30 06 loads

surplus_shooter159

surplus_shooter159

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My buddy and I did some reloading for my Garand the other day, we loaded 43 grains, 44, and 45 grains. My question is after loading them we noticed their is not very much powder in the casing, and once we seated the bullets we could hear the powder when we shook them. when loaded the casing was only about 1/4 full. Im not that worried, we were going by the book, and I trust that my friend knew what he was doing. I quess I just wanted to know what you think.:redface:
 
Always check powder levels with mark one eye ball .:D And the charges indicated are ok if a medium burning powder was used, if a slower powder was used , pressure problems could result. I like 55 or 56 gr of imr 4350 with 165 grain pills.:)
 
I would check your scale very very carefully, if the case is only one quarter full after loading 45gr powder something is wrong. Don't fire those loads until you verify the scale and or setting. Too little powder can cause destructive pressure spikes due to detonation of the powder as opposed to a smooth burn.
 
savagefan

A half full case may cause flashover resulting in the bullet being pushed into the barrel followed by a 2nd spike in pressure as the remaining powder ignites. The reaction is similar to a plugged barrel. This will cause all kinds of bad things to happen but I am not sure smokeless powder will "detonate" as you say.
 
surplus_shooter159 said:
My buddy and I did some reloading for my Garand the other day, we loaded 43 grains, 44, and 45 grains. My question is after loading them we noticed their is not very much powder in the casing, and once we seated the bullets we could hear the powder when we shook them. when loaded the casing was only about 1/4 full. Im not that worried, we were going by the book, and I trust that my friend knew what he was doing. I quess I just wanted to know what you think.:redface:
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Definately something wrong if the case is only 1/4 full using a charge of 43 - 45grs of IMR 4895. I wouldn't shoot them, I'd CHECK your scales and pull the bullets. With that charge the cases should appear to have considerably more powder than what you say. Similar to what Levi mentioned, I also perfer IMR 4350, but I like 180gr Sierra BT's.
 
You are weighing your charges?

You ARE NOT counting out 43 or 44 or 45 KERNELS of powder are you?


45 grains of most powders will fill 75-80% of the 30-06 case
 
LOL.. No I thought you were supposed to count the grains....:rolleyes:
Well I can say for sure that the casing's were not 75-80% full. they might have been about 40-60% full, we noted that it might be possible to triple charge it and not notice it. ( like have the powder over fill the casing) as I said I could actually hear the powder bouncing around when my friend shook it, and I was standing at least a foot away.
 
I'd pull the bullets if I were you. Re-zero your scale.

Take a look at IMR's data. http://www.imrpowder.com/data/rifle/30-06-2005apr03.php

I usually use 56 grains of imr4831 for the bullets I shoot, and it fills them up to the top. It is shown on the chart as a compressed load. It just doesn't make sense that a 40 gr load could be triple charged. I wish I had my Lee manual handy, it has the volumes listed in cubic centimeters as they correspond to the dipper numbers. You could see how it compares.
 
We weren't absolutely sure we could triple charge we were just estimating, that it might be possible to triple charge it and not notice ( unless you looked inside the casing, or the powder was overflowing)

Did I read that chart right? it says the starting load should be between 49-53?
 
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64-65 grains of just about any powder is a full case for the '06, so a double charge of 4895 @ 45 grains will overflow the case quite dramatically. Better get to checking your scale if your case is only ½ full or less, somethin' smells fishy!! Eagleye.
 
I missed the part in your post where you said the case was only a quarter full, but even if that was the case nothing dangerous would happen with 4895. The Lyman manual lists light loads of 4895 for cast bullets and your jacketed rounds will create more pressure. There might not be enough pressure to cycle the action however. Did you determine the powder level visually or did you assume that was all that was in there by shaking the loaded case? Either way, it sounds like that scale needs to be checked with a set of check weights. I think you would find 50 grs of 4895 and a 150 gr bullet to be a good load for your Garand.
 
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