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What's next?

So doing a ladder (?) test.

Here's details:

6 Dasher
28" Douglas bbl
0.2gr Varget increments, from 30.4 - 32.2 gr, in 3 shot groups
Seating depth: at lands. (I haven't testing different seating depths at all yet)
105 Berger VLD's

Never really done load development this way b4. AMP annealed, 0.266 neck bushing, with 6mm mandrel gets me a pretty consistent 28 - 32 in-lbs seating force (I think I'm splainin that right) with WIlson chamber type seaters and K&M arbor press. . First 5 shots (top left) were 32.0 gr sight in / foulers. Interesting they got the exact same ES as the later 32.0 gr group (bottom right) . I'm thinking I got a good node at 31.8 gr with a pretty low SD / ES,. Group is not great but hoping adj seating depth / jump will fix that . THinking there might be another nde up around 32.4 - 32.6 gr but wanna avoid burning out my bbl too fast.

I plan on re-testing in 5 shot groups for 31.7, 31.8 and 31.9 gr groups to make sure it will repeat. Then doing seating depth testing to tighten up grps. Am I on the right track? What are you seeing here??
1649120172861.jpeg
 
Last edited:
So doing a ladder (?) test.

Here's details:

6 Dasher
28" Douglas bbl
0.2gr Varget increments, from 30.4 - 32.2 gr, in 3 shot groups
Seating depth: at lands.

Never really done load development this way b4. AMP annealed, 0.266 neck bushing, with 6mm mandrel gets me a pretty consistent 28 - 32 in-lbs seating force (I think I'm splainin that right) with WIlson chamber type seaters and K&M arbor press. . First 5 shots (top left) were 32.0 gr sight in / foulers. Interesting they got the exact same ES as the later 32.0 gr group (bottom right) . I'm thinking I got a good node at 31.8 gr with a pretty low SD / ES,. Group is not great but hoping adj seating depth / jump will fix that . THinking there might be another nde up around 32.4 - 32.6 gr but wanna avoid burning out my bbl too fast.

I plan on re-testing in 5 shot groups for 31.7, 31.8 and 31.9 gr groups to make sure it will repeat. Then doing seating depth testing to tighten up grps. Am I on the right track? What are you seeing here??
View attachment 1331164
A couple things.

First unless you did a pressure test before this and know really well where pressure is you should start with your lowest charge. Don't know if that's what you did but just a point to be cautious about.

Second be careful with "at lands" loads. If they are really at lands some can truly be in and some out of the lands. That can have a significant impact on the target. So I would suggest you either do definitely into the lands or definitely off the lands. Only exception is soft seating with lightly compressed loads and press fit brass.

Now to the target. I like the velocity stats and point of impact behavior of 31.6-31.8. Not super enthused on the group size but seating depth test may cure that. If you didn't see pressure signs you may want to try just a little higher.

Whats the bullet weight?
 
Second be careful with "at lands" loads. If they are really at lands some can truly be in and some out of the lands. That can have a significant impact on the target. So I would suggest you either do definitely into the lands or definitely off the lands. Only exception is soft seating with lightly compressed loads and press fit brass.

DIdn't like hard into the lands at all. Or well off the lands. But that was before I got the mandrel die, or annealer, so gonna hafta try that again. I see what yer saying about right at the lands.
 
Is this at 100 yards ?
Maybe try 32.2 and 32.4 ?
31.6 to the last 32.0 look like your waterline.
Do you have any powder closer to the 4350 burn rate ?
 
DIdn't like hard into the lands at all. Or well off the lands. But that was before I got the mandrel die, or annealer, so gonna hafta try that again. I see what yer saying about right at the lands.
I see a few loads with 2 touching and one out which can happen from those at lands loads.

Thats surprising to me. I usually got better accuracy into the lands.

What did jam load do that you didn't like?

You didn't touch the scope after the sighters did you?
 
100 yds.

Varget is the powder of choice for most all PRS 6 Dasher shooters. Like 96% of them. This will be for an F-class gun, but still....

32.2 and 32.4 are possible good nodes, but I'm a little wary of burning up my bbl too quick. And they are over published max loads, IIRC....

Jam loads groups opened waaaayyy up. but again that was b4 I got into annealing and mandrel sizing the necks. Bbl manufacturer recommended jammed loads, so....worth another try.

I did dial the scope in after the first 2 groups.
 
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Ultimate Relaoder dude recommeded 5 shot groups for each powder increment. I went with 3 to get a more accurate average speed.


Not traditional, I know. :)
Ultimate reloader dude is a half Witt 3 shots are all you need until you find your node and you want to prove your load, in some cases 2 shots are enough!.. if your second shot is a inch away from your first shot there’s no need to waste a third, it’s time to re group and find a recipe it likes
Wayne
 
Y
Ultimate Relaoder dude recommeded 5 shot groups for each powder increment. I went with 3 to get a more accurate average speed.


Not traditional, I know. :)
You could save a lot of components and the barrel life your apparently worried about and shoot one shot over a chronograph in .02 grain increments until you flatten out and there’s your node then do 3 shot groups in that node range until your happy then change your seating depth until it tightens up
Wayne
 
Those groups are a little to over the place for me, your getting big "swings" in poi for 0.2gr charge differences. Positions of 31.6 and 31.8 looks the best to me but not really fantastic. Id start with the VLD jammed in the lands and shoot a real ladder at something like 300y at least..
 
Thiunking back, mirage was just starting to come up toward the end of the shooting session, right about the 31.6 - 32.0 groups, and I may not have accopunted for it well.

The 32.2 grop was better. The re-test will tell me what's really going on, hopefully.
 
"Ultimate Reloader dude recommended 5 shot groups for each powder increment. I went with 3 to get a more accurate average speed."

The more shots fired, the more accurate the average speed.

Frank

That makes logical sense to me. I know my first of the 3-shot groups was often 5-10 fps off the average. Of course, IF your S.D. is 1.7 for the 3-shot grp (e.g. the 31.8 load) , your first shot will be an accurate read. :)
 
So doing a ladder (?) test.

Here's details:

6 Dasher
28" Douglas bbl
0.2gr Varget increments, from 30.4 - 32.2 gr, in 3 shot groups
Seating depth: at lands.
105 Berger VLD's

Never really done load development this way b4. AMP annealed, 0.266 neck bushing, with 6mm mandrel gets me a pretty consistent 28 - 32 in-lbs seating force (I think I'm splainin that right) with WIlson chamber type seaters and K&M arbor press. . First 5 shots (top left) were 32.0 gr sight in / foulers. Interesting they got the exact same ES as the later 32.0 gr group (bottom right) . I'm thinking I got a good node at 31.8 gr with a pretty low SD / ES,. Group is not great but hoping adj seating depth / jump will fix that . THinking there might be another nde up around 32.4 - 32.6 gr but wanna avoid burning out my bbl too fast.

I plan on re-testing in 5 shot groups for 31.7, 31.8 and 31.9 gr groups to make sure it will repeat. Then doing seating depth testing to tighten up grps. Am I on the right track? What are you seeing here??
View attachment 1331164
This is a OCW test, not a ladder.
Adjusting your scope during test gives inconclusive results as your looking at POI across the charge weights.
A ladder is shot at 1 spot generally at distance, most guys using colored bullets to see overlap of charges, rise and fall.
I agree with @bozo699 if 2 ain't touching @100yards the 3rd ain't gonna make it any better.
I believe we're on the same page about UR also Gavin is more of a gear tester to me.
Follow Eric Cortina, Fclass John, or Keith Glasscock on boobtube for better information. These guys will help you a lot more in my opinion.
 

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