I Gotta' Ask

[DanTheFarmer]

Hi All,

I've been at this reloading thing for a while now. I've seen plenty of conflicting load data where a load is safe in one book and over-max in another.

My provocative question of the week is: Has anyone ever harmed themselves or their firearm by shooting a max data load as listed in a reliable source?

By reliable source I mean bullet companies, powder companies, or the major manuals. Also I'm only asking about properly loaded rounds, not mistakes in reloading, unwise substitutions, or loads over all published amounts.

Shouldn't the advice be something more like, "Don't build more upper range data rounds than you are willing to pull until you've proven that they are safe in your firearms."?

When I develop a load I usually have a velocity target and an accuracy target in mind. In my experience the speeds over my chronograph are usually below what is listed in the manuals. Therefore my start load is the one at the velocity target in the manual and then I build up in small increments to max-data. If while firing I notice anything unsafe or otherwise I don't like I pull those at the offending level and anything hotter. Does anyone see a problem with that? It saves me a bunch of expensive and time consuming test of loads I'm not interested in even if they work well.

Thanks for any input.

Dan

 

[Yarddog]

Sounds good to me.. I've not seen anyone hurt a gun within load specs..

Murphys' always lurking,,
Y/D

 

[bluetopper]

The only published load I have ever heard of hurting anything or damaging a gun is I have read of and seen pics of a few S&W 500 Magnum revolvers claiming to being blown up with max listed charges of Titegroup powder. Fast pistol powders in large capacity brass with heavy bullets is definetly not advisable.

 

[GaryL]

I have a Blue Dot load in 357 mag (158gr FMJ-FP) that is a little under max that seems overly stout for 357 mag. Like +P+. I have not run them over a chrono, but decided to break them down anyway since there's not even a couple hundred, and I don't like them that hot. If I want to play with stout loads, I send a few 44mags loaded with H110 down range, and I have my fix for the next 6 months.

 

[wgaynor]

With any data, I never start at a max load. I start 10% below minimum and work my way up until I receive desired accuracy. Have yet to have a max load be the desired accuracy load.

 

[readyeddy]

Why load to max? I have never found myself in a situation when I needed to get max velocity. I never go higher than 10% below max. So far things work fine.

Also, it's never a good idea to load below minimum. At least that's what I've read here.

 

[jwrowland77]

The only reason I have ever gone near max, was when I did my workup for my match load for 600yd. I found two loads in that workup that were accurate one near low end and one near max (in some manuals it's over max), and I went with the one near/over max (depending on manual you look at) for my match load to get the velocity I am looking for. Plus with the bullet I'm using, depending on the MV, it gives slightly different BC's.

 

[Otto]

Has anyone ever harmed themselves or their firearm by shooting a max data load as listed in a reliable source?

Yes there has. 40S&W has had problems with kbooms despite folks following published load data.
In response, powder companies have issued caveats regarding supported chambers. But it may have more to do with weak brass.
Either way, reloaders followed the manual and go a KB for their efforts.

 

[sfed]

Devoloping a new load.

Whenever I am developing a new load, for the first rounds I always start at the low end with a 10 shot run over the chronograph over a 10 -15 minute stretch. That gives me time to compare the actual fps and study the brass to check for any problems with pressure. I always take my notebook with the basic data from all of my reference books and website starting loads and expected fps written down on the sheet for the new load. Most of the time I also load 2 and sometimes 3 steps higher to check speed over the chronograph and accuracy writing down group sizes and fps. This method has never failed me yet. I stop at a little less than max load for that powder if the groups never get as tight as I want. When I see a group I like and it is repeatable, that is the load highlighted on that particular load sheet.

 

[cfullgraf]

In my experience the speeds over my chronograph are usually below what is listed in the manuals.

Generally, I agree with this statement, but it is not always the case.

I have two AR-15s built to A2 configuration with 20" barrels. One matches the velocity in the Sierra manual for AR-15 data almost to the fps. The other, with the same load, is 200 fps or so HIGHER.

I like to shoot some factory ammunition in my firearms over a chronograph to "calibrate" the gun. Preferably the same bullet that I might use but at least the same weight bullet. It gives me an idea whether the firearm is fast or slow with ammunition that is supposed to be safe to use. It gives me an idea of an upper limit on velocity that I may or may not elect to exceed based on other factors.

Looking at the firearm or test rig used to develop the data can give an indication whether your velocity will be higher or lower than the published data, but not always.

 

[41 Mag]

When I am beginning the work up of a new load I usually consult as many sources as I can find for the particular caliber and bullet weight I am wanting to use. I look for the most tested powders, the velocity ranges, as well as if one or more source lists an accuracy load. I will jot down the min and max loads with these powders then when done I average the minimum weight from the combined sources and use that as my start load. Usually this comes out to within a grain one way or the other across the board.

Each and every barrel is different and with the wide choice of components this can alter what the actual min or max load will be for that particular firearm. The best bet is to simply load for accuracy and once you have that the rest will take care of itself. That said there are some instances where you might want to hit a certain velocity window for a certain purpose. If you can safely get there with no issue and can find the accuracy you need once there well your good to go, but in most cases there really are other options.

 

[Archie]

Loading Manuals

Dan, I've noted the problem you cite of manual A showing a starting load of what manual B calls a maximum load. Most of it stems from the different bullets used, the different guns used, a different lot of powder being used and even temperature differences.

No, strictly speaking, I've never damaged either me or a firearm when using a 'published' load. I have a couple of guns I think will get beat up using some listed maximum loads; so I don't go that high.

Which is not to say I haven't ever shot 'max' loads from the beginning. When I was much younger and - ahem - 'adventurous', I shot a lot of heavy loads. Some of those guns are not in production any more so I tend to be a bit productive of them. And the slightly less than maximum loads shoot just as well and do exactly what they always have done, so I don't worry about getting the last little bit of velocity from the ammo.