COL vs powder charge

Rick65Cat

Rick65Cat

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Heres the scenario,
I'm reloading factory .204 Hornady cases with 32 gr Vmax bullets and 26 grains of H4895 and CCI 400 primers.
Hornadys 7th edition says COL of 2.245 with 26.5 gr of powder = 3800fps.
Factory Hornady 32gr .204 ammo COL is 2.250 with *whatever* powder = 4225fps.
How much pressure loss will there be by going 2.250 when reloading with my loads?
Should I even worry about it? Or just seat the bullets .005 deeper as per the data book? I don't want to lose TOO much bullet speed.
 
The SAAMI COL is the prescribed length of the cartridge.

Your rifle may differ, and only it can tell you where to seat the bullet, and how much powder you need to get the velocity you should, and the aqccuracy you need.
 
SAAMI is an acronym for the international specifications for cartridges. In reality, the throat depths of chambers vary from SAAMI very often in factory barrels. The .204 in particular is being reported as having long throats in almost all factory barrels, and reloaders frequently load out longer than 2.250 to get the bullets closer to the lands.

As to the pressure question, I bought my .204 today and am getting ready to load up for it and am wondering the exact same thing vis a vis length vs charge = ?? pressure. I know that getting closer to or into the lands generally means higher pressures but I do not know how extra case capacity relates to pressure.

/me still hoping for reasonable weather for this weekend, Genessee here I come.
 
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