ladder questions(powder vs seating)

[eric n]

Hi all.
I was hoping for some advice or insight concerning a recent ladder and subsequent seating test.
I usually shoot prone so use ocw type developments because of the human factor and don't have very much experience with ladders.
6 dasher .155 freebore
105 vlds .010 past touch (in lands)
Varget 31.0 -34.5, never saw pressure and the ladder was very well defined at 545 yds, settled on 33.5 @3050 fps for seating.
Seating was done in .003 increments at 220 yds.
The gun was built with mid range F class 600yds in mind but doubtful this barrel will see a match so its just fun br type stuff for now.
Couple of questions...
Is 220 yds far enough for a valid seating test?
Do I chase a very specific seating depth with a tiny node and monitor erosion?

My main question arises from the seating depth test.
In the lands had an obvious small and tight node. Out of the lands had a .009 spread, ruler straight vertical string that showed good resistance to wind. I didn't hold for wind but monitored it to the best of my ability with flags and dust from others shooting.
Do I redo a powder ladder in the middle of the large seating node out of the lands?
Sorry, I don't have a pic of the seating test off the lands.


ignore that + 6 at the bottom. I goofed on my seating measurement and didn't have anymore rounds loaded long to retest
Thank you for any advice

 

[dmoran]

I suggest to just fine tune the powder, to pin point the dead center of the node.
Not only finding the center, but also the size of the node.
Like say its size is from 33.4 to 33.7 = center 33.55
(with a velocity size of say 3035-fps to 3060)

Is how I would proceed
Donovan

 

[seymour fish]

Hi all.
I was hoping for some advice or insight concerning a recent ladder and subsequent seating test.
I usually shoot prone so use ocw type developments because of the human factor and don't have very much experience with ladders.
6 dasher .155 freebore
105 vlds .010 past touch (in lands)
Varget 31.0 -34.5, never saw pressure and the ladder was very well defined at 545 yds, settled on 33.5 @3050 fps for seating.
Seating was done in .003 increments at 220 yds.
The gun was built with mid range F class 600yds in mind but doubtful this barrel will see a match so its just fun br type stuff for now.
Couple of questions...
Is 220 yds far enough for a valid seating test?
Do I chase a very specific seating depth with a tiny node and monitor erosion?

My main question arises from the seating depth test.
In the lands had an obvious small and tight node. Out of the lands had a .009 spread, ruler straight vertical string that showed good resistance to wind. I didn't hold for wind but monitored it to the best of my ability with flags and dust from others shooting.
Do I redo a powder ladder in the middle of the large seating node out of the lands?
Sorry, I don't have a pic of the seating test off the lands.
View attachment 1031590

ignore that + 6 at the bottom. I goofed on my seating measurement and didn't have anymore rounds loaded long to retest
Thank you for any advice

Eric, 200 is plenty. Good to have options. If you go with 9off, I would chase it and expect to add an extra kernel or 2 of powder along the way. Could go straight to 600 and see how it holds up, devise a tight powder ladder if needed.

 

[eric n]

Donovan, you have it nailed. I ran 3 ladders, the worst of them had less then 3/4 of an inch vertical. 33.2-33.8 is the node.
My thoughts were finding the rough powder node, fine tuning seating, then fine tuning powder with another ladder. Then bushing, primer, etc...
I guess after looking for the biggest nodes for years, .003 seems awfully small.
Thanks for your time guys.

 

[mikegaiz]

I would go with +9 and see if it is repeatable.....

 

[dmoran]

@eric n
Myself like to know the size of each node aspect (powder node, seating node, and neck tension) which aids my ability to keep the load in tune. With frequent fallow up checks of the seating, and adjusting it as need be to throat advancements. Also with more at random checks of the powder, to see if it is staying up with the seating adjustments, as I go along.

In my experience, all VLD's can be fussy on seating, more so the smaller the caliber, and more so In or near the lands. You could go looking for a broader seating depth, and likely find one at a more significant jump. Will it be as accurate, and if not is it worth using for the broadness/forgiveness, opposed to staying on top of the closer one you have now.

Again just my own experience here; with 105-VLD's in 6Dasher's when looking for bigger jumps, I can usually find two or even three seating "jump" nodes out to .100-Off/Jump. But never do they seem to have as much raw accuracy capability as the ones In or near the lands.
Donovan

 

[seymour fish]

@eric n
Myself like to know the size of each node aspect (powder node, seating node, and neck tension) which aids my ability to keep the load in tune. With frequent fallow up checks of the seating, and adjusting it as need be to throat advancements. Also with more at random checks of the powder, to see if it is staying up with the seating adjustments, as I go along.

In my experience, all VLD's can be fussy on seating, more so the smaller the caliber, and more so In or near the lands. You could go looking for a broader seating depth, and likely find one at a more significant jump. Will it be as accurate, and if not is it worth using for the broadness/forgiveness, opposed to staying on top of the closer one you have now.

Again just my own experience here; with 105-VLD's in 6Dasher's when looking for bigger jumps, I can usually find two or even three seating "jump" nodes out to .100-Off/Jump. But never do they seem to have as much raw accuracy capability as the ones In or near the lands.
Donovan

Donovan, learned something. Really appreciate your seating depth experience. Seymour

 

[500Stroker]

I would go with +9 and see if it is repeatable.....

What he said + 1
Powder first then tune the seating depth.