10 round ladder test, Load close to lands?

[Freediver111]

I had great luck with the last 10 round ladder test I did with a 6.5, so now I’m going to try it with a new .338 wm I just picked up for hunting.
So can I load to the mag length and still get results with a 10 round test, or should I load .02” off the lands and single feed? It’s a pretty big jump to the lands if loaded factory mag length. Like .1” jump. For the 10 round I’m just looking for nodes, so group testing can be done later with .02” jump working up.
This is on a Tikka, planning on shooting the 230 ELD-X. I can always get an aftermarket DBM kit if it likes the lands over a jump, but hoping the final load will like a jump! Saves me a little cash not converting to aftermarket DBM.

 

[65x55guy]

I would do the ladder with lengths for your factory Mag. If the ladder comes back without a good node (which would be odd) then you can move out to the lands and know you would have to change DBM. My 2 cents.

 

[Pvt.Donut]

If you plan on using the magazine I'd suggest you start you load development at mag length. Had the same issue in my Tikka, just loaded to max mag length and started from their. Do the 10 Shot development (I usually stretch it to 20 to test a wider range), then test seating depth, start at mag length and back up 0.020" or 0.040" increments. Load whatever shoots tightest groups.

 

[Freediver111]

Ok, I’ll do the 10 round charge test at mag length and find a node, then I’ll test seating depth and groups. I’m going to try the 230 grain ELD-X with 69.5 to 71.5 grains of H4350 for the initial test.

 

[zeroz]

I would do the ladder with lengths for your factory Mag. If the ladder comes back without a good node (which would be odd) then you can move out to the lands and know you would have to change DBM. My 2 cents.

Uh, not great advice. If said good node is at the high end you could increase pressure to unsafe levels by moving toward the lands. Do the ladder test at the longest length you would want to run. If you want to single feed while hunting, do the ladder test at the lands. I assume you don't want to have loads that are jammed since there is a good chance you'll be ejecting live rounds often.

 

[Freediver111]

Uh, not great advice. If said good node is at the high end you could increase pressure to unsafe levels by moving toward the lands. Do the ladder test at the longest length you would want to run. If you want to single feed while hunting, do the ladder test at the lands. I assume you don't want to have loads that are jammed since there is a good chance you'll be ejecting live rounds often.

Since this is a hunting gun, I won’t load to the lands, but I would have no issues loading to .02” to start and do a seating depth test from there, but to start I’d like to get a node to base my charges off of. Pressure will be a bit higher at .02” compared to Mag length, which is over .1”. If the 230’s like a big jump then I’m fine, otherwise I’ll buy an aftermarket DBM kit that will allow loading and feeding closer to the lands. Don’t want to single feed in a hunting scenario.