First ladder test…… help

[DLT]

I ran my first ever ladder this evening at 300yards. Wanting to see if your eyes see anything. Ask questions if you have any. Thanks gents
Starline once fired brass
Started at 22.4 stopped at 23.4, 3 shots each charge round robin
AR COMP
69 SMK
CCI 450
55 degrees
Swirling wind off and on mainly a head wind.
I transferred it straight from the target to the cardboard

 

[Jet]

23.3 now do a seating depth test

 

[Keith Faller]

Try coloring and connecting each three shots and it may be easier to see something. If it were me I’d say 22.8-23 is where you need to be.

 

[DLT]

I did continue to go on up to 24.0 in a separate ladder. When I hit 23.4 on the first run up I did notice slight cratering on the primer but that was it so I stopped just to try and be safe. Once done with the 3 runs, I moved my scope up 1moa and fired the remaining 23.6, 23.8, and 24.0 rounds in a separate little ladder which I shouldn’t have done. They was pretty snug

 

[STS]

The thing that stands out to me is the width of the entire population. I would read that target as a bunch of wind that had both horizontal and probably a significant amount of vertical as well. In other words, lousy conditions for the test. Switching headwinds are difficult to say the least. I'd try again in more favorable conditions.

 

[DLT]

The thing that stands out to me is the width of the entire population. I would read that target as a bunch of wind that had both horizontal and probably a significant amount of vertical as well. In other words lousy conditions for the test. Switching headwinds are difficult to say the least. I'd try again in more favorable conditions.

When I got done and tracked all my shots, that’s what I was afraid of was the weather causing a mess out of it. I was coming here for help regardless

 

[55fairlane]

Do the 6.5 guys load development test, 10 shots and your done. It works well

 

[JFrank]

When I got done and tracked all my shots, that’s what I was afraid of was the weather causing a mess out of it. I was coming here for help regardless

Here’s another view.
I’m not crazy about the overall size of the test, I might try a different powder but I’m going to agree with Kieth, 23.0 has a decent overlap of 22.8 and 4/6 shots are grouped up and have very little vertical then beyond 23.0 the load is definitely shifting right followed by 23.2 jumping to the far left.
Reshoot 22.9 on a decent day.

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

"Slight cratering on the primer"
Show us some closeups of this slight cratering. Sounds more like oversize firing pin hole which will cause the ridge around the firing pin indentation. Are the primers flattening out on their outer edges?

Frank

 

[DLT]

Do the 6.5 guys load development test, 10 shots and your done. It works well

No offense, I have tried that. I have watched their video as well as others. What usually happens in my case is horrible groups and great es/sd

 

[DLT]

"Slight cratering on the primer"
Show us some closeups of this slight cratering. Sounds more like oversize firing pin hole which will cause the ridge around the firing pin indentation. Are the primers flattening out on their outer edges?

Frank

For the most part I don’t think they are. Nor did I notice a hard bolt lift. It’s a savage model 12. Alliant claims 23.2gr as their max. Sierra is 21.6gr I don’t understand why their data is low. I messed up the other day at 100yds when it was 40 degrees outside and started with 24.0 grains but didn’t see anything hateful. So I went on up to 24.0 for the ladder just fired the rounds I thought could be hot which was from 23.6 to 24.0 above the group.
They go in order from left to right first row is sighters. Each column is a .2 increase

 

[acloco]

Cannot read pressure from primers, until you are flattening them.

Your primers indicate primer flow into the bolt for the firing pin hole. Would need to have a bushing installed to correct this.


Google "modified Audette Load Ladder".

Unfortunately, you have too many dots on the cardboard to indicate to my eyes, any pattern, good or bad.


You may shoot multiple strings, just not on the same point of aim.

Start at the low charge, continue to aim at the same POA, and fire the remaining. Post picture with one string at a time.


This is a great time to polish your bench manners as well. Prefer to use a bipod and a rear sandbag. Simple, easy, repeatable.

 

[AlNyhus]

How many wind flags did you have out at 300?

 

[DLT]

How many wind flags did you have out at 300?

Zero. It was on a hill side. It was a quick fast make shift range. Shooting across a valley into a clear cut. I’m by far no expert but if I would have had flags out there would have been just as many flags going one way as going the other at the same time

 

[DLT]

Cannot read pressure from primers, until you are flattening them.

Your primers indicate primer flow into the bolt for the firing pin hole. Would need to have a bushing installed to correct this.


Google "modified Audette Load Ladder".

Unfortunately, you have too many dots on the cardboard to indicate to my eyes, any pattern, good or bad.


You may shoot multiple strings, just not on the same point of aim.

Start at the low charge, continue to aim at the same POA, and fire the remaining. Post picture with one string at a time.


This is a great time to polish your bench manners as well. Prefer to use a bipod and a rear sandbag. Simple, easy, repeatable.

Cannot read pressure from primers, until you are flattening them.

Your primers indicate primer flow into the bolt for the firing pin hole. Would need to have a bushing installed to correct this.


Google "modified Audette Load Ladder".

Unfortunately, you have too many dots on the cardboard to indicate to my eyes, any pattern, good or bad.


You may shoot multiple strings, just not on the same point of aim.

Start at the low charge, continue to aim at the same POA, and fire the remaining. Post picture with one string at a time.


This is a great time to polish your bench manners as well. Prefer to use a bipod and a rear sandbag. Simple, easy, repeatable.

I fired 3 strings at same poi. I reckon that was a no no along with winds not cooperating. I did use a rest up and a rear bag.

 

[DLT]

Cannot read pressure from primers, until you are flattening them.

Your primers indicate primer flow into the bolt for the firing pin hole. Would need to have a bushing installed to correct this.


Google "modified Audette Load Ladder".

Unfortunately, you have too many dots on the cardboard to indicate to my eyes, any pattern, good or bad.


You may shoot multiple strings, just not on the same point of aim.

Start at the low charge, continue to aim at the same POA, and fire the remaining. Post picture with one string at a time.


This is a great time to polish your bench manners as well. Prefer to use a bipod and a rear sandbag. Simple, easy, repeatable.

All those primers none catch your eyes as being over pressure ? I did assume they was since I was way over book on 2 published data points.

 

[JFrank]

I fired 3 strings at same poi. I reckon that was a no no along with winds not cooperating. I did use a rest up and a rear bag.

One point of aim works very well, color the bullet tips of each increment with sharpie ~ blue, green , black , red etc. makes it easy to read the target at longer range and take a wind flag of some type to help interpret the results.

 

[22BRGUY]

If Sierra says 21.6 grs. I would try going toward that direction also. Very rarely is the hottest load the most accurate and they manufactured the bullet.

 

[Mulligan]

Here’s another view.
I’m not crazy about the overall size of the test, I might try a different powder but I’m going to agree with Kieth, 23.0 has a decent overlap of 22.8 and 4/6 shots are grouped up and have very little vertical then beyond 23.0 the load is definitely shifting right followed by 23.2 jumping to the far left.
Reshoot 22.9 on a decent day.

You color good!
I agree

CW

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

Since the primers are showing no pressure and no others pressure indicators, I would go a little higher at .2 increments, maybe 3 steps and don't shoot when the wind is not cooperating, cause that's just wasting primers,bullets, powder and barrel life.

You do have about 100+ rounds thru the barrel?

Frank