Thread: Best/simplest alternative to a ladder chart?

Greetings @Rn-85,
Thanks for your reply.
A few notes on how I keep myself out of trouble almost all of the time.
Data needs to be the latest that you can find and for the actual projectile (or one very similar) that you intend to use. If you can find three sources then that is great. I mostly use ADI powders and Hornady projectiles so I mostly use the Hodgdons site. Mostly the data agrees pretty well but some of the cartridges I load for, like the 6.5x55 are all over the map. If the data agrees, as it usually does with the .308 and most others, you can be reasonably confident on the velocities and this is what I have found with my .308 rifles.
Military rifles and even factory rifles for military cartridges can also be tricky. I routinely chronograph a test load 2 grains under max for new powder lots and projectiles or a little more for a completely new load. Mostly this comes out as expected but a few years ago I neglected to do this and fired a load of new AR2209 expecting about 2,730 fps but the chrono read 2,850 fps. These days I have a huge amount of chronographed data for the cartridges I load for which generally is consistent with the load data so I don't need to start all that low.
Regards Grandpamac.