Getting ready for my first load, need advice on this recipe

[Road_Clam]

Greetings gents,
I'm getting ready to tackle my first load session. I purchased Alliant 2000-MR powder, CCI large rifle primers, and Sierra 168 gr. HPBT's . My first issue is this specific powder is not listed in my Lyman's handbook. This powder was not my first choice, but it was all I could get at my LGS. It's a medium burn that will work well with heavy bullit .223's and .308's. I used the Alliant reloader chart and it's telling me to load a 48.5 grain charge ? That seems respectively really high to all the other recipes. Should I go ahead and load to this spec ?

 

[gaboon]

That chart gives the max load. start about 3grs lower and work up.

 

[Shynloco]

Road_Clam,
I'd like to suggest that you have some very good sources of loading information, two of which is the powder manufacturer and the bullet manufacturer. Addressing ONLY the .308 caliber, I've never used the powder you spoke of, but regularly use RE15, Varget or IMR 4895 when loading or shooting at 100 yds. To give you a comparison of my loads to what you showed (48 grs), all three of my powders are right at or just below 42 grs for a Sierra 168 gr HPTB that I pretty use for all my .308 loads. From my experiences, a load as high as you've shown are for longer distances and frankly, I am unfamiliar with the burn rate of your powder. And since you are new to reloading and testing, I'd recommend you start at 100 yds and then over time work your way toward longer distances. But do pay attention to "pressure signs" as you develop your loads (i.e. hard lifting bolt, cupped primers or blown primers, etc.) The learning process takes time and never ends. So be patient, ask questions and learn. But most of all, HAVE FUN! This is a sport and reloading is a process that is rewarding as well as educational. So best wishes and take care in everything you do as anything that goes BOOM, has inherent dangers that can rear their ugly head if you aren't careful.

Alex

P.S. If you don't have a Sierra Manual, PM me and I'll email you the pages with powder recommendations from the Sierra Manual.

 

[stool]

being new you need to be aware of a couple of things...design lengths, max loads are not what YOU load.
they are where you would typically STOP
DO YOU KNOW THE MAX CARTRIDGE LENGTH FOR YOUR RIFLE ?
if mag fed ,does this fit in the mag ? are you going to shoot from the mag or single load.

powder..you did right by going to the powder maker...but you need to read the fine print.

"REDUCE RIFLE AND HANDGUN CHARGE WEIGHTS BY 10% TO ESTABLISH A STARTING LOAD."
from the page BEFORE the load data.

you say 168's but did not say 308 win,,,the make a 168 7mm bullet also....
so when you ask for help be very specific.....COAL, BBL LENGTH, CALIBER, TYPE OF RIFLE, INTENTION FOR THE AMMO.

48.5-4.85(10%) IS 43.65.....I WOULD START at 43.6 and work up in 0.5 gr steps9 (MAYBE 43.5..JUST TO KEEP IT SIMPLE)

 

[Road_Clam]

Thanks very much for all the help ! After much reading last night through my manual I did in fact read the new handloader -10% information so obviously that is where I will start. I also sent an email to Alliant just to verify that my combo's max load is 48.5 . Just to clarify, i'm bench shooting .308 Win

 

[Eddie Harren]

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/recipedetail.aspx?gtypeid=2&weight=168&shellid=80&bulletid=249

I found this on my very own Google Machine.

 

[Webster]

The max load is not the same for every rifle.

 

[stool]

they likely will not give you the answer you asked for....they do not have YOUR RIFLE..
WHICH IS WHY YOU WORK UP...

Thanks very much for all the help ! After much reading last night through my manual I did in fact read the new handloader -10% information so obviously that is where I will start. I also sent an email to Alliant just to verify that my combo's max load is 48.5 . Just to clarify, i'm bench shooting .308 Win