Obsession with brassbustin' pressure/velocity?

[KBintheSLC]

Just wondering what you folks think about this topic... I have never noticed any measurable advantage of hot-rod'ing any cartridge, though there are a number of potential pitfalls in doing so. Yet, many folks seem obsessed with riding the upper edge of a cartridge's capabilities. Some ammo companies have even built their entire marketing strategy around exploiting this mentality. So, I was wondering why some of us believe that over-loaded cartridges are somehow better.

 

[fourdollarbill]

Not better but sometimes just plain out fun for me (not over loaded but up to the top). I like to slam a few every once and a while.

 

[CraigC]

Depends on what it is. Let us not forget that cartridge development owes a lot to experimenters who pushed the envelope with existing guns and cartridges.

 

[Bula]

Agreed, my paper targets can't tell the difference. I like longevity in brass life, and I like shooting lots of rounds. Both are conducive to moderate level loads in .44m/.357m/45colt. I started out hot rodding, but I've turned it down and now I follow accuracy and shootability (I do keep the full snort stuff handy as well).

 

[hammerklavier]

A little extra kick could mean the difference in a defensive situation if you're shooting a pocket gun, .380, .38 etc. Ever hear of +P, +P+, etc? You should practice with them occasionally. Normally I use standard target ammo.

 

[CoastieShep]

For those that do it all the time, I'm guessing it's an ego thing. For those that do it every once in a while, I'm guessing it's a fun thing. Sometimes a little more bang is just a lot more fun.

 

[M-Cameron]

pretty much for the same reason people build computers in fish tanks full of cooling fluid... and why people put massive engines on small dragsters.....people in general love pushing things to the limits to see how much performance they can squeeze out of something...

 

[MTMilitiaman]

I've never seen the point. There are so few occasions where an extra 50 to 100 fps is even going to be noticed.

My dad has been known to do this. I can remember tapping the bolt open with a rubber mallet shooting his 06, and the one time we convinced my sister to shoot a centerfire rifle bigger than the .223, she touched off one of my dad's .270 Win handloads in my .270 Win and it blew a primer. Both her and the gun was fine as Remington wisely engineered a place for the gas to escape in just such an occasion, but she hasn't done much shooting since. Now, incidents like that were very rare. For the most part, his loads are at least safe, but sometimes he does seem to willing to approach or exceed loading data maximums for the sake of a few more FPS, and I just don't get it. Aside from the obvious risk to the shooter and his equipment, I can't imagine it does anything for brass life. I spent a lot of hours wondering why I was staring at the ground looking for this brass when he was only going to get one or two more loads out of it anyways.

I like to be near my cartridge's capabilities. If I didn't appreciate the ability to shoot those long, heavy for caliber bullets at some decent velocities, I wouldn't have bought a 7mm Rem Mag. But I reached 2960 fps from a 24 inch barrel with my 160 gr Accubond handloads, which were 10% below max IIRC, and realized that it was shooting tiny little groups when I did my part, and I considered that adequate. I am more concerned with accuracy than an extra 50 to 100 fps. That is why my dad hasn't started loading for my M1A yet. I love my M1A. I think I'd run into a burning building for it. Not only is it a sweet rifle, but it was essentially the last thing my mom got me before she passed away. I don't want to blow it up. I don't have the equipment near me, nor the time and opprotunity, or really the experience to load for it myself, and I don't trust him to want to approach some record velocity barrier that I am not interested in. So I feed her only factory fodder for now--mostly WWB 147 gr FMJBT.

 

[Walkalong]

It's silly to hot rod things. They make bigger calibers. There is something out there that will do what you want without hot rodding a caliber.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

The same reason 300 mph wasn't fast enough in the NHRA...thats why.

Without people pushing the envelope (most often with existing rounds)...we wouldn't have some of the rounds that are common today (454 Casull, 45-70 +P, 38 Special +P, 44 magnum, 357 magnum, and many more)

 

[LRS_Ranger]

I like big blasters.. but I have decided that I will buy bigger guns instead of trying to turn it up beyond max in my smaller guns. Though I am looking forward to getting some dies and starting to load for my 2 inch .357... I should be able to make that thing roar without getting to unsafe levels.

