picking out the accuracy node??

[Bear24]

I'm new to reloading for precision and I am trying to get a good grasp on as much as I can before I go out and waste my components.

My question here is how to pick the accuracy node out of a ladder test. I am really looking for some pics of ladder tests that people have shot and explain why they picked the nodes that they did.

I have watched all the videos from LoneWolfUSMC on youtube and I have taken a lot of great info from him but when it comes to the ladder test video I just don't understand why he chose the nodes that he did. It seems to me that there were a lot closer holes in the paper than the ones he chose. I'm by no means thinking he is wrong I am just looking for some clarification on this subject.

thanks in advance

 

[justinbaker]

Re: picking out the accuracy node??

basically you look for a group of shots that have the least vertical dispersion


this isnt the best example but look at 9 10 and 11

this was shot at 500 yards

thats the node that i chose

 

[justinbaker]

Re: picking out the accuracy node??

here is the pic from tresmons thread

 

[sch2046]

Re: picking out the accuracy node??

do any of you guys shoot 5 shot groups in your ladder. I loaded 5 rounds of each load to see how horizontal my groups shot vs just one round. each group was shot at a different target to see how the loads move up and down the sin wave. Once I found the groups with the least vertical dispersion, I am loading another round of tests for these loads to test and fine tune. Am I wrong on this?

 

[rduckwor]

Re: picking out the accuracy node??

I typically load only three at each charge weight. If you are capable of consistent shooting, five should be no problem. Once I reach a good node, I will load a bunch and shoot five shot groups for accuracy.

Good Luck,

 

[culater]

Re: picking out the accuracy node??

I only shoot one of each load, starting from my lowest load to my max load and keeping each charge .2 gr diffence apart.When my shots start to group then I start my load development at the range if you have loading equipment with you.Then I do my 5 shot groups.Have a chrongraph with you it will help you find the speed your rifle likes and will help you with load development when you get a new bottle of powder.Always Buy in 8lb keg and you will have more fun shooting.

 

[Bear24]

Re: picking out the accuracy node??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sch2046</div><div class="ubbcode-body">do any of you guys shoot 5 shot groups in your ladder. I loaded 5 rounds of each load to see how horizontal my groups shot vs just one round. each group was shot at a different target to see how the loads move up and down the sin wave. Once I found the groups with the least vertical dispersion, I am loading another round of tests for these loads to test and fine tune. Am I wrong on this?</div></div>

From everything that I have read you should only shoot one round of each charge weight in a ladder. If you want, you can shoot multiple ladders to see if you get repeatable results. But if you shoot more than one per charge weight you could end up just tearing holes in the target and not getting good info out of it.

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Re: picking out the accuracy node??

It's like seeing pictures in the clouds.

The general idea is to choose the 3-4 adjacent charges that group the closest. The middle of that charge group should be your accuracy node.

I need to re-shoot the video. I was rushing it when I did it and I think I may have caused some confusion.

You can have several accurate nodes. In fact there have been times in the past where I selected a node that was not the most accurate. Sometimes I will go for a faster node because it will require less elevation and buck the wind better than a slower, slightly more accurate node.

 

[Deadshot2]

Re: picking out the accuracy node??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 308 supsonic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I only shoot one of each load, starting from my lowest load to my max load and keeping each charge .2 gr diffence apart.When my shots start to group then I start my load development at the range if you have loading equipment with you.Then I do my 5 shot groups.Have a chrongraph with you it will help you find the speed your rifle likes and will help you with load development when you get a new bottle of powder.Always Buy in 8lb keg and you will have more fun shooting. </div></div>

Pretty much the same here although for my larger case loads I increase the load increments from .2 gr to as much as .5 gr.

I have also gone so far as to shoot one round for each load, starting at published "Start", all the way to the published "Max". In order to sort the shots out I first shoot at 300 yards or more for my ladders. Then I also color code the bullets by painting them with different colored sharpies. If you use a piece of heavy white card stock for a target backer it will wipe the color off leaving a nice tell-tail when you start analyzing.

One round per load for the first go-round. Subsequent work is 5 round groups.