To Pull or Not To Pull?

The Flint&Fly Guy

The Flint&Fly Guy

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So i loaded a pile of test rounds and headed to the range with my new rifle. (Weatherby 30-06)
I fired 3, 3 shot groups from the starting charge to the max charge .5grain apart. Also experimented with crimp vs no crimp, and then a couple 3shot groups repeated in the most promising spots.
All this gave me a load (the max load at that) that all 5, 3 shot groups were under 1/2moa (100yd)
So, happy with those results i went home and loaded up 100rnds, only to find out i messed up and my top load (the one i selected as best) was 57.4 and the book max is actually only 56.9! I guess i glanced at the wrong coloumn!
My question is should i pull all 100rnds and redo it or is the .5 not too much to worry abou a catastrophe happening? The accuracy of the load is great, the velocities high, but not crazy. (I thought it was due to the long barrel on the weatherby), and i never detected any pressure signs whatsoever.
Pull the loads, or don’t sweat it?
 
I'm sure you can find a "Book Max" that declares that accurate load "safe" if you look around.

Keep them.
 
Andy said:
I'm sure you can find a "Book Max" that declares that accurate load "safe" if you look around.

Keep them.
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Especially if he can dig up a book from a few decades ago.

OP I would shoot them. Watch for pressure signs and if you get any then maybe pull them down, but unless the ammo told me it's too hot, I wouldn't worry about it.

Do you have access to a chronograph? Checking your velocity would give you more info to make a decision with.
 
30 06 has been down rated over the years due to its age. too many old rifles still around. you would be down rated if you were over a 100 years old too. doubt your loads are unsafe. no signs keep on shooting. my max 30 06 load is 1.5 grains over book and is quite safe.
 
The book max was the max in their rifle. You get to decide the max in your rifle. If primers look good; extraction is easy, you are good to go.

Just be mindful of hot weather. It could put you into bad extraction, blown primer pressures.

If that were to ever happen, and you just have to shoot (say a match or a hunt) just smear a little grease around the bullet ogive. That will drop pressures about 5,000 psi.
 
Great, thats what i was thinking, however as a newish reloader the thought had me worried!
As for hot weather, thats a good reminder. This is to be my larger hunting rifle though, so it wont likely see any of that!
 
Your rifle is capable of withstanding pressures far in excess of any 30-06 loads in a manual. 3006 is over 100 years old, the manuals will list loads safe in 100 year old rifles.
 
Ganderite said:
The book max was the max in their rifle. You get to decide the max in your rifle. If primers look good; extraction is easy, you are good to go. Just be mindful of hot weather.
It could put you into bad extraction, blown primer pressures. If that were to ever happen, and you just have to shoot (say a match or a hunt) just smear a little grease around the bullet ogive.
That will drop pressures about 5,000 psi.
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Yes that's annoyingly true. Those of us that have been reloading for a while have been seeing published data dumbed down over the years: even in the same series of manuals. My 5th edition Hornady manual lists a load for my hunting .308Win as a full 2.5 grains more than my 9th edition. Crazy stuff. You just learn to use it as reference and, as stated, work up a good max load in your particular rifle.
 
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