Did some load workup on a savage 12 FTR .308 Tried 2 different bullets ( 178 ELD-M and 175 SMK) Max charge for the 178 was 44gr while the max charge for the 175 was 45.2. The 178's didn't shoot with that low of a charge, Why would the books show such a difference in max charges? Really wanted the 178's to shoot well. The 175 SMK shot well with 4 groups less than .500" with the smallest 5 shot group going .356". I only loaded up 3 45.2gn 175's because I thought I was going to have to pull bullets because of pressure, but never saw any pressure signs. I will load more of the 45.2 and test again.
Question about max loads with Varget
- Thread starter scissorhands
- Start date
I can agree with that. Are the bullets that different to warrant the 1.2gr max charge difference?
Liven The Dream
Gold $$ Contributor
With .308 and 175SMK's 2750 should be a area you want.
Brass ,Primmer and Prep ,seating neck tension all part of the game
Brass ,Primmer and Prep ,seating neck tension all part of the game
Even same weight bullets by different makers and even same makers can have a different length bearing surface causing different pressure. Same OAL on different brands of bullets can have different case capacities due to the base of the bullet being at a different depth. Different jacket thicknesses or lead alloys can cause different pressures. Lots of little things can affect pressure. Lots of little pressure differences can add up or even cancel each other out.
Frank
Frank
Ever seen Pirates of the Caribbean and heard their interpretation of the Pirates Code: "The code is more what you call guidelines than actual rules." Published powder charges are much the same...
Your last paragraph…very well said.“Really wanted the 178's to shoot well.”
Welcome to the world of Reloading! You can “want” all day. Your gun will tell you what it likes.
The manual printers didn’t test your gun, didn’t load your ammo or shoot those loads.
Yes sir, you are spot on. A muzzle velocity of 2750 with a 175 SMK will also keep the bullet supersonic at 1000yards, and that is essential to LR accuracy.
I would take a look at the length of bullet from point to ogive and from base to ogive to see how much difference in bearing surface you have between the two bullets. Lots of times this will be the factor that determines pressure.
What chamber you have can greatly effect pressure. Lots of factory chambers have a lot of freebore. What is your overall length? How much is the bullet jumping?
10XSHOOTER
Gold $$ Contributor
42.0 IMR-4064, 168 or 175 SMK
Savage target action, Bullet is jumping .010". 2.217" base to ogive.
If your not seeing marks on the brass and the bolt isn't sticky I'd proceed with caution. Make a note of the temperature you shot the test loads in. The pressure may change as the ambient temperature rises.
And your loading room humidity declines.
I worked 180 grain loads for two Remington 03's, one maxed out at the Hornady bookmsonI backed down a grain, the other went 1 1/2 grain farther. Go figure, everything else was identical.
In PA that goes along with the winter. So humid in summer I run a dehumidifier in my loading room.
That's what I do as well. It's 50% RH in the summer, because of the demumidifier, but it drops to the 30%s in the winter.
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