scary lesson learned

savagelh

savagelh

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Well I learned a valuable lesson today. Last night I was reloading for my new used 30-06. I decided to use IMR4895 and 165 gr sierra hpbt's because thats what I had the most of. Not the best powder for 06 but its accurate in everything else I own. I looked in my 2007 hodgon annual manual (magazine form) and I loaded 3 each in .5 gr increments from 49-52 grains (min-max in hodgon manual) I went to the range and tried them out after work today. I was very suprised that the min load was showing pretty good signs of pressure (flattened primers and extractor marks) I continued to 49.5 and then 50 grains. There were signs of pressure but nothing too bad I figured. At 51.5 grains the primers began to crater a little bit. The bolt always opened easily however. I continued to my 52 gr max load and shot my last group then packed everything up. I was very suprised at how the reccomended load showed so much pressure. All the loads shot not too bad with the best being 49.5 and 51.

I went home and refer my other manuals (lee and nosler) and I'm shocked to find that lee starts @ 42.6 and max is 46! nosler shows a similar load for 165gr bullet. I look back at the hodgon magazine and it still says 49-52gr for IMR4895 I should have clued in when I noticed H4895 was so much lower. Oh well I learned a lesson and got home safe and sound after taking a 30-06 over 6 grains over max load. Tonight I pulled the remaining bullets and dumped the powder back into the can. I also picked up a pound of h4350, something I should have done from the beginning. The moral here is to consult more than one manual when loading a new caliber. I just can't believe hodgon published that load.
 
There is actually little difference between the two brands of powder.
If you will look at Hodgdon on line, they show, for 30-06 and 165 grain bullet, 47.2 IMR4895----2757.
46.7 H4895-----2712.
 
That's kind of unusual, such a discrepancy between manuals. Normally they're pretty close.

If I were you, I'd email Hodgdon and point this out, they may correct the mistake in future manuals.
 
Their web data says the same thing for imr4895. Not really tht shocking to me though as some stuff in my Sierra and hornady manuals is like that. One has a max at the other ones start. The velocities in the manuals I have are way off as well. Start low and work up as they say. And check more then one place for data.
 
Now if you've worked up to max in cold weather, you may want to be careful trying them in the hot summer at the same levels.
 
I have the Hodgdon 26th edition printed in 1992, it list's a starting weight of 44gr. and a max of 47gr. of IMR4895 for a 165-168gr. bullet...Think there may be a misprint in that 2007 data you used....Bet that IMR4895-52gr load you shot was a sizzler...You said the bolt wasn't sticky so you were still OK...Were you shooting outside in the cold? That would sure have helped keep pressure down.
H4350 is a great powder for the '06....I use ball powder for metering convienence in my 30-06....A 165gr Sierra spbt with 56gr of Winchester 760 and get around 2900fps on the chronograph in a 24 inch barrel. It's a warmish load but primer pockets stay tight for many reloadings and on a nice calm day it will easily group sub MOA.
 
I have three loading manuals and they are as different as night from day. I know there are lots of variables with the types of bullets but you would think they would be a little closer in what they show for powder loads.
 
For Reference:
My Lyman reloading manual (49th edition) says this for 165gr while using IMR4895:
Starting: 45.0gr
Max: 50.0gr

So by my manual you started 1gr under max and ended over max by 2grs
 
My most recent data shows a load for a 165gr w/IMR4895 @ 49.0 - 52.0 . H4895 is listed as 43.0 -47.5.
 
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