Is a compressed load ok?

[okbrent]

I have a new 6mmbr that I am loading to break in the barrell, I have looked over this site and one of the standard loads I have seen is 34 grs of Varget. I am shooting a 66 gr Fowler, Laupa brass trimmed to 1.520 and turned to .264, CCI br-4. Rifle is a Remington action with a Hart 26" 1-10 twist .266 tight neck. After loading the powder into the cases I have found it will be a slightly compressed load. I have never loaded a compressed load. Will this cause a pressure issue? Thank you for your input, Brent.

 

[AndyTaber]

I am new to the 6mmBR also, with about 350 rounds through the barrel so far. I saw that load also and backed it off to 33.0 gr of Varget with 68 gr Bergers and Federal primers. This load Chrony'd at about 3100. The powder comes up to the bottom of the neck. I have a .272 chamber and am using .268 Redding neck bushings, so I have a fairly light neck tension. Not loose, just not tight.

I shot this at a Benchrest match yesterday and was very pleased with the results. I don't have to worry about the powder pushing up on my bullets, they stay where they're seated, right off the lands.

 

[superlight93]

Try using a powder funnel with a 6 inch drop tube attached. Trickle the powder after you weigh it into the funnel.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Measure your loaded rounds base to ogive an hour after you load them, if they stay put, then you have nothing to worry about.

 

[1000yardstare]

One of the best F Class loads I have used in the past 4 years is a slightly compressed load of RL25 under a 107 SMK in a straight .243 out of a Savage 12 FV. Won me the Saturday Agg (300, 500, 900, 1000) in the 2008 Ontario Champs for the combined F(Factory), F(TR). Things have evolved so fast in F Class that now there is just F(TR) in Ontario.

In 2009 was second in the F(Open) 1000 yd shootoff in the Ontario Championships with a 6AI using 107 SMK over a slightly compressed load of RL22.

Only thing I have against slightly compressed loads is if you shake the loaded case, can`t tell if it is a load or empty.

Now I load for 95%.

Bill

 

[RJBain]

Try using a powder funnel with a 6 inch drop tube attached. Trickle the powder after you weigh it into the funnel.

I shoot 34 grains of Varget under a 70 grain moly coated Nosler ballistic Tip and trickle it in as superlight93 stated above and the powder level is just below the bottom of the neck.

 

[lpreddick]

slightly compressed stick powder will "uncompress itself" if transported to and from the range or field from the vibrations of the vehicle. using a drop tube as mentioned is my favorite trick to get the powder away from the bullet base. slightly tapping the loaded case on the bench will settle the powder right away. some feel the compacted stick powder burns more efficiently producing a more uniform pressure curve...maybe. obviously compressed ball powder should be approached very carefully. heavily compressed loads of stick powder may not settle enough in the above situations and may be dangerous anyway. [/quote] if i can see you, i can touch you. BANG!

 

[Larryh128]

I run a couple loads slightly compressed, no issues whatsoever. Biggest problem that I've seen with highly compressed loads is that they don't achieve what I'm looking for & usually tell me that I need to look at a powder with a different burn rate.

 

[tenring]

With slower burning powders, you can do that, but it is still good advice to start about 2 grains under max and work up. Compressed loads frequently perform well, but the negative is that they can push the bullet up, eliminating your carefully measured OAL. Do what Erik says - check OAL an hour after loading.