IMR/Hogdon reloading data

[Sin City Shootist]

Is their data high? I've seen charges 2gr. plus on their site in comparison to say Sierra and Lyman's data. For example Sierra list max charge of 4064 on the .243 as 40.2 and Hogdon data center is listed as 42.5.

 

[Sunray]

2.3 grains won't matter. However, it's not unusual for various manuals to be slightly different. The data reflects the conditions and which firearm, if a whole firearm was used(a lot of them use a universal receiver that is just a barreled action), on the day of the tests.
Mind you, I have found several errors/anomalies on Hodgdon's site. Been using a Lyman manual for eons with no fuss.

 

[suzukisam]

what I have noticed is for powder companies to be higher, because they control the powder composition and can ensure their data to be correct. lawyers tend to have the bullet manufacturers stay lower because they are not in control of the tolerances of powder. I have found hodgdon powder data to be my favorite data when available.. seems to be the most reliable

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree, the Hodgdon data seems to be the most reliable. I also like using online data because mistakes and changes can be made as necessary while printed data can't be changed easily.

As for the bullet manufacturers data being lower, in some cases the bullet profile will dictate a lower powder charge to achieve the same results as a different bullet used by the powder distributors tests.

 

[kingmt]

You can always start at the lowest number & work your way through. I guess you are referring to IMR 4064 & a 70gr projectile. I would guess there is other differences also. Bullet construction, setting depth, lot # of the powder, & chamber it was used in. Load data is just there data not yours. They can't give you a recipe that will yield an exact result. I seem to find Hodgdon's max data to be a ways from showing pressure signs most of the time but have had starting loads to pop primers. If there powder is going to work well for me it is normally ~+1gr from there starting load.

 

[Sin City Shootist]

Thanks guys. I was using some loads, same power different gun and at mid charge it was blowing the primers out and bending the rims on the case.

I went out yesterday and found two nodes. One was at min spec with hogdon data and was about mid in Sierra's. 200 yards, 2 through one hole(I thought I missed the damn target) and the other would of been there to but the wind picked up and blew it a few inches left with the same elevation. The other was over Sierra's load but about 2 grs shy max load in Hogdon's data. Not quite as good but still respectable, Just a hair under and inch at 200 yards. I'm not that great of a shot but this made me think I was, lol. Doubt I'll get that lucky again.

 

[243winxb]

it was blowing the primers out and bending the rims on the case.

Strange for a " mid charge." But each firearm is different. Always use a starting load & work up.

 

[suzukisam]

same power different gun and at mid charge it was blowing the primers out and bending the rims on the case.

that doesn't sound right at all? is the powder new? did you accidentally switch powder? as someone whoo has made a catastraphic error I would really advise to go back and double check everything, pull a couple bullets and weight the powder..not sayin you screwed up, but that sounds very weird