Confusion around max charge load

[AbeS]

I’m hoping someone could shed light.
I got a browning bar mk3 in 30-06 as a gift and put leupold vx5hd on it.

Recently I got a decent amount of h4350
I decided I want reload for this rifle (standard sig ammo performed poorly)

only good brass I could find was nosler and decided to go with Sierra 175 bthp match king

Usually with my other rifles I’d pick a max powder charge and load down in increments of .2 grains to get a node.

This time Hodgdon website gives me a max of 59 using the exact bullet I have but they’re using Winchester cases

nosler website gives a max of 56.5 but not differentiating between 180 and 175 grains

hornady newest handbook gives a max of 55.3 but kinda like nosler they have 178 and 180 in the same data and nothing specific to a 175 grain bullet (max velocities in handbok also lower than what I’d like)

my question is would starting at the max Hodgdon provided and loading down 10 loads in increments of .2 be safe as the max loads on other sites are that much lower.
my min load would be 57.2 grains which is higher than the max load provided by nosler, hornady, federal, and Barnes???

can Hodgdon be that far off with their data?

 

[caihlen]

Start at minimum. Not maximum. Increase till you find a sweet spot.

 

[M-61]

my question is would starting at the max Hodgdon provided and loading down 10 loads in increments of .2 be safe as the max loads on other sites are that much lower.
my min load would be 57.2 grains which is higher than the max load provided by nosler, hornady, federal, and Barnes???

NO.

 

[HTSmith]

Start at minimum. Not maximum. Increase till you find a sweet spot.

Even more so with an autoloader

 

[M-61]

Usually with my other rifles I’d pick a max powder charge and load down in increments of .2 grains to get a node.

An unwise practice "..pick a max charge.."
Where did you get this from? You work UP.

 

[Mark W]

I hoping this is a troll.....lol

 

[DGP4]

My Sierra reloading manual 5th ed. shows a minimum load of 46.1 gr. and a Maximum load of 53.6 gr. of H4350 for the Sierra 175 gr. MatchKing with a COAL of 3.290". Starting at a high charge is not only dangerous but will not guarantee an accurate load.

 

[AbeS]

Yes I would normally go off the max load say it’s 50 and load down in .2

example 1 bullet each of 50, 49.8, 49.6, 49.4, 49.2, etcetera

then I’d I go and shoot from the lowest and keep checking for pressure signs as i go up

this is just to find a node after which I’d id pick three or two loads from the node I like and load 5 rounds each I go shoot for groups and then after find the best standard deviation I’d start trying to find the best seating depth if even necessary

but on this specific bullet and powder Hodgdon max is so much higher that my starting load would be higher than the min loads provided by the other companies

I understand that the semi autos act differently I’ve loaded for a 6.5 grendel on a ar platform before and got in nice sd of 15 I believe it can be done with this browning but weary of using the loads provided by Hodgdon to try find a node for it

to many variables in case volume

 

[AbeS]

My Sierra reloading manual 5th ed. shows a minimum load of 46.1 gr. and a Maximum load of 53.6 gr. of H4350 for the Sierra 175 gr. MatchKing with a COAL of 3.290". Starting at a high charge is not only dangerous but will not guarantee an accurate load.

Thanks do they say what brand of cases they used?

 

[DGP4]

Yes, Federal case trimmed to 2.485" and Federal 210 primer.

 

[rebeltex]

Yes I would normally go off the max load say it’s 50 and load down in .2

example 1 bullet each of 50, 49.8, 49.6, 49.4, 49.2, etcetera

then I’d I go and shoot from the lowest and keep checking for pressure signs as i go up

this is just to find a node after which I’d id pick three or two loads from the node I like and load 5 rounds each I go shoot for groups and then after find the best standard deviation I’d start trying to find the best seating depth if even necessary

but on this specific bullet and powder Hodgdon max is so much higher that my starting load would be higher than the min loads provided by the other companies

I understand that the semi autos act differently I’ve loaded for a 6.5 grendel on a ar platform before and got in nice sd of 15 I believe it can be done with this browning but weary of using the loads provided by Hodgdon to try find a node for it

to many variables in case volume

You are not listening, Start LOW AND WORK UP !

 

[Devin Wiggett]

Question
Why would anybody start at max printed data on a new gun? Just saying!

 

[piie]

Yes I would normally go off the max load say it’s 50 and load down in .2

example 1 bullet each of 50, 49.8, 49.6, 49.4, 49.2, etcetera

then I’d I go and shoot from the lowest and keep checking for pressure signs as i go up

Even if you do this - which may sound "safe" to you - when you get to pressure signs at say 49.2gr, what you have are 4 potential hand grenades that will feed and cycle perfectly fine in your rifle next time - just waiting for an absent minded moment where you "meant to pull those hot rounds as soon as I get home..."

 

[K22]

I never start at the maximum load especially when loading for a new rifle / new bullet and / or changing components.

I try to base my load selection on the bullet mfg.'s data, not the powder mfg. The reason is that the bullet mfg. has tested their specific bullet. Different brands of bullets can perform differently and often do. I start
at the minimum published load and work up slowly.

Learn how to read pressure signs. Most loading manual contain detailed information on detecting pressure signs.

I've never used H4350 but used IMR 4350 in the 30 06 in the 70's and it performed very well for me with 165 and 180 Sierra bullets.

 

[SSL]

Please listen to all of the above advice! NEVER start at maximum loads. It's even worse that you are doing so in an auto. Most autos reach maximum working pressure far before the book listed max due to gas system tolerances, piston rods, seals ant etc. depending on the auto. Even with bolt guns, I have often found loads with certain powders that reached maximum (sticky bolt, flattened primers and etc.) in some of my rifles long before I reached the book numbers. Even switching to a different lot number of a previously used powder will cause me to lower the former load and work up again.

 

[ParallaxFree]

Usually with my other rifles I’d pick a max powder charge and load down in increments of .2 grains to get a node.

Oh my gosh, don't ask yourself why reloading manuals have become so conservative!

 

[Fast14riot]

I noticed this in Hodgdon data a few years ago with the exact same cartridge, bullet and powder. I started in the middle of hodgdon data and worked up in 0.3gr steps, started seeing pressure and over 3000fps velocity just 3 steps in and stopped after the first shot of my 4th step. I believe the hodgdon data is dangerously high.

I was testing a new barrel on my 1917, which is a very strong action, I would not try a max load of Hodgdon data.

 

[dellet]

can Hodgdon be that far off with their data?

Yes they can in my experience.

Use Nosler data and adjust COL for the difference in bullet length and seated depth.

The Sierra 175 SMK is 1.240", the Nolser 175 Custom competition is 1.250". Use Nosler's listed COL or .010" shorter.

 

[AbeS]

Yes, Federal case trimmed to 2.485" and Federal 210 primer.

Thanks

 

[jelenko]

You just aren't going to listen, are you?