First ever ladder test and questions.

[HoustonB77]

Well today I went out and did my first ever ladder test. I'm shooting a Tikka T3 TSR-1 with a 20 inch barrel in 260. Components used are 140 Berger Hybrid, IMR 4451, virgin Lapua brass, and CCI Bench rest primers.

I feel like a found a good accuracy node between 42 and 43 grains. Problem is my velocity is still lower than I like. Should I try to load higher and find the next node or stick with what I've got? I'm getting zero pressure signs at 43.5. Bullet is seated at 2.242 to ogive and is .008 off the lands.

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[Milo 2.5]

You are right on the node, 42-43gr. I question whether your chrono numbers are correct, anyway to shoot same charges over another one?

 

[OzTRG]

Fwiw you are definitely in a node. As a comparison my CTR in 260 runs at 2695fts with 42.5gns ADI 2209 powder. DA 2090ft. Berger 130gn AR Hybrids, lapua brass and federal large rifle primers. This suits my style of shooting as I have a consistency in elevation that I can dial, I suppose you need to consider the advantages you will get from finding the next node up ie what will you gain from a flatter trajectory?

 

[HoustonB77]

You are right on the node, 42-43gr. I question whether your chrono numbers are correct, anyway to shoot same charges over another one?

That's what I was thinking to but the numbers do match up through my ballistic app.

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[steve123]

It's only a 20" barrel - be happy the fps is that high with 140's!

It depends how far you want to take load development, or the amount of time and work involved. I stop when results are this definite. If that was done at 300Y I'd call it good right now.

 

[HoustonB77]

It's only a 20" barrel - be happy the fps is that high with 140's!

It depends how far you want to take load development, or the amount of time and work involved. I stop when results are this definite. If that was done at 300Y I'd call it good right now.

I'm going to load some up and shoot groups at 100 to see what I come up with.

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[Ayoung1]

How many rounds do you have down the barrel?

 

[HoustonB77]

How many rounds do you have down the barrel?

I'm closing in on 100. It's only a couple months old

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[OzTRG]

Correction 2605fts. Fat fingers

 

[Ayoung1]

I'm closing in on 100. It's only a couple months old

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You should pick up 50-75 fps between now and the next 150 rounds. My ctr 260 did, I'm using 43.5 of H4350 behind 140 Berger hybrids, I'm averaging 2738 fps at 300 feet above sea level.

 

[HoustonB77]

You should pick up 50-75 fps between now and the next 150 rounds. My ctr 260 did, I'm using 43.5 of H4350 behind 140 Berger hybrids, I'm averaging 2738 fps at 300 feet above sea level.

Thanks if I can get to 2700 that would be great. Guess I need to put a few more rounds through the barrel.

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[HoustonB77]

Just loaded a few more. I'm going to shoot some groups tomorrow at 42.5, 42.7, and 42.9.

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[HoustonB77]

Well 42.7 was by far my best group. ES was way to high at 46 though. :/

I was also finally able to find some H4350 yesterday at Brownells. I'm going to try that and some 4831SC.

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[Ayoung1]

Try 42-44 with the h4350, mine does great with 43.5, 43.8 was good too but higher sd. I plan to work up some loads with rl16 as soon as I get my hands on it. I'd hate to burn through my stock pile of 4350 and then have to do more load development. Let us know what you come up with.