Assitance with .308 load data and BLC2 powder

Sbarkowski

Sbarkowski

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I have just started reloading and started with Nosler load data for 165gr Accubonds in .308 I purchased the BLC2 powder as a starting point as it is referenced as the most accurate powder at 46.5gr (max load). Someone gave me a box of Hornady 165gr InterLock BTSP bullets that I want to try also. I checked my Hornady manual for load data but it does not list BLC2 powder. Hodgdon load data states 44.0gr (starting) to 47.5gr (max load) for 165gr bullets with BLC2 powder. Am I correct in assuming that the Hodgdon data is safe for ALL 165gr bullets regardless of manufacturer?
 
It should be fine for other jacketed bullets of the same weight if you work up your load normally. Mono-metal bullets (eg. Barnes) may require different data.
 
As always, these are rough guidelines. I would personally feel free to use Hornady bullets with the Nosler data, as long as I worked up from below. I have found in the past that some of the Hodgdon top end loads are a little warm, even in strong modern bolt rifles. Once again: work up from the starting loads, watching your brass for signs of pressure, and you'll be fine.
 
Depends on how accurate you want to get. You can also change the seating depth to effect accuracy and many other things. If it's just plinking or hunting 0.5gr should be enough to get you where you want to be.
 
Actually, if you are serious about loading for a .308, you should probably go up in .3 grain increments. However, for a hunting rifle, .5 grains will work and will get you into a reasonable ballpark.

The way to to do it is to do a few trips to the range. The first one just works up the charges to test for pressure and safety, always looking out for loads that seem accurate. Once that is done, you find something that looks promising from your first outing and play around it. For example, if the loads in the range of 45.0 to 46.5 look safe and consistent, then you could play upwards in 5-shot groups, going up in .3 grain increments on the next trip, starting at 45.0 and ending around 46.5. More than likely, you will find your spot somewhere in there. Finally, if you really want to be serious, you take your final load and make a third trip, firing groups with the seating depth adjusted up and down in varying increments.
 
And OP, after you have made a dozen trips to the range, fired off hundreds of rounds with all the bullets, primers and powder involved, there is an excellent chance of the following results.
1) You found a perfect load, but on your next trip to the range you can not duplicate it. That is, your perfect load on one trip may very well be only mediocre on the next trip.

2) If, on your first trip to the range, you go up .5 grain at a time, looking for excess pressure and stop when you think it is high enough, that load, with the bullet having a bit of clearance on the lands, may be just as accurate as any you can consistently make, after your dozen trips to the range, trying many different settings!
 
The load data is safe - as long as you start at the starting level and work up... the maximum load could be higher pressure in your rifle than in the test rifle. All that info should be found in your loading manuals - you should read it.
 
Something else to think about is the time of year. What may be 'max' in late fall can turn into 'unsafe' in summer. Temperature does make a difference. My Savage 110 30-06 max hunting load worked perfectly in the fall during moose hunting season, but when I took it out to practice the next summer... flattened primers and sticking cases convinced me to reduce the load.
 
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