Are compressed loads for this cartridge typically seen in the 43 to 44 grain load weights for IMR 4064?
Just loaded my first batch of .308, using IMR 4064. With individually measured loads in the 43.5 to 44.3gr range, I'm seeing compressed loads with 150 gr BT FMJs (Midway blems from a few years back) at COAL of 2.80. Since Hodgdon's manual recommends 43.0 grains as a starting load, and says 47.7gr (max load) is compressed, I'm surprised to see such full cases so much lower in the load band.
All charges were made from a Chargemaster, and each charge was double-checked with a separate MTM scale.
The brass I'm using is once-fired Lake City LR 01 (Long Range 2001), all full-length resized. Even though it is not crimped MilSpec, I decided to treat it as a lower-volume milspec case.
Anyway, I decided to start with the Sierra (50th Ed) manual's recommended target load of 46.1 gr, reduced by 2 grains due to military brass (now 44.1), and go a few of tenths of a grain on either side for my first shooting sample... so 43.7, 43.9, 44.1, 44.3 and 44.5. Because the case with 44.3 gr was so full, I opted to stop there & load up some 43.5s instead.
Just loaded my first batch of .308, using IMR 4064. With individually measured loads in the 43.5 to 44.3gr range, I'm seeing compressed loads with 150 gr BT FMJs (Midway blems from a few years back) at COAL of 2.80. Since Hodgdon's manual recommends 43.0 grains as a starting load, and says 47.7gr (max load) is compressed, I'm surprised to see such full cases so much lower in the load band.
All charges were made from a Chargemaster, and each charge was double-checked with a separate MTM scale.
The brass I'm using is once-fired Lake City LR 01 (Long Range 2001), all full-length resized. Even though it is not crimped MilSpec, I decided to treat it as a lower-volume milspec case.
Anyway, I decided to start with the Sierra (50th Ed) manual's recommended target load of 46.1 gr, reduced by 2 grains due to military brass (now 44.1), and go a few of tenths of a grain on either side for my first shooting sample... so 43.7, 43.9, 44.1, 44.3 and 44.5. Because the case with 44.3 gr was so full, I opted to stop there & load up some 43.5s instead.