Here are the results of the comparison between imaguy's suggested load; 21.3gns, based on Satterlee emphasis on consistency, and the 22.9gns tightest groups at 100.
Same gun same bullet same powder same conditions. I alternated between Satterlee and tightest 100 group to keep the same barrel conditions.
6 x 4rd groups at 100yds using 6208, 77RDF in 223. bench rest bolt gun. 3 rds did not register on the chronograph so I dropped one velocity from one column so both columns have the same number, to be fair.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]16353[/ATTACH]
Results
The 'Best Gp' has the better consistency of velocities. This is the opposite of what the earlier work-up predicted.
The Satterlee groups are fractionally tighter when averaged. If you discount the flyer in target Four they would be the same.
The "Best Gp' groups have better consistency of precision.
If you believe in consistency then the 'Best Group at 100yds' wins on both standard deviation comparisons (Satterlee).
If you are going for best results on target then the Satterlee wins by a hairs whisker. In a competition, the Satterlee would have won. In hunting, you wouldn't notice the difference.
For me I cannot resolve how none of this seems to be repeatable and therefore predictable. The less consistent string here was more accurate whereas the earlier work-up the results were the opposite.
To conclude
If you shot only 10 rounds in a ladder using the Satterlee technique you would have honed in on an unrepeatable load that is little more than a guess.
If you shoot a few more rounds at each increment trying to average out the randomness you still end up in a situation where future predictability is shaky at best.
Choosing the best group at 100yds from a few rounds however is no better a predictor of future results it seems.
The only thing you can conclude with certaintly is that velocity as a predictor of accuracy, or even consistency is not proven this case.
Targets
[ATTACH=CONFIG]16354[/ATTACH]
Same gun same bullet same powder same conditions. I alternated between Satterlee and tightest 100 group to keep the same barrel conditions.
6 x 4rd groups at 100yds using 6208, 77RDF in 223. bench rest bolt gun. 3 rds did not register on the chronograph so I dropped one velocity from one column so both columns have the same number, to be fair.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]16353[/ATTACH]
Results
The 'Best Gp' has the better consistency of velocities. This is the opposite of what the earlier work-up predicted.
The Satterlee groups are fractionally tighter when averaged. If you discount the flyer in target Four they would be the same.
The "Best Gp' groups have better consistency of precision.
If you believe in consistency then the 'Best Group at 100yds' wins on both standard deviation comparisons (Satterlee).
If you are going for best results on target then the Satterlee wins by a hairs whisker. In a competition, the Satterlee would have won. In hunting, you wouldn't notice the difference.
For me I cannot resolve how none of this seems to be repeatable and therefore predictable. The less consistent string here was more accurate whereas the earlier work-up the results were the opposite.
To conclude
If you shot only 10 rounds in a ladder using the Satterlee technique you would have honed in on an unrepeatable load that is little more than a guess.
If you shoot a few more rounds at each increment trying to average out the randomness you still end up in a situation where future predictability is shaky at best.
Choosing the best group at 100yds from a few rounds however is no better a predictor of future results it seems.
The only thing you can conclude with certaintly is that velocity as a predictor of accuracy, or even consistency is not proven this case.
Targets
[ATTACH=CONFIG]16354[/ATTACH]