Reloading manual discrepancies

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phaxtris

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Ive noticed that every reloading manual seems to have a different maximum and minimum loads for the same bullet weight and powder, for instance;

Hornady 240g cast swc has a max load of 7.7g of win 231, yet Hodgdon reloading center has a max load of 11g of the same powder, same bullet

What is the deal with that, 3.3g is a pretty large difference, which manual do i trust ?
 
Mostly because they're testing with different firearms and different testing methods.

Always remember, the manuals are just a guideline to give you a good starting point. Best guideline to follow is always err of the side of caution and start low, increase slowly to the max loading, and always watch out for signs of overpressure.
 
Mostly they are saying the same thing in different ways. Some predetermine a maximum velocity with a corresponding load, others have a predetermined maximum load with a corresponding velocity. Some load data is fired in pressure guns, while some is worked out mathematically. Lee's manual is perhaps the only once which provides data for powder volume as well as weight. The more manuals you have, the more information that is available to you.

I have seen a few mistakes in the loading manuals, but only a few that will get you into trouble. For example the data in the new Hornady manual suggests loads for the .375 Ultra that are far too light, and you will never get the velocity they suggest without exceeding them. By contrast, the .458 Winchester data for the new 500 gr DGX .458 bullet is dangerous, being perhaps 2 grs over maximum (based on observed velocity) due to the long shank length below the bullet's cannelure. The load they recommend works fine with the 500 gr Interlock with its shorter shank, but its far too heavy for the long shank DGX in a straight wall cartridge, when both bullets are loaded to the same velocity. By the way, Quickload is no different, and the data from it should be treated skeptically until proven. I've found; some data is pretty good, other data is out to lunch. Regardless of the source, the handloader needs to work up new loads cautiously, particularly with untried (for him) components.

Use the manuals as a guideline rather than a bible. Your rifle is individual, and your scale might not represent the true weight of your powder charge. Start low and work up with caution. If you have a chronograph, stop when you meet the recommended maximum velocity, regardless of what the powder charge is. Get a good linear micrometer so you can check for expansion of the web of the case. A load that expands the web by .001" is often, although not always, the first indication of dangerous pressure. When working up a load, reduce your powder increments to a half or even a quarter grain once you observe that your load is compressed. Compressed loads spike pressures very rapidly and without much warning, even with slow powders, regardless of the design of the cartridge case.
 
I have a bunch of books and a couple of internet sites I check when starting out a new load. To me, powder and components are cheap and if it takes 10 or more loads to build what I want, then it just means I get to shoot more that day.
For any given "new" load in a "new" weapon (by that I mean a new bullet/powder combination that I have not fired in a particular rifle) I check all of my sources and start with the absolute LOWEST charge weight listed. Then I load in .5gn increments to the Max charge listed . Sometimes this leads to a dozen trial loads. Often I find that I have wasted my time and should have just started with Lee's maximum data since I usually wind up exceeding that anyway, but I have not, to date, blown up a weapon or caused any damage to myself by following this procedure. I have had really tight bolt lifts in just one increment, but that was not so bad since I only fired one round and then backed off.
 
yes i have also run into problems with a .223 being too hot and had to pry alittle at the bolt handle to open it. this was just under a max load in the sierra 5th edition. upon looking in the hornady it was way over max?
 
The Hornady data is likely for Hornady swaged lead bullets, which aren't intended for high velocities.
 
The Lee manual has some wonky loads where they list the maximum and minimum loads the same. Of course, it makes working up to max loads faster! :p
 
Check out the difference between the Lyman 7.62x39 h335 maximum load vs the Lee manual.

Lyman says go up to 34.5g, Lee says stop at 31

That's quite the difference in velocity, but LEE doesn't care, because they just take their loads from the manufacturer. They don't do actual research like Lyman does. I trust the Lyman one more.
 
hmm all makes sense

i never jump right to max load anyhow, i usually start 3 or 4 steps below, load up 10 rnds of each (up to just below max load), and head to the range and work up untill i find a load i like that isnt resulting in obvious pressure problems

i was just wondering why there was such a difference, i have only loaded with the horandy manual, it would seem from looking around more that it is pretty conservative compared to others, with is fine by me, lol
 
The burn rate of each powder can also change a bit from lot to lot. I like to buy a fairly large amount of powder if i can get the same lot #. The difference isn`t large but if you are running a maximum load you better back off when opening a new can then work up again. Powders i use a lot of such as H4831 i usually buy in 10 pound batches.
 
ajax said:
yes i have also run into problems with a .223 being too hot and had to pry alittle at the bolt handle to open it. this was just under a max load in the sierra 5th edition. upon looking in the hornady it was way over max?
Click to expand...

X2. Because I didn't find the particular data in the manuals that I had, I followed the data on the Hodgdons can for the .223. (H4198) I was getting cratering on my primers, indicating to me it may be a little to hot for my particular ammo-rifle combination. After doing a more thorough search, my findings showed it was too hot.
 
i use my old speer 11 ; it's been pretty close in my rifles and handguns- i'm not intrested in getting every last fps out of a load, as long as it is accurate and doesn't lead or smoke too much- in that vein, i've also noticed a good many of the members here use loads from hogdon and others and complain about the pistol not cycling correctly- you can usually attribute this to the load being too low( ie a "pussy" load) that your spring is too heavy for
 
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