I remember reading how some of you guys color your bullets for doing ladder testing . I think a guy was even getting two colors on a bullet , yellow / black sticks in my mind . I forget how you guys do this .I tried it one time , before that thread came up , and all the holes looked the same . if I remember right , I thought I colored to much of the bullet . can someone explain this to me ? thanks Jim
how to sharpie color bullets for ladder testing ?
- Thread starter jimbires
- Start date
jghoghunter
Gold $$ Contributor
HI Jim
When I would shoot certain groundhog matches I would use five different colors and them shoot them in order so I would know which shot was which. I also do it in case someone fires on my target the scorers know which ones are mine. Of course that can bite you in the butt if you cross fire
. I just color the entire bullet that is out of the case. I have never had a problem seeing which was what color, even in a black target you can tell. Sometimes you have to turn the target over and look where the target was torn.
I color them when I load them and they are clearly visible. Matt
I use permanent sharpies for every ladder test I run and they show up great. Color from the tip to where the bearing surface starts. Some of the colors are hard to differentiate (red/orange, blue/purple, ...), so mix them up. I use 4-5 solid colors, then do half-and-half for the rest. Here is a pic of the last test I ran. Not sure the colors show up great on the pic, but they are easy to read.
that doesn't help you determine which round is on target....so not sure how that's even relevant?
I have an inexpensive set of water based markers (from an art supply store). I mark them at the bench and generally shoot within a week. Never had a problem seeing the colors.
I don't use this technique often (part of OCW). I've since switched to using Eric Cortina's 1000yards at 100yards technique. I use OnTarget to measure my groups size and group vertical offset which I use to determine my load. I use 0.3-0.5gr intervals and and use Quickload to approximate OBT nodes.
I don't use this technique often (part of OCW). I've since switched to using Eric Cortina's 1000yards at 100yards technique. I use OnTarget to measure my groups size and group vertical offset which I use to determine my load. I use 0.3-0.5gr intervals and and use Quickload to approximate OBT nodes.
A lot simpler to just color the bullets. A lot quicker also. Matt
Alex Wheeler
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I have always just used a sharpie and color the exposed part of the bullets. Blue, yellow, and naked work for me red and green are hard because I'm color blind. Also white meat wrapping paper works good for targets. You can make a 3' wide and 6' tall target for doing your 1k ladders.
jonbearman
I live in new york state,how unfortunate !
I wonder how dry erase would work at the range as it does come off easy.
Well I guess that would depend on whether you have enough different colors. Or any at all for that matter. Since you'd be firing many rounds and then going back to your loading bench to further work up loads that were in the node, what is a few minuets time? I would think it would take just as much time to mark and catalog all the different colors so you'd know which color was which numbered round fired. Unless you gave your barrel 5 minutes to cool between rounds fired, but that's what fast forward is for. To each his/her own. Was just an idea for those without markers.
I don't know any reloader that doesn't have sharpies. I use them to mark bullets, number cases, make targets and label things. That is why you hang another target. I never shoot more then a couple of loads on a single target. If you use a spot in the center of the paper you can easily see what is higher or lower. I don't have to tote along a bunch of other stuff when I already have chrono, a 20 or 80 pound gun, bags, cleaning stuff and rest. It just makes it easier to identify the shots. Matt
I know that I posted about this around 2009 or 2010. I used four differnt colors in a 5 shot group (one without color) and I would use two colors on shots 6-10 in HG. Like was stated above....use sharpies and color from the tip to just short of the bearing surface. Use colors that are different: red/black, blue/green, black/blue....etc.... I ALWAYS shot the rounds in a certain order. I always had the "cheat sheet" in my shell box. If strange things happend on target I could usually figure it out. Did I miss a let up or a push. I thought I pulled shot number x...did it actually show up on target?
This also works well for doing ladder tests. Shoot the rounds in order. Makes sure to take your time so as to not heat things up to much. If you have a hard time seeing the color on paper, simply dip a Q-Tip in rubbing alcahol and swab the bullit hole.
Good luck,
Tod
This also works well for doing ladder tests. Shoot the rounds in order. Makes sure to take your time so as to not heat things up to much. If you have a hard time seeing the color on paper, simply dip a Q-Tip in rubbing alcahol and swab the bullit hole.
Good luck,
Tod
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