newbie questions?

[Axis II]

new to reloading and read both lyman and hornady manuals 3 times.

1) I want to load 55gr hornady SP and 55gr v max for 223 bolt action.

I seen a post about hornady being super low on the powder charge and that some guys were loading near max and getting like 2500fps. the book shows max to be like 3200fps. how is this possible?

ill be using the rounds for varmint hunting so speed will be appreciated.

2) What would a 55gr SP or V max bullet be called in the lyman 49th edition?

I noticed several 223rem 55gr bullets and some say sp but I understood SP to be a soft point but lyman calls it Spire point. any thoughts?

some say use the bullet manufactures book but if this is tru velocity is super low then should I use another book?

3) whats your thoughts on using hodgdons load data from their site?

 

[Blue68f100]

When reading load data books it all about the details in what they used as a test gun/chamber. Sierra and Hornady separate the service rifle/AR from a bolt gun. A bolt can can handle the higher loads where on a AR you will beat it up, so to say. Since your have a bolt just work up from min to max looking for that accurate node. Depending on powder you may find 2 loads that works well. In most cases I find the best most accurate load to be near the upper end if not max.

If the bullet your using is not listed just use one that has similar shape and weight.

As far as some mfg being conservative it all depends on what components your using. I worked up some 223R for my ar and run into over pressures signs 0.3gr below what Hornady listed. I was using LC brass which is heavier wall which resulted in smaller case volume = higher pressure. My crony numbers where pretty close to published. Then with one powder I was testing (H335) as I went up in charge the groups improved as lone as the crony number but run into pressure signs and had to stop well below max data for a bolt gun.

I use Hodgdon's load data quite a bit. It's a good reference and is kept current. Powder Mfg load data is a good source and cover more bullets than 1 bullet mfg, Hornady, Sierra .... I've got into a habit of getting the caliber specific load books since they combine about 6 sources into one.

When you do your load workup try to use 1 head stamp. Most head stamps will have a different case volume. Even with LC it varies from year to year.

 

[mdi]

Go with what your manual says, and ferget "saw a post", "I heard", "they said", "some guys" load data. Do you have a chronometer? I don't think you'd know for sure what speeds you get with your gun without one. If velocity is your main concern, get a chrony...

Load manual data will differ because the labs do not use the exact same components or use the exact same testing equipment (different lots of components; powder, primers, bullets. Different testing equipment; universal receivers, actual guns, new or worn out barrels?). I would go for accuracy because a gopher can't tell the difference of a hit with a bullet going 2500 fps, or one going 2800 fps. Besides velocity readings can vary greatly and the listed velocities are just what the test techs got on that day at that time.

I don't have my Hornady manuals in front of me and I don't use V-Max bullets (I use a lot of A-Max though) but look for similar shape and build bullets (open soft point, "plastic tipped", etc.) and use starting loads.

Don't over think the process/results at this time, just get consistent accurate ammo now, and worry about the "finer points" later. Much of reloading is trial and error testing. Load some up at the starting levels, shoot them and record your results. If you want/need to, change the powder charge (normally a bit higher) and test again. But your needs/wants seem to call for a chrony.

 

[Axis II]

just like a bit of speed for longer shots. shooting flatter.

a buddy was shooting 22-250 at lower FPS and was having a hard time killing them 250-300 then went a bit hotter and dead on impact. no more crawl offs.