Reload Ladder Testing...???

[Osceola]

I may be all wrong but isn't ladder testing better for a custom bench gun and 5 shot groups better for off the shelf guns or a semi auto?

[ducks-and-bucks]

Osceola:

Doesn't matter... what not do the best test you can the first time...??

[Osceola]

Osceola:

Doesn't matter... what not do the best test you can the first time...??

I guess these 2 test are the walk back and paper tune of guns.

[yanta61]

the later test will work on any gun that you want to reload for. You still need to shoot 5 shot groups with the data you get from the ladder test.

[scissorhands]

every thought about OCW?

http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/#/ocw-test-example/4529811475

[txfireguy2003]

The thing about the ladder test is, it gives you a range to work in for your 5 shot groups. Say you want to test 5 shot groups, but your chosen round has a 4gr variance from min to max loads in the book. Let's also say that you choose to use 0.4gr for your charge steps, so you start at 40.0, 40.4, 40.8, 41.2 ....all the way to 44.0. You'll end up with 10 different loads to test, 5 rounds each, you're up to 50 rounds just to find a load your gun likes, then you do it again with smaller charge steps, different seating depths etc....you can run up a pretty hefty component bill before you find the load your rifle likes. With the ladder test, you load up the same 10 charges, but just one of each, then fire them all at the same point of impact, keeping track of where each one lands. When you find a spot where you have 3 or 4 rounds impacting close together (technically you're only looking at the vertical dispersion) you can now load your 5 shot groups between those loads. So, now you have loaded 10 rounds for the ladder, the say 4 loads of 5 shots each, you've only shot 30 rounds and found the same "best" charge weight that took 50+ rounds to find by starting with 5 shot groups.

OCW is basically the same thing with some minor changes to the methodology. Both will give you a charge weight that is "best" but also forgiving of some very minor inconsistencies. So you overcharge a round by 0.05gr (yes, that's 5 hundredths, not half) and undercharge the next one by the same amount, you're still inside that accuracy node, or you do your load testing on a very cold day and come up with a good charge, then go hunting or shoot a competition on a hot day, the hot day will cause pressure to increase on your rounds, which may change velocity and POI, impacting your accuracy. With the OCW, you'll find a load that is the best for accuracy, but also one that minor changes in pressure, such as from hot/cold shooting, won't effect it as much.