IMR 3031 too full by volume

katanaa

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Regina, Sask
So I decided to try some loads with IMR 3031 in my 308. I started off my calibrating my Hornady lock n load powder thrower for the density of this powder. How I do that, I take a cleaned but not deprimed case and I throw charges into it and weight how much it is. I take a measurement with my calipers of the setting for the measure. I them input that into a spreadsheet. I'll take 5 to 10 of these data points to get a calibration curve for the measure with that powder. It gives me a quick way to set the measure for different loads.

While I was doing this I noticed that as I was nearing max load weight I was hockey running out of physical space in my case. In fact I was completely full with 2gr shy of the max load listed in my Hornady manual.

Does this happen often where you can't actually fit a max load into a cartridge?

I hadn't experienced this for CFE223.
 
Actually that is what I was loading. If memory serves I ended in going 45.6gr and max load was is listed as 48.1gr. There is no way a 308 case could hold that not with the powder I got anyway.
 
Happens a lot with smaller cases. A drop tube does wonders. With a long enough tube you can even fit 28gr of varget in a 223 case with some room left. Compressed loads are not a thing to be scared about as long as there is enough neck tension to hold the bullet in place. Work up to those loads and stop when there is pressure signs.
I fit a lot of h4350 in a 7mm-08 case and not near max but also no pressure signs with the load I am using. The case is pretty full but could still go warmer if I really felt the need to. And yes it is pretty compressed.
 
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