TOO MUCH????

[BULLET 05]

New to reloading and I have a question about powder amount. I am reloading for a cz ,223 heavy barrel, My question is 26 grain of Hodgdon H335 using a Nosler 55 grain silver tip bullet to much powder? My Nosler book says 25 grain is max load. What do you guys think?

 

[RegionRat]

I am guessing this is a rhetorical question and that you would always back off and work your way up, no?

If the question is sincere, then it may turn out warm in your rig depending on the other variables and you should back down and come up on this level. There is margin at 25.5 to 26.0 for some guns, and in others the primers are already flat. YMMV

Drop down to 24.5 and decide how much you want to step before you go all the way to 26. Watch for signs of high pressure. If at all possible, run with at least a chronograph and pick a day that isn't really warm. Take your time and step the charge up carefully.

 

[wapiti25]

H335 is a good 223 powder but is temperature sensitive, pressure will go up fast as the temperature increases. I have ruined brass by having a too high of a charge in cool weather and then summer in the 90's pushed pressure up. Be safe.

 

[swd]

There's a very good reason they tell you to start low and work up. Not every gun will get to max. Some will go well over max and some max out well under. If you start at the top sooner or later you'll get bit in the arse. Maybe just a pierced primer, maybe the whole primer blown out and gas everywhere!

 

[searcher]

If you shot your load in the hottest weather you will likely encounter, there were no signs of pressure on your brass (notably around the base of the cartridge) or primer, your load may be just fine for your rifle. I had a load I worked up with no pressure signs when cool (around 55 degrees) and used it for two seasons of varmint hunting, with thousands of rounds fired. The first time I used that load in 100 degree heat, things went from great to dangerous. That was IMR8208XBR, a powder supposedly somewhat temperature stable. There is a very good chance, given your gun likes your powder, to find an accuracy load at a lighter charge. In my gun, that was only around 1 1/2 grains down with the same powder, still a very potent load - and much safer.

 

[bheadboy]

Seriously, all guns are different and yours is not the same as the one used by the powder folks to test their recommendations!!!

never start at max or beyond, you are asking for trouble, drop to mid load (their low and high) and work up as others have wisely noted, look for pressure, not with the naked eye, use a micrometer to measure the pressure ring near the base of the case.

Bob

 

[dedogs]

Another point to consider along with all the great advice given here. There are many many brands of .223 brass out there and they are all pretty much different from each other in regards to brass composition and volume characteristics. What works in one case may be hazardous in another brand. Also consider how many times your brass has been fired (and/ or annealed). What works one day may change drastically 3 loadings down the road. Samll cases are very sensitive to small increases in powder charge. If you are going to start 1g above book max YOU ARE PLAYING WITH FIRE! Listen to what these other guys and I am telling you--start low and work up. Be safe! dedogs

 

[chkunz]

Please do not take this the wrong way but if the book says 25 is max why are you asking about 26? If you were an experienced reloader you would already know to do the other things that folks have recommended here about working up loads. This is all great information for the beginner in reloading. But seriously I would like to know why you are asking the question about 26. With best regards.

 

[1shot]

Every poster has made accurate valid points so far on this thread. First of all, this is not a drag race, it's all about accuracy. Case in point, my shooting partner and I shoot the same cartridge in identical twist barrels made buy the same mfg.(they were informed that the two barrels would be used in a test and we would like them cut from the same bar of steel. They were chambered by one of the most meticulous gun plumbers I know. We shot the same lots of brass, and use the same powder and bullets of the same lot. Your guy saying to yourself, these to guys are anal to the nth degree. Well we are and it was done to prove a point to the guy that came up with this wildcat cartridge. The difference in the load data was over .5 of a grain between the two of us. Don't think that anything in our sport is created equal. This is the reason I don't give exact loading data on this forum, or any other for that matter. If you choose not to follow all the god bits of info given in this forum all for the sake of blowing up a g'hog I sincerely hope I don't read in the papers about how Joe X. blew his face off due to a manufacturing error. If you don't, you will notice that a lot of experienced posters on here will back off and not even reply to further posts from you.
Be smart, shoot straight,
Lloyd

 

[Webster]

New to reloading and I have a question about powder amount. I am reloading for a cz ,223 heavy barrel, My question is 26 grain of Hodgdon H335 using a Nosler 55 grain silver tip bullet to much powder? My Nosler book says 25 grain is max load. What do you guys think?

I don't understand why so many people want a max load. I assume it's a varmint hunting or casual target shooting rifle since it's a factory rifle. Your new to reloading and don't seem to understand that you can be seriously hurt, blinded or killed if a rifle blows up. You need to find an accurate load below the published max. A varmint or target doesn't know the difference between 3200 and 3300 FPS.

 

[joshb]

Precisely. I have some pet loads, that are way below max . VERY accurate and easy on brass. Unless you're going for 1000 in wind, In competition, look at slower speeds. I have a 308 load, for 2300 fps, with 168s, that hits exactly where I want it.

