So watched your course on how inaccurate the one, three, and five shot ladder test is for determining appropriate charge weight. Overall agree with the findings. Other well established ballistics experts are saying the same thing on different parts of the internet and my basic understanding of statistics makes it make sense also.
So the question is, how do you determine the appropriate charge weight now?
Do you still do some testing at different charge weights in order to look for pressure sign, then back off from Max pressure? If so, how many shots do you do per charge weight?
Are you just looking at the Reloading Data and choosing a charge weight somewhat below maximum and just making sure that there’s no pressure sign there and then just sticking with that particular load?
In my testing, charge weight has not been a major factor in accuracy as long as a reasonable load is being selected.
I don’t doubt that there may be a charge weight that is more or less accurate, but I have found bullet selection, seating depth, and powder selection to be so much more important levers that I honestly don’t usually even make it to the point where I test charge weight before I find a load I’m happy with.
Jim,
Do you just choose your starting charge weight with a new load by just looking at the velocities in the manual and choosing the one that you desire? Or do you have a set approach that you take with all new loads on where to start when deciding on a first powder charge?
Most of the time I’m just coming 0.5 to 1.5 grains less than th published max load. For example, if 6.5 Creedmoor has a max load of 41.7, I might try 41.2 grains.
Coming off the max allows you to make sure you don’t go over pressure even in hot conditions or a thinner barrel.