Quite surprised with max load!

darcy32171

darcy32171

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A while back I loaded a bunch of 45gr softpoint Sierra Varminter for a 22-250. I used 36grains of IMR 4895 and ended up not liking them compared to my Hornady V-max 40 & 55gr bullets. So I decided to unload them all and rework them. I checked Hornady`s site and 41gr of Winchester 760 was max load. I gave it a shot instead of starting at the bottom working my way up. Forget what topic it was on here, some older fellow reloader said: "back in the day, they always shot max load". Since the books are governed by lawyers to protect their arse`s, I went with the max load. Man, did it shoot well!!!! First shot at a steel target 200yrds away -dead center.....second shot- half of first hole!!!!
I couldn`t believe my eyes, and absolutely "NO" pressure signs. Only thing I noticed was the louder report compared to the mild loads before. Darcy
 
darcy32171 said:
A while back I loaded a bunch of 45gr softpoint Sierra Varminter for a 22-250. I used 36grains of IMR 4895 and ended up not liking them compared to my Hornady V-max 40 & 55gr bullets. So I decided to unload them all and rework them. I checked Hornady`s site and 41gr of Winchester 760 was max load. I gave it a shot instead of starting at the bottom working my way up. Forget what topic it was on here, some older fellow reloader said: "back in the day, they always shot max load". Since the books are governed by lawyers to protect their arse`s, I went with the max load. Man, did it shoot well!!!! First shot at a steel target 200yrds away -dead center.....second shot- half of first hole!!!!
I couldn`t believe my eyes, and absolutely "NO" pressure signs. Only thing I noticed was the louder report compared to the mild loads before. Darcy
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You just reinvented the wheel!
 
Glad it worked for you. Probably not the safest way to start, but in this case it worked. Congrats on your load working for you, but just be careful.
 
I think what you may have read by the older fellow was that in the old books they listed a charge and you knew to back off from that 5-10% and work up
ex:
Old manual: Charge 65gr
New Manual: Charge 58.5 start - 65gr MAX
 
Max load off the hop could work 99 times straight, maybe 999, maybe even 9999 times without a problem. But there will be 1 time sooner or later it causes rapid inadvertant firearm disassembly.
 
Quote: "I always like to quote what the world class bench rest shooters do. And this bench rest shooting includes long range, to 1,000 yards.
I have the book, The Accurate Rifle, by Warren Page, who was probably the greatest bench rest shooter ever. He won the annual US open championship nine times.
In the book he states the procedure is to load the bullets tight to the lands and load them heavy.
Lots of information on the rifles, but not one word about varrying the seating depth, varrying the charge of powder or building up ammunition to suit the rifle.
He stresses maximum loading for all the calibres they used, including 308 Winchester and 7mm Remington magnum, stating their loads are heavier than loads found in most reloading books.
Now, don't anyone trash me for this. I am just the messenger, stating what is in the book by Warren Page."

This is just what I read, what other pressure signs did a guy miss? There was absolutely no signs on the brass or around the primer or where the firing pin meets the primer.......looks like all the other "spent" brass I`ve fired.
 
hometownhero said:
I do that most of the time. Works out well for me so far and saves on components as well as time
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Would you not worry about missing out on even better accuracy at the lighter loads that you skipped over? How would you know unless you tried it? Just sayin'


Chizzy
 
Chizzy said:
Would you not worry about missing out on even better accuracy at the lighter loads that you skipped over? How would you know unless you tried it? Just sayin'


Chizzy
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Don`t get me wrong, I see where you are coming from....but it all depends on what your intentions are. With the max load I just tried, to almost put two shots through the same hole dead center at 200 yrds.....That is one heck of a dead coyote!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Chizzy said:
Would you not worry about missing out on even better accuracy at the lighter loads that you skipped over? How would you know unless you tried it? Just sayin'


Chizzy
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If the accuracy sucks ill work backwards. Was just out today shot max loads first and shot .6" Doubt it will get better then that. Ive had that happen more then once as well.
 
Yes it will work until the day it doesn't.

Myself I am fond of my fingers and eyes so I do work up all loads. I will say that most rifles will take the maximum loads if ALL the loading criteria is met such as identical case, bullet, and primers listed in the data source are used. I have however seen more than a few rifles that max out at mid-loads and one exceptional .270 that blew primers with a starting load.

Like I said my health is worth more than a few bucks "wasted" in load development but hey if you want to play Russian Roulette that's your business.
 
I second 'Boo, mostly because I have a serious allergic reaction to fear caused by possible injuries from my own laziness.
 
so what the point of starting lower is that sometimes the max load is too much this has happened to me in different calibers and i didnt find out by starting at max a lot of loads on hodgdon sight are pretty hot
 
porpoise said:
so what the point of starting lower is that sometimes the max load is too much this has happened to me in different calibers and i didnt find out by starting at max a lot of loads on hodgdon sight are pretty hot
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Ya I found that as well. I use the hornady manual and have seen some starting loads published that are right next to hornady's max load.
 
It's so bloody easy to work up from lower than max that I don't know why anyone just jumps to the max loads. You save a couple of bullets and a dollars worth of powder? Are your eyeballs and gun not worth that? I've had pressure signs from loads that are well under max, and I've worked up loads way beyond max, but jumping in with both feet is never a good idea.

Reloading manuals are reference manuals, you are supposed to experiment a bit with them, but the lawyer thing is a myth. Newer manuals may have different loads than older manuals because powder and bullet companies actually use pressure testing equipment now.
 
Jumping to a maximum load right off the bat is sooner or later going to have serious repercussions and when it happens,and it will given the right circumstances,it may not be pretty.Guys,please do yourself a favour and throttle back a bit when you are working up loads.I remember a saying that the guy who got me going on handloading used to say all the time,a common saying but bears repeating here for those who will listen...........Better a live chicken than a dead duck.Please use caution with this stuff.
 
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