Alrighty then ... tried doing some searches (I know about using the 36 months setting), but I think the terms I'm looking for are just too common. (faster, slower, capacity, etc..)
Also, I'm not new to reloading - but I am new to load development. Until now, I've never bothered with any serious load development ... it's been "check a few books, find a middle of the road load for what I supplies I have on hand, maybe adjust minorly to acceptable groups". Or, I've simply built rounds based on the directions in my "recipe" book whenever requested (Uncle gave me his reloading equipment and load data & would call and ask for 40 of his 22-250, or whatever load he needed more of ... no thinking required on my part)
Background out of the way.
Savage Model 110 (bolt action)
1 in 9 twist
chambered for .223 Remington
Here's my list of questions:
1: From the various powders I have on hand, I currenly have 4 powders in stock (all IMR - 3031, 4096, 4198 & 4320) that show in most charts for a 223 Remington - I could buy others, but I've got a pound or more of each of these, so I'd rather not spend more $$$ yet.
I have also looked up their comparative burnrates.
I've read that for gas operated semi's, a slower burning powder may be needed for heavier (55+ grain) bullets to let the action cycle properly - but is there a ballistic reason to use a slower burning powder? Or, for my puroses using a bolt action rifle, is a faster burn better?
I really don't care much about dirty/clean factors at this point ... I clean my rifle before and after every shoot, and if needed, during ... It is actually something I enjoy doing.
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2: From IMR's site, the powders I do have available are in the 71 to 100 range on their "comparative burn rate" chart ...
Would I be better off ignoring burn rate and selecting the powder that fills the case more? (This was what I was taught by my uncle when I started reloading 25 years ago ... "If you have two options, use the one that leaves the least amount of empty space in the case." ... I believe he may have said it had something to do with a more predictable burn pattern or dynamic within the case. Any truth to that?
But this advice was coming from the guy that was using a compressed load in his 22-250 ... I never did get used to the sound of powder making crunching noises as the bullet was seated
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3: Does powder go "bad" (or unstable in some way) from sitting? If it looks "normal", runs freely (not clumping), has been stored in a warm dry location and is otherwise visually unmarred (no rust on/in container), should it be safe to use? I've got a few containers that have been around for a very long time - I think one of them may even be marked with a 1976 production date
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I have a small selection of bullets on hand, 46gr, 50gr, 55gr & 60gr, and 4 powders to choose from ... with 16 combinations there, plus an average spread of a 2 to 3 grains from min to max for powder in most charts for each of those bullets and figuring I'd probably run that spread in .4 grain steps, that's maybe 5 or more loads for each of those 16 possibilities ... that's gettign up to 90+ combinations ... and a minimum of 5 rounds each for testing ... well ...
I'd like to try and eliminate at least two of the powders ... any suggestions? If your answer is "IMR###x sucks, don't use it" ... Please tell me why it sucks
Most shootign will be 75 to 200 yards ... mostly "paper" with the occasional vamint & coyote. I'd like to say I want to stretch this gun out to 500+/- yards, but at the moment, I dont have anywhere with that much room, so for now long range isn't really a factor.
Thanks!
Also, I'm not new to reloading - but I am new to load development. Until now, I've never bothered with any serious load development ... it's been "check a few books, find a middle of the road load for what I supplies I have on hand, maybe adjust minorly to acceptable groups". Or, I've simply built rounds based on the directions in my "recipe" book whenever requested (Uncle gave me his reloading equipment and load data & would call and ask for 40 of his 22-250, or whatever load he needed more of ... no thinking required on my part)
Background out of the way.
Savage Model 110 (bolt action)
1 in 9 twist
chambered for .223 Remington
Here's my list of questions:
1: From the various powders I have on hand, I currenly have 4 powders in stock (all IMR - 3031, 4096, 4198 & 4320) that show in most charts for a 223 Remington - I could buy others, but I've got a pound or more of each of these, so I'd rather not spend more $$$ yet.
I have also looked up their comparative burnrates.
I've read that for gas operated semi's, a slower burning powder may be needed for heavier (55+ grain) bullets to let the action cycle properly - but is there a ballistic reason to use a slower burning powder? Or, for my puroses using a bolt action rifle, is a faster burn better?
I really don't care much about dirty/clean factors at this point ... I clean my rifle before and after every shoot, and if needed, during ... It is actually something I enjoy doing.
------------------------------------------------------------
2: From IMR's site, the powders I do have available are in the 71 to 100 range on their "comparative burn rate" chart ...
Would I be better off ignoring burn rate and selecting the powder that fills the case more? (This was what I was taught by my uncle when I started reloading 25 years ago ... "If you have two options, use the one that leaves the least amount of empty space in the case." ... I believe he may have said it had something to do with a more predictable burn pattern or dynamic within the case. Any truth to that?
But this advice was coming from the guy that was using a compressed load in his 22-250 ... I never did get used to the sound of powder making crunching noises as the bullet was seated
-------------------------------------------------------------
3: Does powder go "bad" (or unstable in some way) from sitting? If it looks "normal", runs freely (not clumping), has been stored in a warm dry location and is otherwise visually unmarred (no rust on/in container), should it be safe to use? I've got a few containers that have been around for a very long time - I think one of them may even be marked with a 1976 production date
--------------------------------------------------------------
I have a small selection of bullets on hand, 46gr, 50gr, 55gr & 60gr, and 4 powders to choose from ... with 16 combinations there, plus an average spread of a 2 to 3 grains from min to max for powder in most charts for each of those bullets and figuring I'd probably run that spread in .4 grain steps, that's maybe 5 or more loads for each of those 16 possibilities ... that's gettign up to 90+ combinations ... and a minimum of 5 rounds each for testing ... well ...
I'd like to try and eliminate at least two of the powders ... any suggestions? If your answer is "IMR###x sucks, don't use it" ... Please tell me why it sucks
Most shootign will be 75 to 200 yards ... mostly "paper" with the occasional vamint & coyote. I'd like to say I want to stretch this gun out to 500+/- yards, but at the moment, I dont have anywhere with that much room, so for now long range isn't really a factor.
Thanks!
