Believe Hornady manual or Accurate powder loads for 55 gr VMax?

[Shrinkmd]

I was about to load up some Hornady 55gr Vmax bullets with 2230, and I was looking at the Accurate load data, which differs than the Hornady 8th Ed manual. Hornady lists the VMax, SP with and without cannelure, the FMJBT, and SPSX all with the same load data. Accurate powder 7th Ed lists different loads for SPSX, FMJBT, as well as the VMax.

I’ve read many posts of people using similar load data of the FMJBT with the VMax, around 24.5 gr or so, which would be well over the accurate load of 23.5 gr at 2.260. Hornady lists 2.250 for their VMax length.

So which do I follow?

 

[ponchh]

I have the Hornady 10th edition and the loads generally are borderline anemic.
Hornady 55gr max load w/ H335 is 23.2, The same load in Layman's will max out at 27.0gr

My standby load is 60gr sp w/ 24.5 of H335.
Hornady max is 22.9gr
Layman's max is 25.8gr

The Layman's start load is higher than Hornady max load. Me thinks Hornady has too many lawyers

 

[243winxb]

Stick with Accurate load max 23.5 with 2230 powder.

The Hornady load data is generic. The bearing surface makes a difference. Longer=more pressure.

Look at other Accurate powders, that list all 3 Hornady 55 gr bullets.

RAMSHOT X-TERMINATOR
55 HDY BT-FMJ 22.4 2,976 24.9 3,278 54,466 2.200

55 HDY SPSX 21.4 2,949 23.8 3,223 54,100 2.195

55 HDY V-MAX 21.2 2,936 23.5 3,209 54,210 2.26

The V Max always takes less powder, when compared to the BT-FMJ in 55 gr bullets.

See difference in bullet length here http://www.jbmballistics.com/ballistics/lengths/lengths.shtml

 

[Toprudder]

To me, load data are sometimes suggestions, and I like to err on the side of caution. When I find large discrepancies (as I recently did for 7.62x39 loads) I will usually start at the lowest charge level that I find, and work up a single round for each charge up to the max published data. Shoot each round, measure the velocity, look for signs, then shoot the next round. Repeat until I see any reason not to continue, such as pressure signs or a velocity higher than expected. From that information, I will narrow my charge range and do a more thorough load workup.

 

[Demi-human]

So which do I follow?

One should be working up to maximum regardless of the book.

Have you asked the rifle yet? She will tell you whats she likes...