What makes a mild load?

[Mike8623]

What makes a mild load versus a hot load?

I'd mainly like to know what makes a mild load. Right off hand I would think any load that pushes a bullet thru the barrel could be a mild load. So I guess you get into different powders, how much powder pushes the bullet thru the barrel in such a manner that it causes the bullet to spin in such a manner that it consistently hits what being aimed at.

So I keep seeing mild load data that says unsafe or dangerous......why is that, is it because it won't push the bullet thru the barrel or what

Can anyone educate me?

 

[CF Junkie]

I would define it relative to chamber pressure.
Hot loads have pressures that are approaching Pmax, and sometimes exceed it.
My idea of a mild load would be those in the middle of the load table, not close to the minimum load, but well below a hot load.
Loading below minimum loads might be getting close to leaving the bullet in the barrel, although to do that, the loads would really be minimum.

As a target shooter, and not hunting anymore because I am past 80, I generally load in the middle of the load table, but I am loading for Optimum Bullet Time to minimize harmonic vibration as the bullet is leaving the muzzle, and am not interested in loading anywhere near Pmax.

I have never had a rifle that shot most accurately close to Pmax, but if you are a hunter, particularly in the western states with wide open spaces, you may have to approach Pmax to get the proper kinetic energy at the long distances that you will be shooting.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Got your powder/bullet of choice, book says "20.5" grains of powder is Max!
Me? Start around 18 grains of powder with NO OTHER changes and work up till they're ALL going in the same hole.
You have just left yourself some wiggle room in case you go shooting and it's 100*+ degrees so you won't have to beat the bolt open.
Brass lasts longer and you found your sweet spot (bug hole). Don't like the results, make only ONE change at a time. Nothing wrong with a little trigger time anyway.
And as far as SPEED? (FPS) Never seen a target or critter squawk about how fast a bullet was going when it got hit/died.

 

[Mike8623]

Thanks for the response

So what you mainly think is that it comes down to pressure, then after that enough pressure (grains of powder) that will push the bullet out the barrel with enough spin to consistently hit where you aim

 

[Mike8623]

I would define it relative to chamber pressure.
Hot loads have pressures that are approaching Pmax, and sometimes exceed it.
My idea of a mild load would be those in the middle of the load table, not close to the minimum load, but well below a hot load.
Loading below minimum loads might be getting close to leaving the bullet in the barrel, although to do that, the loads would really be minimum.

As a target shooter, and not hunting anymore because I am past 80, I generally load in the middle of the load table, but I am loading for Optimum Bullet Time to minimize harmonic vibration as the bullet is leaving the muzzle, and am not interested in loading anywhere near Pmax.

I have never had a rifle that shot most accurately close to Pmax, but if you are a hunter, particularly in the western states with wide open spaces, you may have to approach Pmax to get the proper kinetic energy at the long distances that you will be shooting.

I'm 75

 

[Mike8623]

I would define it relative to chamber pressure.
Hot loads have pressures that are approaching Pmax, and sometimes exceed it.
My idea of a mild load would be those in the middle of the load table, not close to the minimum load, but well below a hot load.
Loading below minimum loads might be getting close to leaving the bullet in the barrel, although to do that, the loads would really be minimum.

As a target shooter, and not hunting anymore because I am past 80, I generally load in the middle of the load table, but I am loading for Optimum Bullet Time to minimize harmonic vibration as the bullet is leaving the muzzle, and am not interested in loading anywhere near Pmax.

I have never had a rifle that shot most accurately close to Pmax, but if you are a hunter, particularly in the western states with wide open spaces, you may have to approach Pmax to get the proper kinetic energy at the long distances that you will be shooting.

I'm 75

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Lighter Weight Bullets at, Sub Maximum Velocities, will get you,.. a "Mild Load" !
I Have absolutely NO, "Muzzle Jump" using, 50 gr. V-Maxes, in a .22-250 Rem "Down Loaded" at,..
3,500 to 3,550 FPS, in an 8 pound Rifle.
I can See, Impacts and exploding, PD's and Sage Rats at, 18 to 20 power, on my Scope from, an 8 pound Rifle.

