when you test to see which load your gun likes why do you shoot at 100 and not 50?

There are a couple issues. I do test handguns with low powered scopes at 50. With higher power scopes, the sight picture is good enough that there's no real visual advantage to testing at 50, and it's easier to see variations between your loads, since your groups will usually open with range. When I have several good loads, I will move back to 200 ( or longer when possible ) to separate the good from the best.

50 does not show you much about the load IMO, sure it shows some but is much easier to see the differences at longer ranges, and most non parallax scopes are parallax free at 100 or more yards. I do use 50 for some handguns and short range rifles with open sights since I rarely use them past 75 yards, eyes just aren't what they used to be.

Depends on the gun. round and scope I am testing loads for. Mostly 100, 200 or 300 depending on those things

Gun, if this is not a precision gun most of the time Just use 100 yards, rifles in handgun calibers and older short range rounds 100 is plenty.

Scope, if not an adjustable parallax scope, shoot at the range the scopes fixed parallax is set at.

Guns that are to be used at longer range the load workup is done at 300 since that helps pick the best loads easier(vertical/horizontal/cluster). Those are also the ones that get a ladder test.

Rifle, generally 100 yards.

I hunt and don't do a lot of long range or target competition so 100 yards works for me. The farthest I shoot is around 350 yards.

When I test loads I test them at the farthest range that I can. I do not like to even test at 100 becuase it is not showing you everything. When I worked a load up for my 243 I tested it at 250 yards as the was the longest I had access to when I needed it. The farther you shoot the easier it is to tell which load is the better one.

Walter

+1 Walter is spot on. 100 yards is mostly a waste of time and effort. 200 really reveals differences that are not as apparent at 100.

Are we talking 22LR, handgun, or rifles?

Chad pm is full

Send it in the other PM I have going with you!!

rifles
223,308,6.5x55,300winmag

It depends on which bullet you plan to shoot in them, and what the purpose of the rifle is. If you plan to shoot long range with a high BC bullet, I won't test the load at 100. I would test it at 200 or 300 yards. If you plan to shoot a basic hunting bullet for normal hunting distances (200 yards or less) then 100 yards is fine. Testing a rifle load at 50 yards is pointless IMO. My 300WM with the 208 A-max or 225 BTHP, I test at 300 yards, since the rifle is used for ELR. 1K+.

sweet thanks for the help!