45-90

[Don McDowell]

Most folks that do the ladder testing do it at 1 or 200 yards
That takes as much wind and mirage affect out as possible

[Don McDowell]

Rick Moritz had an article in the Blackpowder Cartridge News a couple of issues back on how he does his ladder testing

[Kurt]

Steve,

The longest range for my use is 200 yds unless the corn fields are picked

My first run when doing the test I shoot here at home where I have 130 yards that is pretty well protected by trees that cut down most of the wind drift and I just shoot a two shot string. This also gives me a positive sight picture at a small aiming point to keep the errors down.
The groups are a little smaller than they would be at 200 but the result is the same, just smaller at 130 yds.
When I get the best worked out I move to the 200 and shoot a 10 shot for a better average and fine tune the load.
I found shooting test loads at extended distances there are to many variables caused by aiming errors or condition changes.
A good 200 yard load I find will hold to the extended range unless I cause the error shooting. I see this when between shooting the final test here at home and going to the gong or long range shoots. If it shoots well here at home it performs well at the shoots.

[Tgc]

Steve, I am curious as to the sizes of your bushings. Tim.

[DirtySteve]

Tgc,
I have .469 thru .473... I use the .470 with Starline brass and a .446 bullet wrapped in SC 55W..

Steve

[Tgc]

Thanks Steve, I recently purchased a Meacham neck die, and one of the bushings is .472". Tim.

[DirtySteve]

Still have not had a chance to retest this rifle yet. I have some loaded with my original load that shot ok. Just to check if mounting a scope changed things. I loaded some incrementally increasing charge weights with the heavier (530) bullet. Also loaded as Don suggested a few with 90 grains and a single thick wad. I used a .060" fiber wad.

The weather has put this in a holding pattern.

[JKR]

I have found it very hard to do meaningful testing of paper patch loads during cold weather. Fouling control is the issue. Dons suggestion of 1 to 7 mix of water and Napa cutting oil has worked better than anything I’ve tried up until the temp drops below freezing. I’ve tried RV antifreeze which works pretty well for GG bullets but not so well for PP, at least in my rifles.
Jim

[Don McDowell]

I'm not sure testing any bpcr loads when the temps are below freezing is very productive. The air density and movement is much different than it is in warner temps. Like JKR mentions fouling control can be a whole nether ballgame, and I'm pretty well convinced that more good loads have gone by the way side due to fouling control methods/concoctions than not.
It's been a few years since we've had real winter here in the high plains and front ranges of the Rocky's. Looking more and more like the first day of the sillhouette match at the Desert International is going to be primarily midrange scope settings. LOL Glad I have my loads well established.