Old Grumpy
Member
I am going to build some test loads using several different powders to compare them.
These rounds will be built using new Starline cases, CCI Small Pistol Magnum primers, 158gr Speer JHP, and five different powders (Blue Dot, 2400, AA#7, AA#9, and IMR-4227).
Charge weights were researched using four different sources; Lyman's 49th, Hornday's 7th Edition, Speer's 5th Edition, and the powder company's web sites. Not all data sources listed all five powders and as expected charge weights and velocities conflicted. All loads were listed in a minimum of two different guides, none were listed in all four reference sources for the bullet/caliber being used.
Here are the details on the loads I'm going to build:
Starline cases, 1.590" OAL, CCI 200 SPM, Speer 158gr JHP, target velocity range 1,150fps +/-
Each lot will consist of 20 rounds. Ten rounds to be fired over my chronograph to determine velocities and the second ten to be fired from a rest at 25 yards to check accuracy.
Lot #1, Alliant Blue Dot, charge 10.6gr
Data found for this load is:
Lyman's 49th, start 9.6gr/929fps maximum 10.7gr/1,158fps
Hornady's 7th, not listed
Sierra's 5th, start 11.6gr/1,150fps maximum 12.6gr/1,250fps
Alliant's web site, start not given maximum 10.2gr/1,188fps
So lot one is within Lyman's and Speer's data but 0.4gr above Alliant's maximum. OK 2, Not listed 1, Over 1
Lot #2, Accurate #7, charge 11.1gr
Data for this load is:
Lyman's 49th, start 10.2/1,005fps maximum 11.5gr/1,220fps
Hornady's 7th, not listed
Sierra's 5th, start 10.2gr/1,050fps maximum 12.0gr/1,200fps
Accurate's web site, start 9.5gr/1,196fps maximum 10.5gr/1,357fps
So lot two is within Lyman's, Hornady's, and Speer's data but 0.6gr above Accurate's maximum. OK 2, Over 1, Not listed 1
Lot #3, Accurate #9, charge 13.4gr
Data for this load is:
Lyman's 49th, start 13.4gr/1,158fps maximum 14.9gr/1,357fps
Hornady's 7th, start 9.7gr/1,000fps maximum 11.5gr 1,200fps
Sierra's 5th, start 12.7gr/1,100fps maximum 14.1gr/1,200fps
Accurate's web site, start 12.4gr/1,202fps maximum 13.8gr/1,367fps
So lot three is within Lyman's, Speer's, and Accurate's maximum but above Hornady's maximum. OK 3, Over 1
Lot #4, 2400, charge 13.5gr
Data for this load is:
Lyman's 49th, start 11.3gr/938fps maximum 14.9gr/1,279fps
Hornady's 7th, start 11.9gr/1,150fps maximum 15.5gr/1,350fps
Sierra's 5th, start 14.0gr/1,200fps maximum 15.0gr/1,250fps
Alliant's web site, not listed
So lot four is within Lyman's, Hornady's, and Speer's but not listed in Alliant's web site for this bullet/caliber. OK 3, Not Listed 1
Lot #5, IMR-4227 14.8gr
Data for this load is:
Lyman's 49th, start 12.2gr/944fps maximum 16.1gr/1,249fps
Hornady's 7th, start 15.3gr/1,150fps maximum 16.1gr/1,200fps
Sierra's 5th, not listed
Hodgdon's web site, not listed
So lot five is within Lyman's and Hornady's data but not listed by Speer or Hodgdon for this bullet/caliber. OK 2, Not Listed 2
So there you have it. With seemingly conflicting data you can see why new reloaders get confused. Points to be noted, some of this data was developed using firearms while other data was developed using Universal Receivers. Some sources round their data so velocities are given in 50 fps steps. No one source consistently listed higher charge weights. Some charge weights and velocities do appear very close while others seem way off.
What is a reloader to do?
I always check multiple sources, examine the data, and use my experiences to make my decisions. I will post my results in the revolver section when I get the chance to run to the range and drop a notice here for anyone interested in how my real-world numbers look compared to the source data.
Thoughts and experiences welcome.
