Matching factory loads.

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troubleinxs

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I am reloading some hornady 30-06 rounds. The box puts the velocity of the factory rounds @ 2700 fps. In the hornady manual in all powders that is the max loading to get that velocity. Should I start loading one load down and work up? Also I am using the same weight but the factory rnd is a 180gr sp and I am reloading with a 180 gr btsp. In the hornady manual it does not differenciate between styles of bullets just weight.


Thanks for any input:cheers:
Mark
 
Take the box velocity with a grain of salt.

look at your loading manual and start with the START load and load up 5 rounds each in 0.5 increments and shoot some groups. unless you have a heavy, floated match barrel, let the barrel cool between groups.

When you are done, some groups will be better than others, and a pattern should be evident. Most of my 308s shoot better with moderate loads. 41 gr of a powder listed as 45 gr max.

Velocity is a function of barrel/chamber dimensions of YOUR rifle and of barrel length.
 
Good men have gone mad trying to match factory ballistics. Or, more properly, they have gone bonkers trying to match what the factory in question claims are its ballistics.

As far as I'm concerned, accuracy is the Thing and everything else is secondary. Find a load that makes your rifle hum and that's the one you want.

As far as the difference between flat-base and boat-tailed bullets, there isn't any so far as I can tell.
 
A chrony is yer friend here.

First, shoot some of that factory ammo over the screens and see what it actually does in your rifle.

Then you have a baseline velocity to try to match.

It may be worth noting,that the factory generally loads this way. They set the velocity as the reference point, possibly pulling it out of their arse, or possibly from a test rifle at their plant somewhere, then adjust the loads of whatever appropriate powder they can get a train car full of, so that they can put out a consistent and safe product. Generally, they do not publish reload specs, because they are buying large qty's of powder that is not available for consumer use, and that powder varies from lot to lot anyway, so they test and adjust back to the baseline velocity spec each time they run a batch of ammo.

Nowhere will you find any promises that YOUR rifle will produce the rated velocities. :)

Cheers
Trev
 
trevj said:
A chrony is yer friend here.

First, shoot some of that factory ammo over the screens and see what it actually does in your rifle.

Then you have a baseline velocity to try to match.
Cheers
Trev
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I couldn't agree more. It's nice when you can work up an accurate hunting load along with good performance. I like to at least get close to factory velocities (Unless it's something like the Winchester and Federal factory 8x57mm loads).

I don't believe in "souping up" a cartridge. Want more performance buy a more powerful gun I always say.
 
CZ_Brno said:
I don't believe in "souping up" a cartridge. Want more performance buy a more powerful gun I always say.
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I totally agree, I have also seen some reloaders push a cartridge high enough to permanently ruin a rifle. Safety first, accuracy second, the rest will fall into line during load development.
 
I totally agree, I have also seen some reloaders push a cartridge high enough to permanently ruin a rifle. Safety first, accuracy second, the rest will fall into line during load development.
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I like my loads to tear holes in the space/time continuum.
 
i test fired a 300wm 26 inch barrel with cheap win 180 ammo. box says 2960. i had a spread of 2865 to 3050 fps. very low considering most 300wm's can easily get 3000 plus. 2700 ft from a 3006 is not really that fast. i wouldn't be suprized if that ammo didn't get near 2700 in a 22 inch barrel. a crony is a cheap investment fot a reloader.
 
New to reloading myself so I won't dish out any advice. But I have to say that the factory loads that I have ran through my Chrony have stood up to the velocities posted on the box. I could be that my Chrony is out to lunch, but it is also very close to my buddies chrony. The exception is when we ran some loads down a carbine barrel then they fell about 200 fps short. Now that being said I have reloaded several different bullets that chronied identical to the velocities posted by the manufactures. IE My 338 Win mag with 210 partitions go 2850 which is identical to Federal's 210 partition load as stated on their website. The velocities that I find to be out of reach ar the Hornady Superformance loads. I can't even get close! Nor have I ever had the opertunity to run any Superformance cartiges over my chrony. I'm sceptical that they would live up to their post velocities, but will have to see for myself some day.

If you want your 30-06 to outperform all others. Buy a 300 Win mag:)

George
 
Hornady superformance ammo is using a powder specifically developed for the high velocities while keeping pressures down, at least that is what we are being told.....
 
If you want some heart break chrony some factory 303 loads. I have seen 180's out of a full length barrel go less than 2200, can't recall if they were Winchester or federal.
 
Here was some results I got when I was testing some loads in a 8x57mm. As you can see the factory Federal loads are equivalent to a .32 Winchester Special.

8x57mm
170 Gr Federal factory loads
2215
2139
2138

150 Gr bullet
48.5 grains of Varget 2659
49.0 grains of Varget 2678
49.75 grains of Varget 2696
50.5 grains of Varget 2764
51 grains of Varget 2777 and 2821
 
troubleinxs said:
Well it looks like a chrony is on my wish list. All good advise. Thank you all!

Mark
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Sometime it is better to not know,:eek: Just kidding, sometimes you can be very happy with the results sometimes it can be disapointing but you have a real good idea as to what is going on. I just started chronoing after 40 years of using published figures.
 
I just started too. I bought the $99.99 Shooting F-1 Chronograph from cabelas.ca and it seems to be well made and works great. The only downside is I want to go out and compare the .338 225 grain Federal factory loads to my 225 grain reloads with varying amounts of IMR 4350 and I can't because it's been raining for like 2 weeks straight and barely above freezing temperatures. :mad:
 
Not to be picky or anything - serious question for the chrony crowd.

I certainly appreciate the opinions of those who think that being able to measure one's handloads' MV is a good thing. Interesting and no doubt educational.

From my POV however, it would seem that if you can deliver consistant accuracy at whatever range you choose, the MV isn't really all that important. Does it really matter whether the bullets are going 2,750 (±25) fps or 2,910 (+30) fps?

Acknowledged that I seem to be saying that everybody is out of step but me. Enlightenment requested. Thanks.
 
Let me put it this way. If for example you were going to shoot Wolves with a .223, a Caribou with a .243, a Moose with a .308, or a Grizzly with a 7mm Magnum you wouldn't want to scale back the hitting power and/or trajectory too much just to gain a fraction of an inch at 100 yards. Compromising somewhat within reason is OK as as long as it suits the shooters personal needs.

Plus you can work up different loads with different powders and compare the velocities along with the accuracy to see what works the best in your particular gun.
 
A nice reference is the reloading data center for Win/Hodgdon/IMR powder.

It does show difference between bullets of the same weight, likely due to the profile of the bullet, not the arse end.

It gives you some very safe starting points.

I always go for accuracy , haven't seen a game animal with a built in chrony or ballistic chart yet!

It is nice to be able to see what your velocities are doing in relation to charge weight, also look for the load with the lowest vertical deviation as well as velocity ,not just group size.
 
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