300wsm Ladder Test Results - need help decoding
- Thread starter Mad_Mikee
- Start date
If it was me I would be going for the top three and then play with it a bit. No use shooting a 300 wsm if you are going to shoot 30-06 speeds. My 2 cents which I realize isn't much. I shoot a 300 wsm with 180 grain accubond and am right around the 3000 mark. Different powder though.
I personally would load for 64.2 and shoot some more over the chronograph to see if the loss of velocity was an anomally from 64 to 64.4
And try 64.1 and 64.3
Did you get any pressure signs? I load the ladder to also check for pressure and often times but not always i end up with higher charges than the reloading books indicate.
My 300wsm is able to achieve 3180fps with a 165g imr4350. The load was well above max but well below pressure signs that i found at even higher powder charges. My buddies rifle shows pressure signs just before max load so dont just load to max.
Sometimes i find different powders help achieve max potential out of the cartridge h4350 didn't work for me but imr did.
And try 64.1 and 64.3
Did you get any pressure signs? I load the ladder to also check for pressure and often times but not always i end up with higher charges than the reloading books indicate.
My 300wsm is able to achieve 3180fps with a 165g imr4350. The load was well above max but well below pressure signs that i found at even higher powder charges. My buddies rifle shows pressure signs just before max load so dont just load to max.
Sometimes i find different powders help achieve max potential out of the cartridge h4350 didn't work for me but imr did.
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- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
You have two nodes that interest me.
64-64.4 charge weight.
63.2-63.6 charge weight.
Can you post the target and we can see the horizontal spread as well , see where the harmonics are at.
64-64.4 charge weight.
63.2-63.6 charge weight.
Can you post the target and we can see the horizontal spread as well , see where the harmonics are at.
That's what I had read and was curious. I read one shot can throw off all the ladder data unless you are completely consistent throughout the process. Been wanting to try one myself so will be watching this thread to see how it turns out.
Even if you're consistent it doesn't mean everything else is. Any very small defect in the bullet, temperature of barrel, wind, measurement error, anything really can throw off a one shot measurement. By making multiple shots you divide the weight of any error or inconsistency by the amount of measurements.
I usually make at least 5 shots to measure a load velocity. Normally you would want to make enough shots that the standard deviation of your measurement doesn't change with each new shots. I understand it might cost you an arm and a leg in this case though, but in this case reducing the number of loads and increasing the number of samples per load would help OP gather better datas.
Having the target to look at finishes the ladder test. Consistent velocity is a good thing, of course, but if the consecutive shots that show similar velocity aren't close to each other you may be wasting your time.
You may need to try different bullets or powder out of your rifle, as it's quite possible that a given combination may yield a good velocity spread but lousy grouping.
You may need to try different bullets or powder out of your rifle, as it's quite possible that a given combination may yield a good velocity spread but lousy grouping.
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
Your nodes and groups/patterns in a ladder test are your priority.
Velocity is secondary but nice to have for reference.
No need to do multiple shot group tests, you can find your node and do a few three shot groups and check velocity, five shot if you are getting fussy or doing precision stuff , heavy barrel, target.
I'll try find some of my ladder tests and post them.
Velocity is secondary but nice to have for reference.
No need to do multiple shot group tests, you can find your node and do a few three shot groups and check velocity, five shot if you are getting fussy or doing precision stuff , heavy barrel, target.
I'll try find some of my ladder tests and post them.
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
This was a barrel from new that wouldn't shoot.
This is the new barrel, with this powder/bullet combo it has a much nicer over all balance,any of those loads would of been workable to tune.
Same barrel , less consistency over all but specific nodes are apparent(excuse the blur I lost resolution through the photo share)Bottom six shots have a very small vertical spread.
This was a thread I started on a ladder test I did, better photos.
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...rel-results-June-13-2015-FINAL-LOAD-CONFIRMED
It's nice to see your target as it can show things that data and tables don't right off the hop.Remember there are vertical and horizontal patterns one can derive and it all comes down to harmonics and what the barrel likes.
This is the new barrel, with this powder/bullet combo it has a much nicer over all balance,any of those loads would of been workable to tune.
Same barrel , less consistency over all but specific nodes are apparent(excuse the blur I lost resolution through the photo share)Bottom six shots have a very small vertical spread.
This was a thread I started on a ladder test I did, better photos.
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...rel-results-June-13-2015-FINAL-LOAD-CONFIRMED
It's nice to see your target as it can show things that data and tables don't right off the hop.Remember there are vertical and horizontal patterns one can derive and it all comes down to harmonics and what the barrel likes.
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I used a LabRadar chrony. It's very consistent.
I've been reloading for a number of years but this is just my first time with a ladder test.
Usually I just shoot 4 or 5 shots at each powder charge, find the best groups, start to focus on that.
It's been working good but figured since I have a chrony now, I'd try something different.
This rifle I'm shooting has been sitting in the safe for quite a few years since it always gives me issues.
I love the feel of the rifle but it always finds a way to fight me. I'm going to win this battle, the rifle
just doesn't know it yet.
I've been reloading for a number of years but this is just my first time with a ladder test.
Usually I just shoot 4 or 5 shots at each powder charge, find the best groups, start to focus on that.
It's been working good but figured since I have a chrony now, I'd try something different.
This rifle I'm shooting has been sitting in the safe for quite a few years since it always gives me issues.
I love the feel of the rifle but it always finds a way to fight me. I'm going to win this battle, the rifle
just doesn't know it yet.
63.4 is a wide node. I'm sure using it and a seating depth test in 0.003" increments will get you where you will want to be.
