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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Reloading
Ladder Tests
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<blockquote data-quote="AJ Peacock" data-source="post: 186777" data-attributes="member: 4885"><p>I like ladder tests, but don't view them as a 'be all end all test'. I shoot them over a chronograph at 200yds and take into account the velocities and impacts as a whole. I even do them in low switchy wind conditions and then just look at the vertical component of the shot to shot spread (this takes wind reading entirely out of the equation).</p><p></p><p>At the end of a ladder test, I absolutely know a couple things. </p><p></p><p>1) I know the approximate velocity of the entire range of loadings for those powder/bullet/primer/seating depth combinations. I can use this later to select a velocity range to work up a load.</p><p>2) I know the upper range for that powder/bullet/primer/seating depth. I know that I'm not going to get much more velocity than this, as I stop the ladder when I either see pressure signs, or start seeing velocities near the upper range shown in reloading books for top end pressures. I then know my upper load range for this combo.</p><p></p><p>I MAY suspect a couple other things</p><p></p><p>1) I MIGHT have a cluster of shots that MAY represent a 'node'. I'll normally load 10-15 rounds in the center of each of these 'nodes', just to see if one of them is REALLY an optimum load combo for this rifle.</p><p>2) If I'm using a rifle that I'm not familiar with, at the end of a ladder test I'll usually know about what kind of accuracy to expect from that rifle. If the entire ladder ihas 3 shot clusters less than 1 MOA or so, I know I've got a shooter. If the entire ladder looks more like a shotgun pattern that a rifle target, I know I have some serious work to do. I'll also typically have a feeling whether this particular barrel likes the hotter loads or milder loads.</p><p></p><p>AJ</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="AJ Peacock, post: 186777, member: 4885"] I like ladder tests, but don't view them as a 'be all end all test'. I shoot them over a chronograph at 200yds and take into account the velocities and impacts as a whole. I even do them in low switchy wind conditions and then just look at the vertical component of the shot to shot spread (this takes wind reading entirely out of the equation). At the end of a ladder test, I absolutely know a couple things. 1) I know the approximate velocity of the entire range of loadings for those powder/bullet/primer/seating depth combinations. I can use this later to select a velocity range to work up a load. 2) I know the upper range for that powder/bullet/primer/seating depth. I know that I'm not going to get much more velocity than this, as I stop the ladder when I either see pressure signs, or start seeing velocities near the upper range shown in reloading books for top end pressures. I then know my upper load range for this combo. I MAY suspect a couple other things 1) I MIGHT have a cluster of shots that MAY represent a 'node'. I'll normally load 10-15 rounds in the center of each of these 'nodes', just to see if one of them is REALLY an optimum load combo for this rifle. 2) If I'm using a rifle that I'm not familiar with, at the end of a ladder test I'll usually know about what kind of accuracy to expect from that rifle. If the entire ladder ihas 3 shot clusters less than 1 MOA or so, I know I've got a shooter. If the entire ladder looks more like a shotgun pattern that a rifle target, I know I have some serious work to do. I'll also typically have a feeling whether this particular barrel likes the hotter loads or milder loads. AJ [/QUOTE]
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