Measuring case capacity, load density and picking a powder, let's say 30-06 to start

[H4831]

Sure that's a good load in a 30-06 with a 180 grain bullet. Jack O'Connor recommended that load 68 years ago and a great many hand loaders of the day used it.
However, the load was better then, than it is now, because the old H4831 war surplus powder gave more velocity with the same load, than does the modern, canister H4831 powder.

 

[kilohertz]

because the old H4831 war surplus powder gave more velocity with the same load, than does the modern, canister H4831 powder.

Interesting how powders have changed over the years. I posted a question about 4350 last year as I was getting conflicting info from the various loading handbooks, from the 60's compared to the 90's, and of course the lawyers got involved recently, but it seems the basic powder has also changed somewhat as well. Keeps us on ours toes.

 

[Ganderite]

Of course, if a fella chooses NOT to run them just as fast as they can go, they don't blow up near as much.

A hunting bud shot a small doe from 30 yds or so with a 180 outta his 300 Win Mag, and the poor thing had a bloodshot ring around the bullet hole that was over a foot across. Speed, not weight, gets you the mess, IMO.

Cheers
Trev

We were skinning and quartering our deer and found the 150s from 308 were blood shooting a lot of meat and we all decided that a move to 180-s was called for. The 180 has less velocity.

A 30-30 is plenty of power for deer, so a light bullet in a powerful cartridge like 308 or 30-06 is over kill.

 

[trevj]

We were skinning and quartering our deer and found the 150s from 308 were blood shooting a lot of meat and we all decided that a move to 180-s was called for. The 180 has less velocity.

A 30-30 is plenty of power for deer, so a light bullet in a powerful cartridge like 308 or 30-06 is over kill.

Uhhh.... maybe you missed my point.

Use less powder. It wont go so fast, and does not need to, to be effective, thus preventing that mess. thus, the comment about speed, not bullet weight, being the actual issue.
Recoil is milder too.
As far as load density is concerned, I leave that to the folks that want a bunch of extra math in their lives, and choose a load that I cannot put two of, into the case, thus making a double charge VERY obvious. So far, no complaints from the deer!

Cheers
Trev