Ladder Test Help Please

[realfast]

I am new to the reloading world. I am loading for a Rem. 700 Police .308, 26" barrel with a 1:12 twist rate.
I have determined that my rifle loves the Federal Premium Gold Medal Match Sierra Matchking HPBT 175 gr round. I have tried the 168 gr but it is not as accurate as the 175gr.
I started my load based on the IMR4065 powder, CCI #200 LR Primers, Federal Cases (once fired) and the Sierra 175gr MK HPBT bullets. I loaded 8 separate charges (3 each) starting at 39.3 and going up to just under the max load advice of 45.0 (not the max of 45.6). All my cases after fired, looked fine, primers and primer pockets showed no overpressure signs.
However, my question is: When doing the LADDER TEST, should I begin with a (fouling round or 2) of the off the shelf Fed. Prem. Gold Medal Match round at 300 yards, adjust my scope for those 2 fouling rounds to hit bulls eye with that load at that distance, Then start the reloaded rounds without ever adjusting my scope again...?
Thank you all in advance for your help.

 

[4xforfun]

No. Simply load up 3, 4, 5, ...or whatever you need, of your lowest powder charge. Use them to, fowl, sight, warm up....etc...

Get your gun warmed up, and when you shoot the test, take your time. Find a pace that will not heat up your BBL. One shot every 60 - 90 seconds. Forget about wind flags. What you are looking at is the VERTICAL.

 

[realfast]

Ok, understood, use the lowest charges to do the fouling shots.

Should I shoot this test out to 300 yards OR 100 yards?

My scope is dialed for 100 yards presently, so how do I dial my scope to 300 yards first to begin the ladder test?

Thanks again...

 

[jpretle]

Add 3' of elevation and you should be ready to go.

 

[Olllian]

I would work your loads at 100y only. When u find the right gr in my case it was 45.3 with 4064. Then change your coal to bring group closer. I use 5 shoots per load. Good luck

 

[4xforfun]

Ok, understood, use the lowest charges to do the fouling shots.

Should I shoot this test out to 300 yards OR 100 yards?

My scope is dialed for 100 yards presently, so how do I dial my scope to 300 yards first to begin the ladder test?

Thanks again...

Shoot the test as far as you can. 300 is as close as I would shoot. 500 would be better...700 better yet....1000...well, you get my point. The reason being is that any verticle dispersion will show up far more at longer distance. Tests shot at closer ranges may be very hard to read.

I ususally run two tests. Low to high powder charge. Clean, and reverse..shoot from high to low powder charge. Just have a few extras at the top end of your test for the fowlers/warmups. You can shoot two targets, or...like me...color your bullets differant color for each test.

Sometimes, when I am by myself, and I am shooting from 700 - 1000 yards, I color each bullet a different color. Red, blue, green, yellow, purple, red/black, blue/green, green/red, purple,yellow, red/blue....etc.... color from the tip to the ojive. Just keep them in order and shoot them in order. Use bright white paper (like freezer paper) with a small dot stapled on top for an aim point. The bullet holes will have some ink on them from the bullet. It sticks out like a sore thumb. If there is any doubt, simply dab a Q-tip in alcohol and dab the hole. This will save you countless trips down range to mark and keep track of impact points. Obviously, when shooting this test I use a new target for each test.

 

[realfast]

Thanks for all the awesome feedback.

The area that I shoot at is in the desert and it is very difficult to get a nice level area where I can set up a target.

Here is a picture of a target I setup at only 100 yards. I do believe that if I had placed it out further, it would have shown the dispersion more prominent.

The other picture is of my primers after the "round-robin". One of them is from an actual "stock" Federal Premium Gold Medal Match 175gr, Sierra Matchking HPBT, (ie: NOT a reload). To me, all the primers look very, very similar and I therefore believe that my charges and pressures are FINE.... or so I hope. But all feedback is welcomed.

 

[4xforfun]

You did not shoot a ladder test.

Read this:

http://www.accurateshooter.com/technical-articles/long-range-load-development/

In a single ladder test, you only shoot ONE shot per charge weight....you concentrate on those "groups" where 3 (or more) DIFFERING CHARGE WEIGHTS hit into groups. You would think that with more powder comes more velocity, and with more velocity comes higher impact points. The first point....yes. For the second....no!!!! The different loads that made up those "clusters" is where you want to look for the best tune. A bullet launched at a higher velocity (due to more powder) may, and does, impact below a slower bullet pushed by LESS powder.

Run the test twice......low to high powder charge, and high to low on test # two.

 

[realfast]

Here are the results from my ladder test. Shot at 300 yards, 4 separate loads, with each shot being chrono'd.

All shot "Round Robin" style... 1st shot was Load #1, then 3 minute pause, then Load #2, etc..

Looks like the best load was Load# 3 with a charge of 44.5 grains. Grouping was about 4-5 o'clock

How would one go further with this infomation...?

Thanks again everyone, much apprecaited

 

[4xforfun]

Here are the results from my ladder test. Shot at 300 yards, 4 separate loads, with each shot being chrono'd.

All shot "Round Robin" style... 1st shot was Load #1, then 3 minute pause, then Load #2, etc..

Looks like the best load was Load# 3 with a charge of 44.5 grains. Grouping was about 4-5 o'clock

How would one go further with this infomation...?

Thanks again everyone, much apprecaited

I don't think you can do a ladder test with only four loads. How big were your steps? If you are in that 45 grain range I would step up in .3 grain steps. 43.0, 43.3, 43.6, 43.9, 44.2, 44.5, ect...... Start as low as you dare, and go as high as you dare.


I just looked at your target again....you are still shooting groups. IDC how you shot them...each load has it's own target.

Step 1) Set up A SINGLE TARGET.

Step 2) Shoot one shot from each load AT THAT TARGET. Start low and work up. Pace your self.

Step 3) clean and re foul gun.

Step 4) Set up another target.

Step 5) Shoot ONE of each load at that target....High to low. Again...pace your self.

Step six (optional if you are going to shoot another string) ) Repeat steps one - three.

You are going to need bigger targets. Simply put a single dot on a piece of paper. Forget about all of the writing and notes...put them on a different piece of paper. The only thing on you target should be bullet holes and numbers by each hole identifying each hole. Maybe chrono data by each hole.

 

[jonbearman]

If number 3 looks good start at .010 off the rifling lands and move back .003 thou at a time and if nothing seems to work you can try touching the lands and move in .003 till you are into the rifling like .020 at the most and be darn careful going into the lands.

 

[realfast]

I first started off doing a ladder test with 9 separate charges...

Then from there I found the 4 best groupings from those 9 and used those in this latest ladder test, from 42.5, then 43.5, 44.5, and finally 45.0.

Looking at the latest results, it shows that the 44.5 gave me the most consistent groups.

So I was going to concentrate on refining that load... 44.5.

Im waiting for my gauge to help me determine the lands so I can properly seat my bullet. Sounds like this is the next phase to attempt.

Thanks

 

[Link]

A ladder. Hope this helps ?