I have a new jug of Benchmark for 223rem I haven't opened yet and usually use 25gr, cci 450 mag primer and 55gr Nosler BT. How much should I drop down in charge and work back up with this new pound of powder? With things getting hairy and stuff hard to find I don't want to do a full load workup.
New lot of powder??
- Thread starter Axis II
- Start date
- Status
Bat Rastard
Member
How close to the max was your load ? If you were pushing the limits, back it off and work it up. If you had some leeway, See how it shoots.
Hodgdon is 25.6gr. I am at 25gr. It shoots very, very well and no sticky bolt, but primers are just starting to flatten.
Bat Rastard
Member
I am not saying this is wise, load one, put on gloves and eye protection, and bust a cap . Look at your primer and likely drive on.
Going forward, 8 pounders will decrease the frequency of this dilemma.
Going forward, 8 pounders will decrease the frequency of this dilemma.
If CCI primers we’re starting to flatten, I’d back off by about a grain. I always prefer to err on the side of caution.
Blue68f100
Member
Do you have any crony data to compare too? This is the best way to find out if a new lot is hotter or weaker.
If not back off a couple of 0.1 and work back up.
If not back off a couple of 0.1 and work back up.
Charlie98
Member
^^^That.
rfwobbly
Member
Personally, I think most of the "run a full new ladder" guideline is a holdover from the 60's. Ever since the 1990's, production in chemical plants has been more fully automated and controlled by computers. This means formulation, weighing, mixing, heating, drying, etc steps are now controlled to extremely tight tolerances instead of the foreman's wrist watch. So although there are still some lot-to-lot variations, they are now (probably) much, much smaller than they ever have been in the past.
(Of course I'd feel better if this was US-made powder and not something Hodgdon was importing.)
► But I'd feel safe making 2 or 3 test rounds at 24gr or 24.5gr and see how they perform.
► And I'd thoroughly mix the last of the old stuff in with the new.
(Of course I'd feel better if this was US-made powder and not something Hodgdon was importing.)
► But I'd feel safe making 2 or 3 test rounds at 24gr or 24.5gr and see how they perform.
► And I'd thoroughly mix the last of the old stuff in with the new.
Different. Purchased about 2yrs apart.
No chrony. Money is always tight and its either eat or chrony.
AJC1
Member
Your load is already 10% less than max. You may want to just load a small batch 10 or so to verify accuracy.
Cci mag primers have the hardest cup in the industry as far as I know. Maybe the 41 is more but I think they use the same cup as the 450. Flat primers in this primer is a pressure sign.
Cci mag primers have the hardest cup in the industry as far as I know. Maybe the 41 is more but I think they use the same cup as the 450. Flat primers in this primer is a pressure sign.
Ill see if I have any that have been fired and post a pic.
Demi-human
maybe likes firearms a little bit…
It (flat primers) can also be a sign of over sizing.
I would load five as normal and shoot them over a chronograph to see where they are.
Since you don’t have one, you’ll need to either load them and “run what you brung” or make a set of loads very near to your charge weight and see what shoots.
The powder may be a little different, but I doubt you’ll blow your eyebrows off or squib a bullet.
It’s all about the hole distance for me...
All that flies in the face of proper and safe practices, so if you do come back without eyebrows,... well, honestly we are gonna want pictures of that!
Good luck!
I would load five as normal and shoot them over a chronograph to see where they are.
Since you don’t have one, you’ll need to either load them and “run what you brung” or make a set of loads very near to your charge weight and see what shoots.
The powder may be a little different, but I doubt you’ll blow your eyebrows off or squib a bullet.
It’s all about the hole distance for me...
All that flies in the face of proper and safe practices, so if you do come back without eyebrows,... well, honestly we are gonna want pictures of that!
Good luck!
While I could be wrong I don't think its oversizing. I use a comparator and just bump the shoulder back either 1-2 thousandths.It (flat primers) can also be a sign of over sizing.
I would load five as normal and shoot them over a chronograph to see where they are.
Since you don’t have one, you’ll need to either load them and “run what you brung” or make a set of loads very near to your charge weight and see what shoots.
The powder may be a little different, but I doubt you’ll blow your eyebrows off or squib a bullet.
It’s all about the hole distance for me...
All that flies in the face of proper and safe practices, so if you do come back without eyebrows,... well, honestly we are gonna want pictures of that!
Good luck!
whughett
Member
My understanding is powder production is blended and tested to provide uniform results from lot to lot, how many start over with new primers, lot to lot, I never did. But like many I don’t push the envelope either.
I’d load 10 or so and shoot one, looks ok shoot the test, still ok load your normal batch.
I
I’d load 10 or so and shoot one, looks ok shoot the test, still ok load your normal batch.
I
Yeah, powder production is probably much more science than art these days, hence my recommendation for only a 1 grain bump down. No need to go back to the drawing board.
BTW, just because a max is listed in a manual, it doesn’t necessarily mean that will be the max in your gun. You should always work up to max taking note of signs of pressure. If you see them, back off. What worried me and prompted the recommendation to back off was that you’re flattening CCI primers. Thems hard primers.
BTW, just because a max is listed in a manual, it doesn’t necessarily mean that will be the max in your gun. You should always work up to max taking note of signs of pressure. If you see them, back off. What worried me and prompted the recommendation to back off was that you’re flattening CCI primers. Thems hard primers.
The chemical composition of the powder should be exactly the same. You load by weight so changes in the density should not matter. I would load 3 or 5 either just like before or a hair under and give it a go. You notice they do not change the loading data tables by the powder lot number.
Dudedog
Contributing Member
I don't know about Benchmark but I will say some powders seem to be better lot to lot than others......
rskent
Member
If it were me, I would load a few rounds with the new powder and a few with the old powder Go to the range and shoot some groups. Bench the gun and see if the new powder groups the same and on the same place on the target. It should tell you what if anything you need to do.
I've read (more internet wisdom?) that powder manufacturers maintain lot to lot differences in powder to less than 4% of a standard set for a particular powder. With my handgun loads, which none are near max., I stay with my current load data. For my rifle loads, I have 8 lb. jugs and haven't had to consider lot to lot differences yet (90% of my reloading is for handguns)...
FROGO207
Member
What I do is load a single round at 23.5, 24, 24.5, 25 (using your old load number) and shoot them in order and look at signs and on target results. Then if all is a go load some at 25 and test accuracy. Fine tune as needed. This method has stood the test of time for my reloading safely so far.
buck460XVR
Member
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2007
- Messages
- 10,087
^^^This is because they figure in a margin of error for differences in lot numbers. If this was precision match ammo, I might consider working the load again, but for deer size targets and paper, i'd just go with what I was doing. Being below max is your safety margin.
- Status