 

[209jones]

Can depend on what you want the load to do for you. Number of applications come to mind, reducing muzzle flip and recoil, not needing the speed, is one I've used, 7RM, 140gr bullets reduced to 7-08 speeds. Only needing to reach a given distance reasonably accurately, 25yds for chickens, 100 or 200 for a specific rifle match with iron sights, or just reducing powder usage in a gopher gun.

 

[Mike8623]

I'm looking to load for a 50 beowulf, 400g lead bullet .501 diam with imr4198.

Although I am loading for the above caliber, I'm looking to understand why different publications state wildest load...
. trying to understand what they mean and why.

 

[lb-ft]

@ 209jones, by chance does your 7RM load consist of IMR 4064 and a magnum primer?

 

[Mike8623]

@ 209jones, by chance does your 7RM load consist of IMR 4064 and a magnum primer?

I'm pleased with all the responses, but if we can let's keep on topic

 

[Mike8623]

I'm looking to load for a 50 beowulf, 400g lead bullet .501 diam with imr4198.

Although I am loading for the above caliber, I'm looking to understand why different publications state wildest load...
. trying to understand what they mean and why.

Sorry wildest load

 

[Mike8623]

Sorry wildest load

Mildest

 

[jelenko]

let's keep on topic

This will tend to keep some people from responding.
While you started the thread, the 'culture' is that it's everyone's, not just yours.

 

[Bronsin]

They state them as the mildest load because that the least amount of the powder that can be used and have it still operate safely. Powder burns at a controlled rate called "deflagration". When it's underloaded, if it lights, it can lead to a "detonation", which is just as explosive as it sounds. You can have serious problems or a blown up gun with underloaded charges. Without going into a bunch of specifics, it acts like you tried to fire the gun with a bullet stuck in the barrel. There's no reason to go below the minimum charge with any powder.

 

[Leo_B]

Heading to an OTA (over-thinkers anonymous) meeting but time for an answer. I'd check the pressure and manual starting load of the lowest pressure recipe for that round. Then the pressure of the highest pressure in max loads. For ciphering let's say 27,000 and 44,000 (data from .327 Fed Mag). So there's 17k range to work with. I'd take 1/3 of that or 5600 and add to the 27k for 32,600 psi. That or below would be my mild loads. No clue how to measure it though.

Ok, plan B. Lowest velocity is 1253 and highest is 1670, difference of 417. I'd take 25% or 104fps plus 1253 is 1357fps. That or below is a mild load. And I know how to measure that. Now to my meeting.

 

[K22]

I am not sure "mild loads" is an appropriate term. I would suggest that a more accurate term is "reduced loads." Speer was one that published "reduced loads" that were presumably laboratory tested to be safe. Same with Hodgdon. The purpose was to reduce recoil and /or a terminal performance with less explosiveness.

If you stay within published load data, particularly one that matches the bullet and powder, there is a range of powder charges from "starting" to "maximum". By staying within these limits, working up a load slowly and understanding pressure signs you can avoid problems.

There is no need to over complicate this issue with terminology gymnastics.

 

[Syncrowave]

There are "mild" or "reduced" loads, and then there are squib loads, often a cast lead bullet over a few grains of fast shotgun/pistol powder like Red Dot or Bullseye. Many of them give great precision....

Every year our local range holds their John C. Garand CMP match, and a lot of guys use old military rifles (03A3 Springfields, M98s, etc.) with squib loads for the "Vintage Military" classification...

 

[Leo_B]

I think "mild load" is a great term and appropriate as an identifier of that portion of a manual's published standard load recipes that isn't a "heavy load". There's obviously no defined dividing line between the two. And "reduced loads" is another absolute criteria. Hodgdon has published two white papers on reduced loads with specific powders. But those are "reduced" from the published manual standard recipe for the load, literally reduced, one to 70% powder and the other to 60% powder from max loads. So yes, reduced are specifically defined loads and mild are perceived loads, but both real things in their usage. YMWV

 

[Mike8623]

Just going into church