Load ladder.

[NF1E]

Making some adjustments on my load for the Uintah bolt AR. Sort of different than most. Target poa is 1/4" dots at 100 yds. I like to run powder at .2 gn intervals initially for my load ladder.
What I do with my set up is , fire 3 shots at each dot horizontally with the listed charges and cool barrel between. Then I drop down to line 2 horizontal and repeat for verification. After that I will go do another target set for the .1 divisions. After powder charge has been established I repeat the procedure with different seating depth. Yep, you got it, I enjoy burning up powder, barrels and loading. Whatta Hobby!

 

 

[Magwa]

Well I like to do these things as well but you are missing the very point of the powder ladder I do NOT care what or where they land on a target when doing a powder charge ladder I am looking for velocity  only! not all powders work for what ever caliber and barrel size you have so first you have to find the right powder, second find the charge of that powder that your barrel likes then THAT charge is the charge for the life of that barrel seating depth will fine tune your groups. 

   So what does velocity have to do with powder charge? everything...... your bullet selection, your powder choice, and your barrel harmonics these three things set your powder charge, your barrel vibrates up and down round and round as the bullet goes down the barrel and you do not want it up or down as the bullet exits the barrel you want the vibration in the middle . To get that you must find the right amount of the right powder that has a complete burn in the length of the barrel you have with the bullet you are shooting (yes every different bullet has a different charge.

   so say your max charge is 60 grain for xyz bullet and powder you load starting say 4 grains under max and make one round in .3 grain increments up to max and go fire them into a burm or whatever as long as you are using a chronograph and record every velocity what you will find is a flat spot where the velocity does not change or very little as compared to the shots prior to it, this flat spot is called a node most times there are two one low and one near max if you have the right powder. once you have the node then you can start in the middle of it and fine tune your charge most of the time it is not needed .then and only then do you play with seating depth and shoot groups..... this method is proven and will produce S.D,s in the low single digits and that will produce accuracy and consistency which is what we are looking for right?.... and yes whata hobby....  

[NF1E]

Thanks for the input.

You are right of course. My discipline is 1st shot out of the barrel on target. I have been pretty successful over the years using this method. Didn't mention that clean patches get pulled through the barrel after each 3 rnd grp and then run the cooler. After 60 plus years at the game I kinda set goals for myself but am always willing to listen to others.

Also use a chronograph, Garmin now, have used Prochrone and LabRadar over the years but that is only one factor to reference in the game. I have myself convinced that proper brass prep and loading procedures will keep my SDs in the mid single digits without constant monitoring. I think, too many rely on the chronograph where bullet strikes are much more important. My goal from the old 40x days it to touch or hopefully take the X out of an MR-31C with the first and only shot for the day. Most finals are in the .1 to .2 range. Whatta Hobby!

 

 

[Magwa]

        yes the Garmin is a game changer so easy to use,I use to be 100 Percent old school with how I loaded and barrel break in and all that stuff I got my first gun 65 years ago at age ten been pulling triggers ever since, My eyes got opened by the new ways barrels are made and F class and ELR yes sir sadly the times they have changed, not sure if it is for the better but what seemed hard to us 30 years ago shooting is now childs play, 1000 yards was like the holy grail 30 years ago and unobtainable 50 years ago now that is nothing... just 10 or so days ago I shot 2925 yards... with a pretty much off the shelf rifle and yes it was consistent, 6 or 7 shooters used my gun after I connected and at one time 4 in a row had 1st round impacts I believe the total was 19 rounds fired and 7 impacts what 40 percent at 1.64 miles think that is pretty good....

   what I have learned in the last 5 years was that reloading is about 100 percent different than I learned years ago ,these days it has evolved to a state of precision that I could not even imagine and I am having fun doing it again. stable powders, not cleaning brass till it shines like a mirror, not using the factory neck sizing ball, mandrels to set neck tension, not cleaning the gun till it starts to show signs of accuracy falling off, once cleaned now fouling is required not one shot but many till copper equilibrium is reattained, man we could go for hours you have all the tools and look like you are having fun keep at it ..... I am going till I can hit two miles then I might just build a bigger gun lol   

Edited Wednesday at 02:18 PM by Magwa

[NF1E]

Smaller guns at closer range with tiny targets is my choice. Really enjoy 22rf at 50 and 100 yds. Problem with that, my CZ457 likes ammo that costs almost as much a loading for centerfire. Lapua X-ACT is great stuff if one can afford it.  Whatta Hobby!

 

[Magwa]

yeah the 22lr game is huge here guys have as much in a 22 as I have in my 338 Lapua but man they shoot a ton of x's

[NF1E]

No fooling. Doesn't take long to get 4-5K into a 22rf if you want to do any real accurate shooting. Whatta Hobby!