I appreciate the effort you are considering in this study. That said I think you may be trying to bite off too much.
I think just two handgun cartridges would be sufficient, with only one boolit weight per cartridge. A 9mm and 45acp would be a good selection in that the working pressures are so different and can use different powders, but both cover the majority of working pressures in handguns with the exception of the large magnum calibers.
Right now, I pretty much have decided to stick to one caliber at first. The 45ACP. Simply because of the reasons I listed in my last post about lower pressure as well as less time & effort issues.
I am considering adding another caliber in the next month or so & continue on with the testing a little longer with added caliber(s), IF I find that the time consumed is not too much for me to do even one caliber(45ACP). I will be seeing how long it takes to do the 3 powders I would like to test with just the 45ACP first & test those loads, and then consider whether or not I should add, or just stick to one caliber. Currently, I am just going to stick with Alliant Red Dot, & Hodgdons 700X & Clays, for the 3 powders.
I don't know how many different pistol powders you are considering testing(may have missed it) but I think I wouldn't get too many going at once. It will be too much work and expense as I believe you are finding out.
3 powders, see above answer.
Using a larger difference in the ladder loads would simplify things some and would still give you a good idea what is going on.
As explained in my post before this one, these loads ranges are only about .5 grains apart, so testing at .2 grains, although it would reduce the time/material/effort, would, IMO, also reduce the data I would be able to gather.
If further testing seems warranted, there is always next year.
Yes, or next month or so. LOL I have been considering this sort of thing for a while. I am not going to "rush".
Time & funds/supplies will be my only self imposed restrictions.
If you load using the same equipment in the same environment(basement, temp, humidity) so conditions are stable and use powers and other components from the same lots, the loads should be a good test even if they are not loaded at the same time.
I agree.
I intend to follow this research and study your results. It sounds very interesting.
Thanks for your attention, support, & suggestions!