Quick help requested from holders of Hornady manual

MozPhoq

MozPhoq

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I have used Hodgdon's reloading center web page to reload some .308 168gr HPBT Match and their page says range I see between 42 and 46 grains of Varget.

Problem is, checking with the Berger manual I have here it suggests 38 to 42.5 grains of the same powder of their 168 bullets. I am concerned there is something wrong since I don't see how those two somewhat no so different billets can load so different charges.

Anyone owning the Hornady manual can give me exactly what they say for their 168 go HPBT Match please?

Thank you
 
If no one has spoken up by then I can check my manual when I get home, but it's not that uncommon for different companies to have different specs.
 
MozPhoq said:
I have used Hodgdon's reloading center web page to reload some .308 168gr HPBT Match and their page says range I see between 42 and 46 grains of Varget.

Problem is, checking with the Berger manual I have here it suggests 38 to 42.5 grains of the same powder of their 168 bullets. I am concerned there is something wrong since I don't see how those two somewhat no so different billets can load so different charges.

Anyone owning the Hornady manual can give me exactly what they say for their 168 go HPBT Match please?

Thank you
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The Hodgdon website doesn't specify the make of the bullet, and they all have a different bearing surface. Having said that the Hornady manual says 44 gr's of Varget as the max load, if you are using the Hornady 168 gr bullet.
 
sailor38 said:
The Hodgdon website doesn't specify the make of the bullet, and they all have a different bearing surface. Having said that the Hornady manual says 44 gr's of Varget as the max load, if you are using the Hornady 168 gr bullet.
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Yes in fact Hodgdon puts up the Sierra HPBT, sorry I should have mentioned it.

Can you please give the starting load?
 
Hornady manual for the 168 BTHP gives a min of 32.6grs and a max of 44grs for varget. This is the 7th edition Hornady manual.
 
Load data varies because firearms and reloading components vary and the method the chamber pressure is measured.

In the Lyman manual you will see a universal receiver and a pressure test barrel with a chamber and bore at minimum dimensions and this generates the highest chamber pressures.

If a specific firearm is listed a strain gauge is glued to the barrel and a cartridge of a know pressure is used to calibrate the pressure readings.

The strain gauge reading can vary a great deal and with all these variables many of the reloading manuals will be on the conservative side.

The reloading manuals tell you to start at the suggested start load and work up. And you will learn more about your firearms by making workup loads and "YOUR" pressure limits.

Example, a .223 case with 28.0 grains of H2O case capacity vs a .223 case with 30.6 grains of case capacity can have 5,000 psi difference in chamber pressure with the same powder charge.

All reloading data is "ball park" information and a workup load is the safest method to start off with to learn about your rifle and reloading components.
 
Nosler says 42 to 46 of Varget for a 165-168.

308-Win-165gr.jpg
 
Take that berger data and throw it in the garbage. Every load I have looked up in there their max is everyone else start load. Last I heard they use the computer program quick load to get their data
 
hometownhero said:
Take that berger data and throw it in the garbage. Every load I have looked up in there their max is everyone else start load. Last I heard they use the computer program quick load to get their data
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I have the Nosler and Lyman data here too and Berger is on a different planet. I won't throw the 35$ book in the garbage yet. I want to understand what's going on.
 
MozPhoq said:
I have the Nosler and Lyman data here too and Berger is on a different planet. I won't throw the 35$ book in the garbage yet. I want to understand what's going on.
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To me it seems like what is going to happen when you use a receiver and a barrel with real ammunition and pressure testing equipment vs a computer simulation. Lawyers might have something to do with it as well.
 
MozPhoq said:
Different yes, but one max load being the minimum of the other?
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Glad others answered you, I totally forgot about this when I got home, sorry.

And yes, I've seen it before and have made notes in my 'load notes' to that effect. As others said, start low, work up from there.
 
I went to proceed with my ladder testing this morning and I was able to go right through 46.4 grains and I was still in the lower twenty six hundreds fps. So the Berger reloading manual is total BS. Don't buy it!

Again, thank you all for your input.
 
I was about to buy the Berger reloading manual 1st edition 2012 (only one I know of ), It has great reviews on every site I found. Are you all talking about another Berger book?
 
MG4A6 said:
I was about to buy the Berger reloading manual 1st edition 2012 (only one I know of ), It has great reviews on every site I found. Are you all talking about another Berger book?
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Well, the first 240-ish pages are an interesting read. It's full of history and anecdotes + technical stuff regarding the Berger company and reloading in general. The problem is that their load ranges are way too prudent. I had an email exchange with a guy at Berger over this yesterday (Corey Schwanz) where he acknowledges the fact that their data is on the safe side, he says that's no big deal. I think it is.
 
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