First Handloads & Ladder Test

[bdubb]

Put together my first hands loads this past week and got the chance to do a ladder test at 600 yards this weekend. Followed the books on the reloads on all details, but did not start off .010 jammed as is suggested most places. Might go back and do this soon just to have the max load jammed. For the time being though, I seating the Berger 140 hybrids touching from .000-.001 off the lands after measuring them to be at 2.101 with a dummy round. I have 2.100 marked down as my max BTO length for these hybrids now and plan to back them away in .015 increments as things progress with the development.

In my opinion, this ladder test I got two decent nodes (41-42, 43-44 grains) and went up to 44 grains of H4350 without any pressure signs from being seated right at the lands. Also considering if it's worth looking into something around 40 grains. Any comments or suggestions as I go into the next ladder test of these two nodes? I'll most likely try to shoot the next two ladders from 600y again or move to 700y.

 

[Raufoss]

41-42

From my test with 140 hybrid i have always had better result with a .010-.020 jump. Vs touching the land.

 

[steve123]

Instead of doing .5 grain increments you need to do .2 grain increments.

Actually at this point if you did your next test from 40 to 42 grains in .1 grain increments it'll tell you exactly where the perfect node is depending on whether you want higher speeds/lower brass and barrel life or the opposite.

Then adjust seating depth as desired.

 

[bdubb]

Thank you. My intent on this ladder was to get a broad range and then follow up with a second ladder with .3 grain increments, but I can make it smaller increments without any hassle as well.

 

[bdubb]

I followed up with a .3 grain increment ladder today.

These were all loaded touching the lands and I got 2 or so cratered primers about halfway through. I think I'll do the groups with all .015 jump since they are the hybrids and see how everything looks easing up to the highest powder charge group.

I got two groupings but now need to decide which ones to load up and shoot 5 shot groups with and get some chrono readings as I haven't been using the V2 during the ladder tests or groups since my surefire brake makes the mounting location about flush with the first ports and they suggest .25" just not possible for me with this brake from what I can tell.

Maybe shoot groups with 42.9, 42.6, 42.0, 41.7

I have 117 rounds through the rifle so far (not all from load testing) and I want to have everything wrapped up on load development before 150 rounds gets here.

Here's the .5 and .3 increment ladders side by side.

Case heads. Hard to see the cratered primers, but can catch a nail on at least two of them.

 

[bigedp51]

If you put the grain piles five feet apart Ladder testing and range estimation is not required.

 

[steve123]

I'd test 41.5, 41.6, 41.7 at various seating depths.

I'm running the 140 hybrids at .007 out of the lands and touching them at 100Y.

 

[bdubb]

Steve, are you saying those three loads based on your previous experience or are you selecting those based on these ladders? Just trying to learn here so understanding if you reasoning for that is on these ladders and why would be helpful if you don't mind.

 

[steve123]

I don't have a 260 but am basing my opinion off of both. I have done quite a bit of ladder testing over the years and also basing off of looking at your pics.

But right around 41.6 seems like a good node for brass and barrel life. No worries about pressure problems in the summer with this node either. Even though H4350 isn't temp sensitive I've had problems with it in my 6.5-284 when I worked up a load in winter using the higher node when summer came around. The higher node is probably 42.7 to 8. Usually the nodes are 3% apart which would put the lower at 41.6 or so.

I either do my ladders at 300 or 400Y depending how accurate the rifle is. Part of the reason I do them at those distances is the shots are less affected by wind than shooting farther out. I pick a calm morning so I can watch the horizontal as well as the vertical. Usually when I hit a node both the vertical and the horizontal tighten up. Here's a couple pics to show you what I mean.

First pic is at 330Y with my 6mmART40 upper.


30-375R at 300Y and is the reason I started testing at 400Y with accurate rifles.



20x47L at 400. This one I did in .1 grain increments.


6x47L in .1 grain increments. At shot number 8 the sled attached to my forend came loose.