ladder test results, advice needed

[wooltie]

What would you conclude to be a good node based upon these ladder test results?  Any advice is appreciated.

Shot 1 = lowest charge
Shot 9 = highest charge

Shots were charged in 0.5g increments, shot at 100 yards.

[Jonathan_S]

Ladder test to pressure, drop a grain or so and shoot 3-5 at that weight.  Quickest way I've been tought

[LabChamp]

Shoot 2 three shot test groups of each recipe. That will tell you much more about what the rifle likes better or worse than the others. Also play with seating depth after that. Makes a big difference depending on your set up. Some like to be backed off, some like to be touching the barrel. But I'd suggest making sure to shoot at least 2 3 shot groups to determine which fits best for your set up. Hard to tell only shooting one bullet for each load

[Reidus]

shooting in a cross wind? seems like a lot of horizontal.

I'd try loads 6, 7 and 8 again.

[jasnt]

You can do a ladder test just fine with singles. But not so great at 100 yards. 300 yards minimum for ladder testing single loads.

From what I see 8-9 looks good but at 100 yards its hard to see the speed difference. May look level but could be just coincidence.  If 100 yards is as far as you can shoot then do 3 shot ocw testing.

[Henrydog]

No detailed on what caliber you are shooting, but ALL the shots are low for 100 yards unless you are shooting patched round balls

[jmscon]

Did you use a chrono?

I will be getting into this during the summer, once my rifle is put back together.

[jasnt]

http://www.6mmbr.com/laddertest.html

[Karl Blanchard]

No detailed on what caliber you are shooting, but ALL the shots are low for 100 yards unless you are shooting patched round balls

point of impact is irrelevant in this test.  The target is merely a repeatable aiming point.  The task is collecting data, not hitting where you are aiming.

[wooltie]

30-06, 165g accubond, IMR4350, 53-57g in 0.5g increments.

I have not zeroed the rifle for the given bullet weight, which is why all shots were low.

There was a slight cross wind, but I have not adjusted the scope horizontal.

At this point I was looking for a flat spot on three shots.  2, 3, 4 look flat.  8, 9, 6 look flat, but 7 dips down.  There's always that higher charge weight that shoots lower than the previous lower charge weight e.g. shot 7 lower than 6.

[jasnt]

30-06, 165g accubond, IMR4350, 53-57g in 0.5g increments.

I have not zeroed the rifle for the given bullet weight, which is why all shots were low.

There was a slight cross wind, but I have not adjusted the scope horizontal.

At this point I was looking for a flat spot on three shots.  2, 3, 4 look flat.  8, 9, 6 look flat, but 7 dips down.  There's always that higher charge weight that shoots lower than the previous lower charge weight e.g. shot 7 lower than 6.

you can do ladder testing over a chrono  at 100 yards or with out a target at all.  If those loads are 1 moa you won't get accurate results.

[Henrydog]

No detailed on what caliber you are shooting, but ALL the shots are low for 100 yards unless you are shooting patched round balls

point of impact is irrelevant in this test.  The target is merely a repeatable aiming point.  The task is collecting data, not hitting where you are aiming.

10-4 I don't think before I speak...and I guess I don't before I type either.

[Skyvalhunter]

 

[Bushcraft]

In a nutshell, and no offense implied, those results are randomly inconclusive and should not be relied upon for determining an optimum load.

There are at least two approaches to "ladder testing" that seem to have merit, at least with regard to precision shooting or finding your rifle's favorite load with a particular brass/primer/powder/bullet/seating/neck tension combo.

The first one basically entails shooting at a fairly distant target (400-500 yards) on a perfectly wind free day if possible while holding point of aim at the same place on the target. (This may not be possible or realistic depending upon the attributes of the rifle system and shooter ability.) Assuming constant enviro conditions from a cool barrel, the theory is that as velocity increases so too will the printing of your impacts. You are not shooting for group with this method. You're simply looking for a "node" where impacts appear to bunch together vertically. Preferably, one should perform this two to three times in order to obtain a reasonable understanding of which ranges of powder charges your rifle likes.

The second, which can be done alone or after determining the range of powder charges to investigate, simply allocate 4-5 rounds per charge and shoot for group. Pick the tightest group and run with it.

[Bushcraft]

http://www.6mmbr.com/laddertest.html

Bingo.  There is a wealth of knowledge to be had from that website.