Thread: Interpreting a Ladder Test

Today I completed two ladder tests as below.

However I'm struggling to interpret the results.

Rifle was my trusty 308 Brno ZKK601.

What do you guys think of these results?

Where to now to develop this further?

Targets were set @ 100m and each larger square (i.e. orange square) on the target is 1"

1st load
10 Rounds of Hornady 150gr spire point, Federal primers, W748 Powder 46.2 grs to 48.0grs in 0.2gr increments


2nd load
10 Rounds of Hornady 150gr SST, Federal primers, W748 Powder 46.2 grs to 48.0grs in 0.2gr increments
N.B. pretty sure I pulled the 46.8 round on this test.


Any help would be appreciated

Cheers
Pete

Im no expert but i would load up 6 or 9 of 47 and 47.5gr with the sst and see how it groups and play with seating depth from there.
That many shots on paper if accuracy potential is not great gets confusing.

Here is a 9 shot ladder from the barrel i cut into 3 recently.

VC
Thanks for this.

Yes I also thought around 47.2 to 47.4grs had merit for the SST load, however it also looks like 46.2 to 46.6grs also looked quite good.

For the spire point load I though 47.2grs to 47.6grs looked good.

I want load up five rounds of each promising load and go back to the range tomorrow to test.

Cheers
Pete

3" is rather big though it is min of deer.

I can give you my .308 load though each rifles different so it may shoot like shit in yours

48.5 or 48 of win 748 shoot around 1/2-1" in ours using fed mag primers

Originally Posted by Toby

3" is rather big though it is min of deer.

I can give you my .308 load though each rifles different so it may shoot like shit in yours

Toby

Thanks for your suggestion and help.

Yep minute of deer is what this load is for. these ten shot groups measure around 2.5" x 3" which will kill deer all day long, but we can do way better.

This rifle will shoot 165gr ballistic tips into 1" with 45.5grs of W748, even with a blind old shaky bugger like me yanking on the trigger.

I'm sure I can develop a 150gr load that will equal or better this performance as an alternative to the 165gr load.

And as you can see the potential is there just need a bit of guidance in which direction to take so I don't waste too much time chasing down the best loading.

Cheers
Pete

oh yeah 150 Seirra pro hunters

Originally Posted by Toby

oh yeah 150 Seirra pro hunters

Haven't tried them Toby.

What's your opinion on them?

My 165gr load drops them where they stand.

Not sure why I need another load really but there you go.

Have a reloader....... will use it

Cheers
Pete

Yeah I like them, killed all the deer and goats me and my brother have pointed them at. Shoot under an inch at 100m so I can't complain

Originally Posted by Toby

Yeah I like them, killed all the deer and goats me and my brother have pointed them at. Shoot under an inch at 100m so I can't complain

How much do they cost?

Cheers
Pete

I can't actually remember but think they were 60-70 for 100. I have a gut feeling they were 65

Could also try 2208

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Could also try 2208

Yep.

Except I love using W748and kinda want to keep the powder choices in the cupboard to a minimum.

Cheers
Pete

$61 @ outdoors supplies

Originally Posted by Toby

$61 @ outdoors supplies

150gr SST's were $65 per 100 and the 165gr SST's were $68 per 100

165gr Nosler Ballistic Tips are around that price for 50

Cheers
Pete

Nosler are expensive. Only thing that put me off for my new 6.5