 

[Walkalong]

The same reason 300 mph wasn't fast enough in the NHRA...thats why.

Without people pushing the envelope (most often with existing rounds)...we wouldn't have some of the rounds that are common today (454 Casull, 45-70 +P, 38 Special +P, 44 magnum, 357 magnum, and many more)

Granted, but for the average shooter who isn't going to be breaking new ground, it is pointless IMHO.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Granted, but for the average shooter who isn't going to be breaking new ground, it is pointless IMHO.

Agreed...but I like to get all I can out of a round, within safe limits.

In other words, I stick to published load data...the only round I have ever pushed very far beyond SAAMI is the 45-70, and that is one round that does benefit from it.

 

[hardworker]

There's no reason to do about 95% of the things people do, other than boredom.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I lied...(not intentionally, I just didn't think about it when I posted up there)

I have also pushed the 223 Remington well past SAAMI...duplicating NATO spec 5.56x45mm loads, in NATO chambered rifles.

 

[KBintheSLC]

I like big blasters.. but I have decided that I will buy bigger guns instead of trying to turn it up beyond max in my smaller guns.

You really nailed what I was getting at. I see nothing wrong with simply using a bigger caliber, or making alterations to a cartridge design if needed for a certain job. After all, innovation and experimentation is not the issue here. The real question is, does that extra 50-100 fps really generate a big enough performance boost to make it worth the risk?

Great thoughts so far.

 

[SuperNaut]

I keep it pretty mellow; I like my guns and hands just the way they are.

 

[Robert Wilson]

I've never understood it myself. I choose a bullet weight and velocity that suits my needs. Then I choose the cartridge that's designed to make it happen. Why people buy a .30-06 and then try to make it into a .300 Magnum (as an example) when they could have just bought a Magnum in the first place thoroughly escapes me.

 

[DCR]

Elmer Keith. That's why.

 

[okespe04]

I've never understood it myself. I choose a bullet weight and velocity that suits my needs. Then I choose the cartridge that's designed to make it happen. Why people buy a .30-06 and then try to make it into a .300 Magnum (as an example) when they could have just bought a Magnum in the first place thoroughly escapes me.

Pushing 30-06 before various magnums existed is probably what led to the various magnums that exist today.

 

[ljnowell]

Whats the point in having a fast car? Why have a three bedroom house if you only need two? Why drive a full size four wheel drive truck when a two wheel drive ford ranger would work?

Because someone wants to.

 

[Buck Snort]

I got my fill of it after blowing heavy loads out of my 7.5" FA Model 83 in 454 Casull. However, that's a gun that's designed to handle it. My 6" Model 83 has a 454 Cas. cylinder and a 45 LC cylinder and the latter gets 95% of the use in that gun. I'm not sure I could blow up either gun by cramming all the H110 I could get into a case and forcing a 300 gr. bullet on top of that, but I'm 67 years old and that kind of silliness I've out grown. It was fun when I was younger, not nearly so much anymore.

 

[Ryder]

There are published maximum safe loads and I don't know of anyone who "over-loads" anything, or advocates it.

What kind of measures are you looking for that you are not seeing any difference from an increase in bullet energy? That's like saying you can bear hunt with target ammo

Realizing the useful range of velocities one cartridge is capable of you should be seeing larger exit wounds and shorter blood trails. You should be seeing flatter trajectory, increased range, and smaller leads on moving targets.

 

[hardworker]

Pushing everything to the limit is what people do, and have done ever since we learned pointy rocks could kill mammoths. It's nothing new. Sure, a few people fall by the wayside in the name of power, but that's how people are.

Think of it this way: You overload a .30-06, and blow it completely apart. 20 years later, you're passing on that knowledge to someone else along with a funny story.

 

[Venado]

In the past many chose to stay back East where they felt safe and secure. Then there were the pioneers that headed West, and conquered the frontier. In hand-loading there have been pioneers that have helped make the way, that is how we got to where we are today. There are still frontiers to conquer. If you think we are where we will always be, you are silly. Do you know what the weakest parts of a 1911 are, when using over spec. ammo? If a person knows things like this, you can build a gun that will last a lot longer. So much to learn, but not enough time.