Ladder tests. It may have had to do with the extremety of the chambering I was using but I had no problem getting 1/2 moa consistancy the old fashioned way. Just curious what you guys are seeing when you compare ladder tests for same rifles and loads on different days. Do they support each others findings or do they very from day to day? [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Hunting
Long Range Hunting & Shooting
Audette ladder test questions
Top