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Here's a ladder test from today. Distance was 300 yards.
I color highlighted the same loads. Rounds were fired in the order by number. All rounds were fired over a prochrono digital at ~35 feet from the muzzle. The wind picked up from right to left for rounds 11 and 12.
Thoughts?

01. 41.5 grains - 2446 fps
02. 42.0 grains - 2464
03. 42.5 grains - 2510
04. 43.0 grains - 2520
05. 43.5 grains - 2564
06. 44.0 grains - 2604

07. 41.5 grains - 2424
08. 42.0 grains - 2492
09. 42.5 grains - 2515
10. 43.0 grains - 2539
11. 43.5 grains - 2539
12. 44.0 grains - 2578

Go for the green?

More shooting required...

Several questions, why have the chrono at 35 feet?????

Why start a ladder test at 300yds?????

Why dont you shoot 3 from the same load before bumping up a half grain?????

Why not have the chrono at 35 feet?

Why not start a ladder test at 300 yards?

I shot 2 strings instead of 3 knowing that my results would not be quite as robust but useful none-the-less

42.5grs looks good to me! Just curious what's the caliber/bullet/powder?

Interpret what?...not enough data to do anything except the scope is adjusted fairly close. Reshoot another 4-5 targets using the same cases, same load/components, in the same case sequence and you might have enough to say something.

Chrono distance doesn't mean much as it is basically only a reference number to calculate drop maybe...and target distance is the same thing...just shows the dispersal at a higher scale by opening up the groups.

If green repeats for 5-7 rounds then you have cause for joy and look no farther...I would be very surprised if it does, but then it might.

I DOES show how groups can go from vertical to horizontal or vis versa by changing the powder amount...the numbers are so small I can't read them but it looks like the components are matched but without more data that observation might just be an artifact.

Velos look like a 308 and 165-168 gr bullets...at least that is what my 24" 308 and 168 gr match bullets produce??

+1 on the 308 168 grain guess

As other have stated you need more data to draw any statistically significant conclusions. I don't know that you can draw any accuracy conclusions from less than a 3 shot group.

I would recommend 100 yards distance because wind is uncontrollable and the effect is about 10 times greater at 300 yard than at 100 yards. For example, using a bullet with a BC of 0.506 and a MV of 2700 fps the difference in wind drift between a 5 MPH and a 6 MPH cross wind at 100 yards is 0.06 inches, but it's 0.64 inches at 300 yards. Few shooters can detect even a 2 mph change in a light wind without an instrument and the odds of the wind being different downrange increases as the range increases. With 300 yards you're introducing random noise into the data that has an amplitude high enough to prevent you from drawing statistically significant conclusions once your group size gets below about 1.0 MOA.

The green at 42.5 looks the most promising, but I'd shoot a little more just to see if it was a fluke....Maybe do it all over again but in differnet orders...and shoot 3 of each load next time...

- What detriment do you think will come from placing the chrono at 30-35 feet? None.

- The minimum recommended distance for conducting a ladder test is 300 in every peice of literature I've read. They all recommend further than that if possible.

- What variables are you talking about? Wind? Wind has no effect on the results from a ladder test, unless of course you can't keep the shots on paper because of it.

- I don't think you know what an Audette ladder test is. Have a read through this so that you know what I was trying to accomplish: http://www.6mmbr.com/laddertest.html

I ladder test at 300 as well.

However, your chrony should be at 10ft from the muzzle. Unless you are only looking for ES/SD number data.

Nice post. I see fellas at the range that I'm a member at produce targets like that consistently using store purchased ammo all of the same weight and grain at 300 yds. So what does it really tell you?

Maybe they can't shoot for chit....

Yeah no chit, how bout buddie's skills, maybe were interpretting something normal for this shooter.

Thank you for posting this. I honestly had never heard of this technique.

That may be true, but not necessarily. Without the ability to tune the ammo to thier guns they might get significant vertical dispersion. That's the whole point of the test, tune the load to the harmonics of the barrel for the least amount of vertical deflection. Wind, well that's up to the shooter

I also believe in ladder tests but at greater distances after you've found the best accuracy at close range-at least having a good starting point.

The "ladder" test popularized by Creighton Audette and since turned into some kind of "net" load developement mantra on the "correct" way to develop loads, has been used is some form since the late 50's...not by that name because Audette "systemitized", published and popularized it. I've been using a variation all my shooting life, which means I can short cut some of the steps and use some simple mathamatical models to increase the likelyhood of hitting that "sweet spot".

Basically...It ain't no thang, Bro...lots of ways to Nirvana, none being the only "right"? way.

Audette is very good at doing what it's supposted to do, but too many shooters just do it by rote mindlessly, then don't or understand HOW to do the additional work to refine what the test told them.

AG...you ask for "interpretations" and that is what you got...although I'm totally at a loss WHY?, if you know what an "Audette" is, did you post that picture and ask for interpretations when the initial steps and follow up steps are very apparent by reading the various articles and you DIDN'T DO THEM...no flame or diss intended...just wondering what your ulterior/alterior motives were.

ANYONE/EVERYONE...all you have to do is Google "Creighton Audette" and out pops SEVERAL very good articles on the subject.

BUT...The "Audette" is ONLY AS GOOD as the rifle, shooter AND ammo. If you haven't done all the work systematically, to "optimize the accuracy" of all the components, Audette won't show you DOODLY...it will only show you that sometimes you get everything in line and shoot a small group, but most of the time all you get are hole in the target without ANY apparent rhyme or reason.

BELIEVE ME...I have tested and retested the "Audette" with benchrest quality rifles and ammo and off the shelf rifles and ammo, factory MATCH ammo in benchrest rifles, ACCURIZED factory ammo in benchrest AND factory rifles and rifles I have built and/or accurized with factory match ammo, factory premium ammo, factory cheap 'Mart ammo and my own benchrest prepped ammo...over the last 35 years at least. I spent many years keeping my components all stocked up by accurizing and developing loads for rifles...not for money, but for the components and knowledge gained from "diddling" shooters...in both senses.

Basically and arguably, there isn't a quick and dirty way to consistent accuracy of a requesite level for 3-400 yds and beyond without FIRST optimizing the rifle and ammo system.

If you only want hunting accuracy, don't bother with the 'Audette"...just pick up several boxes of factory ammo and see which shoots the best in our rifle.

If you want to shoot flies at 500 yds you better start with a TUNED rifle, scope and ammo and then learn how to shoot all over again.

There is another aspect about the "Audette" I haven't seen too much written about, but probably has somewhere along the line...powder weight variation is only ONE component that most people normally think about when they here
"Audette"...BUT...seating depth, powder TYPE, PRIMER BRAND, case brand and bullet type/construction can ALL be included at multiple layering by using mathamatical prediction models at the SAME time. Set up a 4x4, 5x5 or 6x6 matrix and "GET'R'DONE".