Bart B. said:Testing at 100 yards gives one good basic information. But tests at the long range target shows what the real accuracy is down range.
One other thing to consider in group shooting. If several groups with the same load are not within 10% of the same size, there's not enough shots in each group for any one of them to have a 90% or better chance of representing what the system's accuracy really is.
No disagreement with what you have posted but - one thing this thread does do is remove a lot of development complexity by providing basic criteria within which to make load decisions in an environment (100 yards) that can be managed by those that are either limited in experience or skill, as well as being used by those with vast skill and experience levels who can take into account all of the nuances of reloading and load development.
Ultimately any system is proven either in the varmint fields or at the ranges that are being competed against. The one variable that is seldom tested (absolutely there are exceptions) as part of the load development process is what it performs like under match criteria. Typically in this case the development choices are taken to club days and are validated or proven to be poor choices. IMO this makes sense.