Ladder Test, To Suppress or Not to Suppress…

[BreechFace]

…that is the question.

What are those reloaders thoughts on whether to shoot ladder loads with a suppressor or not?

It is my thought if my intention is to shoot suppressed with the load then I should shoot the ladder suppressed as well, so that’s my SOP. But thought I would see what others opinions are.

Anyone try differentiating a ladder with two duplicate ladder tests and shoot one suppressed and one not?

Any thoughts?

 

[mcb]

Once I am sure I have a stable bullet I do my ladder work up with the suppressor on if the load is intended to be used with my suppressor. Suppressors do effect velocity just a little bit and barrel harmonics a whole bunch so you might as well get the true velocity and accuracy potential of the load in the configuration you're going to use the ammo in.

 

[BreechFace]

@mcb those are my thoughts as well.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I am assuming you are talking about rifles and not pistols...

If your ladder tests are for accuracy/precision, then testing without the suppressor when you plan on using one is about as helpful as running the tests using a different rifles.

 

[N555]

I use mine when load developing.
Silencers can give some additional cycling oomph, especially with recoil boosted designs on pistols.
Just make sure the gun cycles with out it.

 

[ms6852]

Just do 2 ladder tests , one suppressed and the other not suppressed.

 

[Gordon]

with pistol that are sighted in with factory available loads, which is a good idea and which for defense I recommend carrying, I THEN add a suppressor and work up the sub sonic load I want to shoot and note the point of impact . I never adjust sights to a suppressor unless the weapon is dedicated to that specific suppressor and has the ability to repeatedly readjust to noted sight settings with known loads. Most defensive pistols have fixed sights so you got what you got and need to Kentucky it .

 

[BreechFace]

Sorry, my topic is referring to rifle reloading.

I have the means of shooting pistols suppressed but don't really see the point of dangling a suppressor on the end of a handgun.

 

[horsemen61]

For rifle work yes when I work up a load I use my suppressor I’m going to hunt with it or shoot with it as much as possible so why wouldn’t I use it in load work up

 

[EricBu]

…that is the question.

What are those reloaders thoughts on whether to shoot ladder loads with a suppressor or not?

It is my thought if my intention is to shoot suppressed with the load then I should shoot the ladder suppressed as well, so that’s my SOP. But thought I would see what others opinions are.

Anyone try differentiating a ladder with two duplicate ladder tests and shoot one suppressed and one not?

Any thoughts?

If I am developing a load specifically for the can, I'll do all my testing with the can. If I need to make sure the gun runs without the can...I'll do my ladders naked.

I also have a few rifles that I always shoot suppressed that shift the POI, so those always get the can for load workup.