The Oregonian
Well-Known Member
Did essentially my first ladder today and still learning on load development. I am following the process of the ladder testing article by Jim Baney pinned above on this board. He doesn't really cover seating as he knows the seating for his load already.
Here are the results from three ladders at 500 yds...same loads on each ladder. I did a pressure test last time and got pressure around 61.7 or so, so I backed up from there to 61.4 and worked down by .4 grains. I used .020 off for all.
Picture below has all the details, but summary is that shots 2-5 had vertical of .6", .6", and 1.5" in the three ladders. This covers 59.8 gr to 61.0 gr and covers avg velocity of 2919 to 2984. Somewhat surprised that the vertical was very similar for 65 fps difference in high and low avg, but the results are what they are.
Would you work between 2 and 3 (avg velocities of 2919 and 2931) or 4 and 5 (avg velocities of 2964 and 2984)? Those two had closer velocities to each other....or would you go smack in the middle of 2 and 5 (avg velocities of 2919 and 2984? Advantages of between 2 and 3 or 4 and 5 are closer velocities but advantage of going between 2 and 5 is a much wider node. I'm not concerned with getting max velocity and more focused on best accuracy.
And seating depth should be tested and whatever charges I move forward with. Should I do seating next on a single charge? Or refine the charges first and then do seating?
Many thanks.
Starting conditions - 67*, 73%, 29.95 and ended at 71*, 63% and 29.97.
Loads
1 - 59.4
2 - 59.8
3 - 60.2
4 - 60.6
5 - 61.0
6 - 61.4
Here are the results from three ladders at 500 yds...same loads on each ladder. I did a pressure test last time and got pressure around 61.7 or so, so I backed up from there to 61.4 and worked down by .4 grains. I used .020 off for all.
Picture below has all the details, but summary is that shots 2-5 had vertical of .6", .6", and 1.5" in the three ladders. This covers 59.8 gr to 61.0 gr and covers avg velocity of 2919 to 2984. Somewhat surprised that the vertical was very similar for 65 fps difference in high and low avg, but the results are what they are.
Would you work between 2 and 3 (avg velocities of 2919 and 2931) or 4 and 5 (avg velocities of 2964 and 2984)? Those two had closer velocities to each other....or would you go smack in the middle of 2 and 5 (avg velocities of 2919 and 2984? Advantages of between 2 and 3 or 4 and 5 are closer velocities but advantage of going between 2 and 5 is a much wider node. I'm not concerned with getting max velocity and more focused on best accuracy.
And seating depth should be tested and whatever charges I move forward with. Should I do seating next on a single charge? Or refine the charges first and then do seating?
Many thanks.
Starting conditions - 67*, 73%, 29.95 and ended at 71*, 63% and 29.97.
Loads
1 - 59.4
2 - 59.8
3 - 60.2
4 - 60.6
5 - 61.0
6 - 61.4