300 Yard Ladder Test, Tricks for less walking back and forth?

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Spin Drift

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Hi everyone,

Since getting back into reloading after a long hiatus I have been digging into my old reloading notes. My two most favorite development methods were OCW at 100 yard or 300 yard single shot ladder tests. My results from the ladders I did seem easier to read while also consuming much less precious components. The only problem is that I have to walk down range to mark each shot. I could use the exercise but the problem is that other people are using the range so shooting one at a time takes forever and is completely unreasonable. One trick I have used in the past is to color the bullet with different sharpie colors and shoot onto a white target. This worked ok and I may continue doing this but I am wondering if any of you have any other tricks or technology to make this a more efficient process?
 
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Not intended for the task but I suppose this would work. You would just have to rewind to record where they went and place the aim points all at identical points for the edge of the paper.

 
I use a good spotting scope with a target that has a 1 inch grid pattern overlayed below the actual target. Also there is a remote bluetooth camera that links to your smart phone you can set up near the target I may look into. As I age saving steps is becoming a priority LOL.
 
I'll bet that Creighton Audette had someone pulling targets in pits when he came up with the idea. That, and electronic targets or a camera system make 300 yds. possible. I've tried coloring bullets too, and while it works I don't have enough different colored markers to do a decent ladder test.

In theory, the Saterlee chronograph method is telling you the same thing (velocity nodes) and takes out the human element.

 
Laphroaig said:
I'll bet that Creighton Audette had someone pulling targets in pits when he came up with the idea. That, and electronic targets or a camera system make 300 yds. possible. I've tried coloring bullets too, and while it works I don't have enough different colored markers to do a decent ladder test.
Click to expand...

Yes having enough colors is a challenge. I would color some bullets half and half with two different colors. Even still I would usually walk halfway through the ladder and mark everything.

Thanks for the saterlee video I will check that out when I am back at home.
 
The camera seems like a good solution but too much setup and then some clown will shoot it some how some way.

I might just need a good spotting scope and some sort of grid paper. I've been wanting one for a while now anyways.

I have a magnetospeed so I'm going to try this Saterlee method too. Seems pretty cool. I have thought about this same idea for years but never tried it. That's awesome somebody did the test and it actually works! I'm pretty stoked to try that with the cost of components these days. And I am so damn tired of shortages pushing me into load development, I just want to shoot and not tune endlessly any more.
 
Target camera like was already suggested. Or shoot and see targets coupled with a good spotting scope. Really the target cam is easier and cheaper.
 
If you are worried about it getting shot make a sheild that mounts on a tripod that it can be mounted to. Piece of angle iron or such will be enough I would think for most applications. That should not effect the Bluetooth.
 
I tried doing the grid idea, too, but it didn’t work out the best for me. Similar to other suggestions above, I set up a phone / GoPro to record a video of the target, then once I’m done shooting, I retrieve my phone and target. Then I can replay the video and mark each shot on target.

I used an older iPhone that I snagged for super cheap.
 
I haven't tried it yet and hope to this weekend. Take a piece of cardboard and either spray paint it with the hi viz green survey spray paint or use hi viz green construction paper, put clear packaging tape over the green and spray paint the tape black. Homemade shoot n c.
 
1) Amazon sells more colors of markers than you can imagine. Combine 3 colors on each bullet tip, and you can turn 8 colors into 56 combinations. If you’re shooting more than 56 individual loads during a single load development, something is awry.

2) Shooting OCW tests inherently eliminates your need to move downrange - Audette Ladders require marking/identification, Newberry OCW’s don’t, as we fire each load at independent points of aim.
 
Old fashioned way: Spotting scope and sheets of butcher block paper with orange stickers about 8 inches apart for several rows. You can use a straight edge to line in a 1 inch grid if you want. I usually run out about 5 ft of the paper, so then do about 5 rows of 4 each of the orange dots. You get 20 groups with that. I usually drive to the far side (300 or whatever) yard line, set that up, and a 6 inch steel target to range with. Shoot for a couple of hours, then drive down and pick it all up.

Super geek method: set up a intranet. you need 2 deep cycle batteries, 2 inverters, 2 cheap routers, 1 cheap chinese video camera, 1 tablet or laptop and 2 directional antennas. You can shoot this 1/2 mile depending on the antennas, so good for long distance. You can cobble it together yourself for a few hundred bucks, especially if you have old routers in the closet. You can also do away with the inverters if you have 12vdc power supplies for stuff, or you can replace with the all in one jumper packs with built in inverter. There's at least one company that makes a turn key cam solution for long range shooting, so you can pay to play if you want.
 
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