Close call with Nosler .243 load data

[uncle-buck]

Be glad you started at the lightest load.Was the rifle damaged,No ? Put the lid back on that powder container,put the Nosler manual back on the shelf .Try another powder load combo from a different manual .

To be clear, the primer did not blow at the starting load. And a portion of the bolt face was slightly burned/pitted.

I'm done with Nosler products and will never use them or their load data again.

Will stick with Sierra, Hodgdon, and Berger load data and double check loads in QuickLoad before firing.

 

[Ironworker]

Did Nosler ever respond to your email ?

 

[uncle-buck]

Did Nosler ever respond to your email ?

No. I telephoned and talked with one of their tech support reps.

 

[fyrewall]

Hi there Uncle Buck....

I think your complaint is valid.

Taking a look at ANSI/SAAMI standards the recommended Piezo pressure for the .243 W with all common bullet weights is MAP = 600/100 psi, MPLM (max lot) = 615/100 psi, max prob. sample mean = 638/100 psi. These values would be multiplied by 100 to give psi like 60,000.

Taking a look at Hodgdon data the max load using H414 with 55 grain bullets is 48.4 grains, giving a pressure of 57,800 psi. The Nosler data max is 52.5, no pressures are provided and a case capacity of 101% is realized. 52.5 grains of H414 with a 55 grain bullet is truly a "rocket ship" load - in fact it is about 8.5% above Hodgdon max data. A bunch of 55 grain Nosler bullets was provided for this load data.

To me the that H414 Nosler data is an abnormality. Should any claim be filed against Nosler they would state that they had no control over the individual performing the loading. However, a pressure test might be performed under laboratory conditions to determine MAP (max average pressure), MPLM for a given lot, and a max probable sample mean using published Nosler data - should these tests show huge pressures in the 70,000 psi range Nosler might be forced to eat it.

Boycotting Nosler stuff would sort of be meaningless but a carefully presented proposal to accept a complimentary lot of goodies like bullets or brass might make everybody happy.

As for me I check out everything and make logical comparisons.

I shoot 87 Vmax's in my .243, usually with H4350 but now I am using 4000 MR - the 87 Vmax is an outstanding bullet, able to perform well at extended ranges and would surpass the stubby 55's at extended ranges.

Happy shooting!

 

[uncle-buck]

Appreciate your thoughtful reply, fyrewall.

Mistakes happen, but the Nosler rep I spoke with totally dismissed my concerns and immediately launched into techno-jargon talk in what sounded like an effort to defend the company's error.

There are plenty of high quality sources of reloading components and data.

As the old saying goes, "Fool me once, shame on you..."

 

[3-300s]

what primer did you use?

 

[uncle-buck]

Winchester large rifle

 

[243winxb]

Winchester large rifle

If an old lot of primers from around 2012, may just be the defective ones? There were many.

 

[Zero333]

I can read, too.

My Lapua cases hold 54.0 grains of water. The Nosler case listed holds 53.9 grains of water. Do you actually believe that 1/10 grain difference is material?

If you don't use QuickLoad or understand this issue, please refrain from further comments. Thank you.

Noslers data lists the H20 capacity AFTER the bullet is seated. And not a empty case.

Look at their other weight 243 bullets data

Data for their 70 gr bullets shows 50.8 case capacity

With 90 to 100 gr, they list 50 gr brass capacity

With 105-107's they list 48gr case capacity.

I always found lapua brass to show pressure signs earlier that some other brass like Winchester, Remington and Nosler.

 

[fyrewall]

The ANSI/SAAMI site is an interesting read - it shows what the standards are for ammo and load data should comply with these standards. The Nosler data presented is way above that shown by Hodgdon for H414 with 55 grain bullets. Duplication of the Nosler data under controlled test conditions could show pressures higher than SAAMI standards. Nosler presented H414 data for a variety of 55 grain bullets; COAL was provided for each 55 grain bullet - case capacities would vary somewhat.

Should Nosler delete or change their H414 data for 55 grain .243 data we will know that they paid attention to
uncle-buck. If not, Nosler might be crosswise with SAAMI.