Help - Load Verification - Hornady

[kludge]

Can someone with a Hornady loading manual help me out?

I need to verify the start load for the 300gr XTP/Mag in .454 Casull.

My information (from Alliant) say the start load is 25.4gr of 2400.

Thanks in advance.

Last year for hunting season I loaded the start load and got 1600fps from a Ruger SRH 9.5" The primers (WSR) were fairly flat, and extraction was a bit sticky. Due to the sticky extraction I vowed that this load would not be increased.

This year I loaded the same load, with the same box of 100 primers, and the same pound of 2400 with 25.4gr of 2400.

The chrony gave me a bit more velocity this time (1625fps) but this time I am seeing a hint of cratering on the primers (the metal of the primer flowing into the firing pin hole).

 

[ranger335v]

I don't have a current Hornady but it seems your current load is verifying that it's plenty hot. I would stop there, or even back off a half grain. ??

 

[rg1]

.454 Casull--300gr Hornady XTP-Mag--COL 1.745"--case Hornady--Primer FED 205--7 1/2"FA
2400 powder-start 25.4-1400fps---26.2-1450---27-1500---max 27.8-1550
from Hornady 7th Edition manual

 

[rcmodel]

My information (from Alliant) say the start load is 25.4gr of 2400.

Well, thats odd.
Considering that Alliant has never listed anything except the MAX load for each bullet weight.

The latest Alliant reloader guide only shows a 300 grain Speer Unicore Soft Point, and 24.0 grains as a max load.
You have to reduce that 10% to find the starting load.
In this case it would be 21.6 grains.

rc

 

[kludge]

rc -

The e-mail from Alliant (I think it was Ben?) was referencing the Hornady manual.

I was specifically asking about "reduced" loads with 2400, and he gave me the Hornady data, said 2400 was not as hard to ignite like some ball powders (H110), but said I should use the Hornady data anyway and not reduce below that. (paraphrasing)

Sorry for the confusion.

rg1 -

Thanks, it looks like the data Alliant gave me was "by the book"... I can't imagine that a 9.5" SRH would give me 200fps more than a 7.5" FA though. Temperature was in the upper 50's.

I wonder, should be contacting Alliant or Hornady with this news? Are WSR much softer than FED 205?

The brass weren't "stuck" but ejection required a firm push.

Last time I loaded with CBC (Magtech) brass. These were WIN.

The other load I tried that day was the start load for Accurate 1680. No primer problems and easy extraction, hits about 4.5" higher at 50 yards. All within 1" vertical and ~3" horizontal (quite windy that day) so I'm thinking I'll go this route for now. 1400fps is plenty for any deer on the planet.

 

[Shoney]

kludge

You didn't mention your COL, or how much you vary it.

A shortened COL or a tighter crimp can increase preasure, more than enough to show a 25fps difference increase.

 

[kludge]

I don't have that with me, but I did write it in my notes. My brain remembers either 1.745" or 1.755" inches, I think the former, and all of them measured within 0.001". I adjusted the depth to seat to the cannelure, measured the round and said "yup, that's it" and used 5/8 of a turn on the FCD. 1/2 turn wasn't quite right, and gave it another 1/8.

Edit: notes say 1.745"