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Do not exceed this do not exceed that can we just agree

Here’s the setup”
Brand New Ruger M77 Hawkeye 30-06 All Weather
Bullet: 165gr Hornady SST
Powder: IMR4350
Primer: CCI BR2
Brass: Federal

Prep the brass using the following method:
Tumbled
Full Length Resized
Trimmed, cleaned primer pockets, champhered,sp?) and re-tumbled
Wiped down and blew out cases with compressor
Weighed each piece of brass and grouped
Hand Primed

Now with the brass ready I measured each charge working from the min to the max according to Hornady. My lee manual’s max was a little lighter than the Hornady manual I was using.

Tested the rounds and as I approached the Hornady max of 57grs the groups were tightening up. I never reach anything better that 1.5”. My velocity topped out at 2800fps on the max charge rounds. Needless to say I started perusing borrowed manuals from reloader friends and I find a lot of conflicting min and max ranges more so on the max numbers. I have in my hand right now a IMR load data sheet listing 60grs max for a 165gr bullet in 30-06. This is 4grs more than I loaded as my max.

Who should I use as a max?
Why are there such varying data out there?
Anyone with experience using my components listed above?

PS: Absolutly no pressure signs
 
O K Same issue that most every other handloader runs into. Each reloading manual will give a little different min and max. The thing to remember is each bullet will have a different profile as far as base to ogive plus other measurements. This means the bearing surface length for the bullets change. Also, testing locations, temps, air density, etc. will vary and to be truthful most the bullet and powder companies want to CYA.,I don't blame them for that) Now, with that being said your rifle is different than anybody elses on the planet. Your max load for your rifle may be at say 56.5 grs. of a given powder while another rifle may max out at 57.7,for example only) Maybe this will help. Bill
 
Bill,

Great answer, that’s why always look at 3 or 4 different books. I use the pressure signs and chronograph as the indicators for the max charge.
 
Look at several books BUT if the bullets are not the SAME they will have a different total bearing surface on the lands plus some jackets are softer---anyway with out going into detail the point is a 165 gr 30 cal is not interchangeable between makers for example.


Not to mention brass and primers.
 
Louro said:
Bill,

Great answer, that’s why always look at 3 or 4 different books. I use the pressure signs and chronograph as the indicators for the max charge.

Thank you, Sir. And thanks for taking it another step further. I was kind of in a hurry when I replied to his question. Bill
 
Exactamundo! WHich is why I only go to the reloading books to get my basic data that I will start with and work from there. I also usually track all of my data from testing and loading and look to that before I go to my commercial books.

As noted, the books are basically a reference, or for folks that only load one or two cartridges and then only a few of those every year, they are necessary. For a lot of us high volume shooters, who shoot different bullets, powders, and other components, or, even more so, those of us that shoot wildcats, you sometimes have to experiment. Carefully, of course. Thats why we always say start low and work up carefully. You will usually note that different components, guns, etc, even if same caliber/cartridge, react differently. What is safe in one of my rifles in 6XC, may not be in another 6XC.

The more you load, and more importantly, the more you pay attention to what you are loading and seeing, the more you learn.

Loading ammo is almost as fun as shooting it!

John
 
I would also like to add a little something to the mix of very great information. Check the date of publish for the reloading information you have. I have found there to be a great difference between old and new books of the same source. WHY? Things that the powder manufacture do to the powder may have changed over the years. h4831 is still h4831 but the new powder may take 1 grain less,example)to achieve the same pressure/velocity. I saw a 4 grain difference in 2 speer loading manual there where 25 years between publish dates. If you ever look at P.O. Ackley's 2 book set the powder charges in the books are very high compared to current manuals.

Andrew
 

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