Does anyone have any information or a link on this method of load development? All I have been able to find is commentary about it and not a lot of detail on how to do it or use it.
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ladder method
- Thread starter head2h2o
- Start date
Re: ladder method
Just found an article about it over at Long Range Hunting that linked to 6mmBR.
http://www.6mmbr.com/laddertest.html
Just found an article about it over at Long Range Hunting that linked to 6mmBR.
http://www.6mmbr.com/laddertest.html
Re: ladder method
Essentially, the ladder method is to load a test batch of ammo for a given rifle/bullet/powder such that the only variable should be the charge weight, and that varies in certain increments. You will shoot each charge increment with as consistent conditions as possible to find the best grouping charge weight.
I just loaded a batch of 155SMKs to test in my R700 in this method. Brass is all the same lot# and processed in the same manner. The primers are from the same box and the powder from the same canister. I started 1gr under published max and loaded 7 rounds of each (2 fouling rounds and 5 to group) in 1/4gr increments to 1/4gr over published max. I go over max on published loads as they are known and many times proven to be VERY conservative. I do know my loads are usually below the ones which some very experienced folks shoot regularly, but I don't recommend anyone load over known max charges without taking the liability for those risks into their own hands.
When I find which weight groups best, I load a new "ladder" in .1gr increments around it. Normally this is unnecessary, as the improvement isn't as great on the .1gr scale as it is across .25gr, but it justifies some additional trigger time.
Essentially, the ladder method is to load a test batch of ammo for a given rifle/bullet/powder such that the only variable should be the charge weight, and that varies in certain increments. You will shoot each charge increment with as consistent conditions as possible to find the best grouping charge weight.
I just loaded a batch of 155SMKs to test in my R700 in this method. Brass is all the same lot# and processed in the same manner. The primers are from the same box and the powder from the same canister. I started 1gr under published max and loaded 7 rounds of each (2 fouling rounds and 5 to group) in 1/4gr increments to 1/4gr over published max. I go over max on published loads as they are known and many times proven to be VERY conservative. I do know my loads are usually below the ones which some very experienced folks shoot regularly, but I don't recommend anyone load over known max charges without taking the liability for those risks into their own hands.
When I find which weight groups best, I load a new "ladder" in .1gr increments around it. Normally this is unnecessary, as the improvement isn't as great on the .1gr scale as it is across .25gr, but it justifies some additional trigger time.