Grumpy
__________________
These rounds will be built using new Starline cases, CCI Small Pistol Magnum primers, 158gr Speer JHP, and five different powders (Blue Dot, 2400, AA#7, AA#9, and IMR-4227).
Charge weights were researched using four different sources; Lyman's 49th, Hornday's 7th Edition, Speer's 5th Edition, and the powder company's web sites. Not all data sources listed all five powders and as expected charge weights and velocities conflicted. All loads were listed in a minimum of two different guides, none were listed in all four reference sources for the bullet/caliber being used.
Here are the details on the loads I'm going to build:
Starline cases, 1.590" OAL, CCI 200 SPM, Speer 158gr JHP, target velocity range 1,150fps +/-
Each lot will consist of 20 rounds. Ten rounds to be fired over my chronograph to determine velocities and the second ten to be fired from a rest at 25 yards to check accuracy.
Lot #1, Alliant Blue Dot, charge 10.6gr
Data found for this load is:
Lyman's 49th, start 9.6gr/929fps maximum 10.7gr/1,158fps
Hornady's 7th, not listed
Sierra's 5th, start 11.6gr/1,150fps maximum 12.6gr/1,250fps
Alliant's web site, start not given maximum 10.2gr/1,188fps
So lot one is within Lyman's and Speer's data but 0.4gr above Alliant's maximum. OK 2, Not listed 1, Over 1
Lot #2, Accurate #7, charge 11.1gr
Data for this load is:
Lyman's 49th, start 10.2/1,005fps maximum 11.5gr/1,220fps
Hornady's 7th, not listed
Sierra's 5th, start 10.2gr/1,050fps maximum 12.0gr/1,200fps
Accurate's web site, start 9.5gr/1,196fps maximum 10.5gr/1,357fps
So lot two is within Lyman's, Hornady's, and Speer's data but 0.6gr above Accurate's maximum. OK 2, Over 1, Not listed 1
Lot #3, Accurate #9, charge 13.4gr
Data for this load is:
Lyman's 49th, start 13.4gr/1,158fps maximum 14.9gr/1,357fps
Hornady's 7th, start 9.7gr/1,000fps maximum 11.5gr 1,200fps
Sierra's 5th, start 12.7gr/1,100fps maximum 14.1gr/1,200fps
Accurate's web site, start 12.4gr/1,202fps maximum 13.8gr/1,367fps
So lot three is within Lyman's, Speer's, and Accurate's maximum but above Hornady's maximum. OK 3, Over 1
Lot #4, 2400, charge 13.5gr
Data for this load is:
Lyman's 49th, start 11.3gr/938fps maximum 14.9gr/1,279fps
Hornady's 7th, start 11.9gr/1,150fps maximum 15.5gr/1,350fps
Sierra's 5th, start 14.0gr/1,200fps maximum 15.0gr/1,250fps
Alliant's web site, not listed
So lot four is within Lyman's, Hornady's, and Speer's but not listed in Alliant's web site for this bullet/caliber. OK 3, Not Listed 1
Lot #5, IMR-4227 14.8gr
Data for this load is:
Lyman's 49th, start 12.2gr/944fps maximum 16.1gr/1,249fps
Hornady's 7th, start 15.3gr/1,150fps maximum 16.1gr/1,200fps
Sierra's 5th, not listed
Hodgdon's web site, not listed
So lot five is within Lyman's and Hornady's data but not listed by Speer or Hodgdon for this bullet/caliber. OK 2, Not Listed 2
So there you have it. With seemingly conflicting data you can see why new reloaders get confused. Points to be noted, some of this data was developed using firearms while other data was developed using Universal Receivers. Some sources round their data so velocities are given in 50 fps steps. No one source consistently listed higher charge weights. Some charge weights and velocities do appear very close while others seem way off.
What is a reloader to do?
I always check multiple sources, examine the data, and use my experiences to make my decisions. I will post my results in the revolver section when I get the chance to run to the range and drop a notice here for anyone interested in how my real-world numbers look compared to the source data.
Thoughts and experiences welcome.
Grumpy
__________________
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