Can I use data for similar bullets?

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GunNewb

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Newb question for yall.

I have load data for 168gr HPBT sierra .30 cals for my 30-06.

The bullets that I have are Hornady brand 168GR HPBT .30 cal.

SO, seeing as how the only difference between the two is the brand can I use the load data that I have for the sierra brand bullets for the hornady ones safely, or are there other things to consider?
 
Sure you can use the data. But unless you are borrowing the same rifle from the lab that developed the load in the book, you must start with the START load and work up, regardless of what jacketed 168 gr bullet you use.

Rifles are different, especially in the throat, so develop different pressures. I load 5 each in 0.3 increments and start with the START load and stop as soon as I get pressure indicators or reach the published max velocity. Sometimes I have bring some of the ammo home and pull the bullets because I hit pressure well be fore the max load in their rifle.
 
Checked Sierra and Hornady books. Sometimes Hornady was giving higher powder charges and sometimes Sierra was.

I do it a lot of the time. Take your book's powder charge and cut back 5%. On a 60 grain powder charge that is a full three grains.
 
In my 223 I shoot some hornady vmax, some barnes and some nosler's. Almost all of them I just used the same load data with no problems and all are pretty accurate. If its the same gun I would try and see what happens.
 
+1.

The short answer is yes, you can use the other data for reference as to what neighborhood to be in for your starting load, then work your load up as per typical practices.
 
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