 

[1shot]

Josh B is right on target.
I got a slightly early Christmas present from my now "x" wife. That was a brand new Remington VFS with the good palm swell stock from H&S. Several people on here know of my brake-in procedure, but not the wife. So in one day I had to come up with a load that would hold hard at 600 yds. This match was nicked named the ice cube match because my Kestrel read 9 degrees at 0900. The way the match was run is your partner was in the pits while you shot two strings. A pit change was made and repeated for the other guys. There were 3 classes.1. Military with irons, 2. Match rifles with irons 3. Tactical/hunting rifles with any sights and must use a sling, no bi-pods or artificial means of support were allowed. The only rule that applied was it MUST be a 30 cal. The point to the story is my partner and I did no break-in at all and came up with a load of IMR-4064 in the metal can and a $9.95 price sticker on it. The bullets were SMK's 168 that were still in the metal cornered box. That makes them 20+ years old. Your first thought is this guy is gonna get spanked. Well not that day I didn't fall short to anyone and shot my 1st clean at 600 yds. with a box stock rifle with 25 rounds down range. Don't think that Joe yard line knows beans from apple butter. This place is a wealth of knowledge, at least it has been for me.
Be safe, shoot safe,
Lloyd

 

[dedogs]

There is one other point I would like to make. NOBODY wants to be sitting next to you at the range if you happen to blow your rifle up! dedogs

 

[K22]

Based your question I strongly recommend that you get a copy of the Lyman Reloading Handbook and read it thoroughly to understand the process of load development. This will may you a better and safer reloader.

 

[5spd]

As stated already, start low and work up for your gun.
Hodgdon has a 25.3g load as max, BUT every rig is/can/will be different & thus the start low & work up for your rig.
Don't just assume the max will work in a firearm.

 

[chkunz]

Ok, we have sufficiently beat the new guy up for asking his question, "the max load listed in the manual is 25 so how about 26?" Well a more important question is why is he asking the question; why would he think 26 is ok when the manual says 25 is max? The problem may not be with him but with what others are saying on this forum routinely. How many times do you see experienced folks on this forum talking about loads that are over max, their primers fall out and they are looking for a higher node? It happens too much and new folks read this stuff and they learn that many folks do not heed what folks on this thread are saying. "We have met the enemy and he is us".

 

[LHSmith]

^^^^^Nope....the problem solely lies with the OP. SOP is to check reload manual , start low and work-up slowly....no matter what you read on the net, or who you talk to at the range.

 

[TAJ45]

No one has yet addressed the fact that the published loads have undergone a redux in the last 25 years. So, I would politely suggest that his question is indeed viable w/o necessarily playing with the fire of cataclysmic failure.

However, the safety mantra of starting low and working up? I totally agree.......However, this may need to go into a fresh post, but what are the allowable numbers for expansion on the cartridge base? I'm assuming you mic a sized round before firing. How much growth is BAD?
I am wanting to know that for future ref. please.

If a suggestion is made of what "should" be done by a decidedly new shooter, maybe give him the Knowledge to accomplish the suggestion when it won't take an evening's reading to find out how? Heck, I've been at it for years but not to the precision level and depth, so that's why I am asking. I gots to know.

 

[CJ6]

One point nobody has brought up yet is that there IS a difference in loads between manuals. Hornady and Seirra seem to vary the most in their respective loads per caliber. Now these manuals both use their own companies bullets unlike Hogdons and other powder companies manuals that use various bullets in their data. So what does this all mean.... use the componants listed in the manual you're taking the data from and ALWAYS start low, change a componant and start all over (low) again (especially with bullets and brass manufacturers). Here's an example.....Hornady #7 lists a 270 Win. 130 gr (bullet) load as follows RE 19 start 50.6 grs vel. of 2600 fps, max 59.4 grs. vel. of 3100fps., Sierra #5 ver.4 lists a 270 Win 130 gr (bullet) load as follows RE 19 start 49.5 grs. vel 2700fps., max 53.5 grs. vel. of 2900fps. The Hornady load is 5.9 grs. over MAX than the same weight Sierras bullets load. That is a 10% difference folks that's ALOT.

 

[BULLET 05]

Well guys thanks so much for all the help and safe advice. Being safe is what I want first and foremost. The reason I was asking was because I made a rookie mistake. I started at 24.6 gr and worked my way to 25 gr. The only problem was I loaded several rounds at 26 gr instead of 25gr. I had set my scales wrong by accident and did not catch the error right away. I went ahead and pulled the bullets and redone them. I did see a few reloading manuals today that had 25.4 to 26gr. I have a Nosler book that had 25gr. I too would just like to be safe so again thanks for the help and concern but I was just asking so I may save some time pulling bullets and dumping powder.