Did A Ladder Test

[Jayhawker]

I did a ladder test this AM at 300 meters using .308 Sierra 175s and Varget. Savage model 12 with Criterion barrel. No wind. After looking at it, I realized that I don't have a clue as to how to interpret it and was hoping that someone could give me some help on this so I can go ahead with the correct charge to determine seating depth. May be way out of my league here.

 

[DHuffman]

43.6 & 43.9

Load up 43.7 and test seating depth.

 

[Jayhawker]

43.6 & 43.9

Load up 43.7 and test seating depth.

Thank you for your reply.

 

[DHuffman]

Thank you for your reply.

You are welcome.

 

[Raythemanroe]

Looks like you got some good overlapping information there.. I would use the higher node and go do some seating testing ladder style..lol

Ray

 

[dsculley]

If that doesn't work for you, then you can try 44.2 - 44.5. Like 6.5Creed, I like the 43.6 - 43.9 better.

 

[Bc'z]

I would try 43.5 to 44 load in .1 increments and re shoot. 3 rounds of each charge.
I'm looking to see how wide the node is

 

[DHuffman]

I would try 43.5 to 44 load in .1 increments and re shoot. 3 rounds of each charge.
I'm looking to see how wide the node is

I would agree but would do a seating depth test first. I'm sure there are good arguments to either course of action.

 

[savageshooter86]

43.6 to 44.2 look good. I’d do 43.8 and do seating test. After you find best seating shoot 43.6 to 44.5 again but shoot groups at each charge weight

 

[gpoldblue]

I did a ladder test this AM at 300 meters using .308 Sierra 175s and Varget. Savage model 12 with Criterion barrel. No wind. After looking at it, I realized that I don't have a clue as to how to interpret it and was hoping that someone could give me some help on this so I can go ahead with the correct charge to determine seating depth. May be way out of my league here.

View attachment 1058748

 

[gpoldblue]

You might want to try to find out why some of those bullet holes are not round...……...looks like bullet entry not perfectly straight.....may be unstable.
May be target leaning,etc..? Just saying...…….Dan

 

[Jayhawker]

Our range is unfortunately filled with loose and crooked target boards which I try to fix with a variety of whatever I can find to straighten things up. When I win the lottery, I'm building my own underground range.

 

[Jayhawker]

This is a follow-up to the previous discussion I intitiated regarding ladder testing. Now I'm testing bullet depth. We're talking about a Savage Model 12 ..308 caliber, 175 grain Sierra bullets, Varget powder. It was brought to my attention that this is hardly a benchrest rifle but I just want to get the best out of what I've got.

43.7 of Varget was suggested previously and I duplicated that twice shooting two more ladders at 300 meters. I shot the bullet depth test at 200 meters. (See the attached picture for more details). My conclusion from the results is confusion. The results look pretty dismal to me but I wanted to check with you folks for your more learned opinion.

 

[Jayhawker]

Please educate me: Why that particular depth? 0.00" is a .094" group, the smallest of all the groups. Why not that one? And while I'm at it. Does the entire target look "normal"? There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it to me and I concluded that I was having a bad day at the range

 

[Jayhawker]

I'd look at .005 then tweak powder a tiny,
You may also find that IMR 4064 is a good choice for 175 gr SMK
Jim

Hello: Thank you. Been there and done it. Varget seems to work much better

 

[Jayhawker]

Brother
you could shoot them at-0-assuming that's your CBTO Datum however you may build more pressure that you want at that depth, at 200 meters your not bad at .006 jump or try the .014
Remember it's not the smallest it's the one with the most repeatability and wide window is nice to have

Thank you for your reply. "Remember it's not the smallest it's the one with the most repeatability and wide window is nice to have." With that in mind, What do you think of group numbers 5,6, and 7-.012,.014 and .017? And do you think this all would be more easily definable if I shot them all at 100 meters? Given the crappy grouping, I was about to throw the target away.

 

[Jayhawker]

Your fine Brother
If you remember I said you may on the depth originally try them again and compare

i guess I'm impatient. I thought there may be some meaning attached to the 5, 6, and 7 groups being so alike but they were so poor to look at, I thought surely I was headed the wrong way. I will re-shoot the .006 and the .014 and then try them with the 43.7
grains of Varget. Thanks again.

 

[Jayhawker]

47.Grains of VARGET -OMG please tell me that's a typo!!

Put away your meds. It was a typo. If i could fit 47 grains into the case, I'd be eating a bolt right now instead of typing this. 43.7 is the right amount.

 

[jsthntn247]

Take .005 off and shoot 3 shot groups at 43.7; 43.9; 44.1; and 44.3

 

[Jayhawker]

Take .005 off and shoot 3 shot groups at 43.7; 43.9; 44.1; and 44.3

Hate to appear too dumb but .005" off what and at what range