Compressed Loads

[Powderfinger61]

Ive been reloading for a long time, but never came close to compressed loads....till now

Ive shot a fair share of .223 in my T/C handgun, now I have a Savage 12 VLP and my first loads were with light/shorter projectiles.
Today Ive loaded the Hornady 68 gr BTHP with 26gr Varget powder and this is a compressed load.

Should i be taking a step further and setting the bullet length to the rifling?

What are your thoughts on compressed loads?

 

[Eagleye]

I have shot thousands of loads that required compression of the powder.
A couple of powders do not like to be compressed. [Old H205 was one I remember]
Ball powders do not compress much at all because they are densely packed already.
But IMR Extrudeds, Norma Extrudeds, most Hodgdons extrudeds, and Alliants extrudeds all have been OK in my experience. [about 45 years of reloading]
I can remember compressing one load of powder so hard that if neck tension was not quite up to snuff, the bullet would move back out of the case a bit.
This load shot extremely well, and was very consistent in velocity, as long as I watched that no bullet had sneaked out a bit.
Regards, Eagleye.

 

[firemachine69]

My .308 is almost always a compressed load with IMR 4895.

 

[iceman2]

You can help the powder settle better in the case by using a longer tube on your funnel. (drop tube) This lets the powder enter differently and fill the case better.

 

[joe-nwt]

You can help the powder settle better in the case by using a longer tube on your funnel. (drop tube) This lets the powder enter differently and fill the case better.

Powder settles quite nicely when you take a charged case and touch it to a vibrating tumbler for a few seconds.......