Just had a new .223 built and getting ready to find the load it likes. Have read about the ladder testing and would like to try it out to help mover things along. My question is how many different powders would someone test with the ladder test? Also how would you know other than shooting groups to know what powder is the one?
Testing different powders
- Thread starter Raven243
- Start date
dmoran
Donovan Moran
The advantage of a ladder test , in my experience, is to finding accuracy zones efficiently from a large increment spread with the fewest amounts of component waste, with the least amount of barrel heat, and barrel life exhausted. Then from the found charge zones (nodes), fallow on group testing and /or tuning from with in the found zones will pinpoint the optimal charge.
Ladder testing is a very effective and safe way to find maximum pressures to each rifles own unique characteristic with out excessive loading (and unloading) of ammo, by only needing one loaded round per increment up the charge ladder.
When utilizing a chronograph, base line velocity to every charge increment are established which reveals the powders speed/velocity, sensitivity, and maximums for that given cartridge. Which in return goes far to established data base, desired velocity & ballistic capability, as well as development direction of where to proceed and where not to proceed. That in return tells us what to expect at each charge level in terms of velocity, pressure, and accuracy for future development planning as one does proceed.
Vertical dispersion and velocity spread between increments are my only focus with ladder testing. I typically conduct them at 450 and/or 1000-yards, and I basically pay no attention (or very little) on horizontal dispersion. From which wind and/or horizontal dispersion is almost a non-factor.
Hope that helps !.!.!
Donovan
Ladder testing is a very effective and safe way to find maximum pressures to each rifles own unique characteristic with out excessive loading (and unloading) of ammo, by only needing one loaded round per increment up the charge ladder.
When utilizing a chronograph, base line velocity to every charge increment are established which reveals the powders speed/velocity, sensitivity, and maximums for that given cartridge. Which in return goes far to established data base, desired velocity & ballistic capability, as well as development direction of where to proceed and where not to proceed. That in return tells us what to expect at each charge level in terms of velocity, pressure, and accuracy for future development planning as one does proceed.
Vertical dispersion and velocity spread between increments are my only focus with ladder testing. I typically conduct them at 450 and/or 1000-yards, and I basically pay no attention (or very little) on horizontal dispersion. From which wind and/or horizontal dispersion is almost a non-factor.
Hope that helps !.!.!
Donovan
dmoran said:
Curious about your ladder test distances. 450 yds is a long ladder test and without electronic target monitors would be difficult to physically do. 1000 yard ladder tests are beyond my comprehension, hitting at 1000 yds requires load development. How do you edit out a missed condition switch, or shooter error?
My best optics allow 300 Meter ladder test. I trust my shooting and range condition reading abilities at 200/300 Meters. Looking for advice, and trying to increase my shooting skill and range knowledge. Please tell me more about these long distance ladder tests.
dmoran
Donovan Moran
dalej -
Your asking questions that pertain predominately to group testing scenario's and very little to a ladder. For the most part, those scenario's have little effect to a ladder's out come - IME. For a ladder test is assessed from vertical dispersion and not at all to horizontal.
It is common for me to perform ladder tests in the less then favorable conditions part of a testing day, saving the more favorable hours for group testing and or tuning, where favorable conditions are more desired.
As far as the distances that I test at (450 and/or 1000) I do all my testing, tuning, and practicing at those distances. Typically at 450 when I have less then favorable or harder to predict ambient, and at 1000 when the conditions are favorable. In either case I strongly feel I have proficiency to read the conditions well enough at those distances, as would it be for almost any experienced Long Range shooter.
While I do have a camera system, I don't use it that often. I use reactive target board and/or white poster for targets primarily that make "plotting" of the shots quite easy to see and stand out with capable optics. Also at times I utilize the "colored bullet method" for normal target paper and official targets, and plot the shots after the fact. There are many ways to skin a cat.... sort to speak !.!.!
Best of Luck
Donovan
Your asking questions that pertain predominately to group testing scenario's and very little to a ladder. For the most part, those scenario's have little effect to a ladder's out come - IME. For a ladder test is assessed from vertical dispersion and not at all to horizontal.
It is common for me to perform ladder tests in the less then favorable conditions part of a testing day, saving the more favorable hours for group testing and or tuning, where favorable conditions are more desired.
As far as the distances that I test at (450 and/or 1000) I do all my testing, tuning, and practicing at those distances. Typically at 450 when I have less then favorable or harder to predict ambient, and at 1000 when the conditions are favorable. In either case I strongly feel I have proficiency to read the conditions well enough at those distances, as would it be for almost any experienced Long Range shooter.
While I do have a camera system, I don't use it that often. I use reactive target board and/or white poster for targets primarily that make "plotting" of the shots quite easy to see and stand out with capable optics. Also at times I utilize the "colored bullet method" for normal target paper and official targets, and plot the shots after the fact. There are many ways to skin a cat.... sort to speak !.!.!
Best of Luck
Donovan
Brians356
Silver $$ Contributor
Raven243 said:
The 223 is very flexible and easy to load for accuracy. It's not going to obviously prefer one powder over all others. For a given bullet weight, there are a half dozen powders which will almost certainly produce excellent accuracy and good velocity. You'll spend a lot of time and components trying to find one powder that's superior, and you probably won't in the end.
I'd be inclined to pick a popular powder (folks here will recommend a few if you divulge your bullet weight) and concentrate on working up an accurate load with that powder. It's unlikely you will feel compelled to even try a second or third powder, but of course you always can. I just wouldn't go out and buy several different powders feeling you need to test them all to find a great load, no matter which method ("ladder" or otherwise) you follow.
But I could be wrong ...
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