Need Help on Landing Gear Calculations

Thinking about load testing one main gear assembly off the plane project
anticipated for 1000 # gross and have two question areas.

FIRST: FAR 23.725 provides a drop height range from 9.2 " to 18.7". With a
1000# gross plane, I think this calculates as 797 and 882# respectively on
each main..........Correct??
IE: I was going to apply 797# minus the actual gear weight at 9.2" height.

Ground Load Dynamic tests in 23.726(a)(1) also requires a test at 2.25 x
height in above 23.725. This raises the drop heights to 20.7" and 42" with
weights at 892# and 942# if calc'ed correctly.

In a previous project a long while ago, I merely used a 3G load divided by
mains to size the structural members. Then with the aforementioned 1000#
gross, it would have be 1500# on each gear. My rational for the 3G was
23.561(b)(2) for emergency landing upward conditions on a normal category
airplane structure.

SECOND: What setup could be used to do such a load test??
Is it mandatory to actual freefall drop or somehow just apply the load??

Maybe along the lines of a built up 2x4 beam lever approach.......Any
suggestions?? Am I thoroughly confused G?

Thanks, Dick
ps Although RAH has been very helpful in the past, if there is a better
website for this kind of discussion, I would appreciate knowing it.