Light loads and SEE?

[Walkalong]

Handloader did a couple of years ago.

What they found out was, the 70% starting load was so slow in most rifle calibers that the bullets would not stabilize and even sometimes key-holed.

They said the best accuracy in about every caliber they tested was loaded to the base of the seated bullet.

They did not say to skip the starting load work up in so many words.

But they might as well have said it.

rc

I believe it. I bet they also found a 70% fill was erratic. A full case full is still pretty slow. Works great, but is nothing more than a light plinking load unless it is a really big case and a heavy bullet. A case full (100% load density. Powder loaded to bottom of bullet.) under a 350 jacketed bullet in .458 Win Mag gives me just short of 1200 FPS, which is around .44 Mag power, but just a little poot in a near 9 Lb rifle. ES & SD numbers are not particularly good.

I am beginning to think you can't hurt yourself with Trail Boss at 100% load density without compressing the powder more than 1%. (That is NOT a suggestion to start going around filling cases full of it while ignoring data)

I loaded two .357 cases with Trail Boss at 101% load density (Well over the data!), under an X-Treme 158 Gr SWC using a WSP primer. I shot them yesterday at 65 degrees. One one went poot, and gave 517 FPS, the other gave a little bigger poot, and gave 681 FPS.

My advise with Trail Boss and pistol calibers is to stick to lead bullets. I keep trying it with plated, and it keeps telling me to stop.

Rifle calibers? Use 100% load density with no more than 1% compression..

As always, use proven data in load books and PDF's put out by the powder companies. Any experimentation on your part could lead to damage to you or your firearms, or worse.

 

[918v]

Load it full of Trail Boss and forgetaboutit.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree, use Trailboss and you are done. It was designed to fill large black powder cases and you can't get enough in the case to damage anything. (just don't compress the load) Velocity will be low like black powder and usually accuracy is good too.

 

[andym79]

Since my last post I have obtained a couple of Lyman books. Whilst unique is well used for cast bullets in .30-30, the accuracy at the velocities I am looking at don't seem to be too good! Red Dot at 6.5grns seems promising, low velocity, minimal recoil and report excellent groups at 50 yards!

Is filler necessary for Red Dot?

Also from what I read Trailboss gives good groups, so I am considering an 8grn load of that!

 

[Walkalong]

Also from what I read Trailboss gives good groups, so I am considering an 8grn load of that!

13 to 13.5 Grs is a full case loaded to the base of the bullet in .30-30.

8 Grs is well under 70% of that, and 70% is as low as IMR reccomends. Load the case full to the base of the bullet. Velocity will still be low. 1200ish