Load development

I use a magnetospeed, sounds like I shouldn't be shooting a ladder with it?

I stopped using chronos for load development. I only use them to get data once load development is complete. They can affect the accuracy node in the same manner that a tuner does. If you are truly doing a ladder(short range is not a ladder) the paper will not lie. As Scott noted it is possible, but not guaranteed, to encounter positive compensation when doing true long range ladders. I feel it gives a more stable load at the distance the ladder was shot and I have found everything inside of that max distance still shoots under .5moa. I can see where that may not be desirable in a game like PRS.
 
What's funny is when I shot a 222 and then later a 6ppc We would load and watch the groups it'd get flat then the higher charge would shoot low. It was always the load window when we saw this. This was 1975 1976. No chrono no internet no quick load and very very little information beyond your note book. Today I know that lower shot is the barrel coming out of the node in a downward arc. Whereas the climbing prior to the flat spot is the upward arc of the barrel. I have a pic of a 100yd group over a 2 grain ladder that has 2 shots out of the group by 2ish " It's too slow for what I want but the group is a .2 or slightly better without the 2 outside the group over a 10 shot 2 grain difference ladder. The best part is you can see the group come back into the node over the next 2 grains. But it is still slow with too much pressure for 10 shot strings. It shows that the powder is too fast for the application. The harmonics are clearly identified on target. And that is the key you need to identify.
There are many ways to get there and how you do it is up to you
 
The initial ladder test is to find a VE node. Accuracy is tested once you find a VE flat spot
That's the way I've done it for 2 rifles now and so far it has worked.

Seems like that hasnt worked for a lot of guys here so they shoot a ladder at 600 yards, but it doesn't sound like the 600 yard ladder should be shot with a magneto on, correct? I know you can look for the flat spots on the ladder but it would be nice to have velocities too.
 
I stopped using chronos for load development. I only use them to get data once load development is complete. They can affect the accuracy node in the same manner that a tuner does. If you are truly doing a ladder(short range is not a ladder) the paper will not lie. As Scott noted it is possible, but not guaranteed, to encounter positive compensation when doing true long range ladders. I feel it gives a more stable load at the distance the ladder was shot and I have found everything inside of that max distance still shoots under .5moa. I can see where that may not be desirable in a game like PRS.
The initial ladder test
That's the way I've done it for 2 rifles now and so far it has worked.

Seems like that hasnt worked for a lot of guys here so they shoot a ladder at 600 yards, but it doesn't sound like the 600 yard ladder should be shot with a magneto on, correct? I know you can look for the flat spots on the ladder but it would be nice to have velocities too.
Ive done the ladder for the several years. Once I find a VE node I load up a bunch and check it from 300-1400. I make sure the VE lines up with my Kestrel out to 600 then true BC past 1000 works every time without fail.
 
I got a LabRadar because of the influence my magnetospeed made on testing. I love it! Buy one, you will not regret it.
It's a good piece of kit for sure. IMO Magneto speed can effect POI but not precision. In 4 years group size has been uneffected for me
Thanks Scott. Will you start load development on new barrel with virgin brass?
i usually get 100 rounds through a barrel before I take it seriously
 
The issue that I can't get over is that I have had rifles that show flat spot in velocity but group like garbage. Usually it's from being over pressure. This is where I find some really good Es. Here is a target from last week. 7 saum 180 eldm at 300. Group to the left is 4 shots ranging from 64.5-64.8 grains. Velocity was 2890-2904. Top middle group (3) shots was an Es of 2. Group was about 4" at 300 yards.
 

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The issue that I can't get over is that I have had rifles that show flat spot in velocity but group like garbage. Usually it's from being over pressure. This is where I find some really good Es. Here is a target from last week. 7 saum 180 eldm at 300. Group to the left is 4 shots ranging from 64.5-64.8 grains. Velocity was 2890-2904. Top middle group (3) shots was an Es of 2. Group was about 4" at 300 yards.
2880 and 2930 were nodes for me in the 7 saum with 185 and RE23, H4831 and H1000. It can go faster with a 28-30" barrel
 
This was a 24" barrel. Not sure if I could get to 2930 with H1000. 2890 is looking good for me and shorter range hunting.
 
This was a 24" barrel. Not sure if I could get to 2930 with H1000. 2890 is looking good for me and shorter range hunting.
2880 is what I settled on with my hunting rifle and that rifle stacked 28 animals up. Most were taken past 600 including a big bull elk taken at 978
 
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