Sorry, another neophite question

[sixfootunder01]

I have just recently started to reload,
I thought that I would keep it simple and start with the 30-30 for a lever action 150g bullet. My question is this, I thought that I read somewhere that you should not have any empty space in with the powder, I used Hodgden H4895, Lee Turret Press, hand measured the powder, after seating the bullet, I can shake the cartridge and hear the powder rattle.
Is there a better powder/ load that takes up all of the space?

I have been reading several reloading manuals, but I hate to buy all different brands of powder to experiment with without having the correct answer.
thanks

 

[Monkeybear]

many believe that filling the case with powder will lead to a more uniform ignition, and thus a more accurate load but many loads do not fill the case.

 

[Father Knows Best]

I thought that I read somewhere that you should not have any empty space in with the powder, I used Hodgden H4895, Lee Turret Press, hand measured the powder, after seating the bullet, I can shake the cartridge and hear the powder rattle.

The rule about not leaving empty space in the case is only for black powder! When loading black powder or modern substitutes (Pyrodex, APP, Goex Pinnacle, Triple Seven), you must fill the case up completely to the base of the bullet, or fill up the empty space with wads or inert fillers. Leaving air space in a black powder cartridge is dangerous because it can result in pressure spikes and potentially blow up or severely damage your gun (and you!).

When using nitro (smokeless) powders, however, there's is no problem with leaving air space. In fact, most cartridges I load with smokeless powder have substantial empty space in them. With smokeless powders, follow your loading manual directions CLOSELY! Weigh your powder charge to the tenth of a grain, and don't worry about how much space it takes up.

If you take a 30-30 case and fill it to the top with the wrong powder, you can and will blow your gun to smithereens, and possibly severely injure yourself. Again, read your loading manuals and follow the recipes precisely until you gain some experience with reloading that you understand concepts like burn rates and know how to detect signs of excessive pressure in your loads.

 

[sixfootunder01]

Neophite

thanks again , I have several manuels that I have been reading and following, I plan on keeping to the book, no wildcats here.
Thanks for the clarifications

 

[Smokey Joe]

Filling the case

Sixfootunder--Good on you for your determination to follow the manuals. You probably will never get yourself in trouble doing it that way.

+1 on Father Knows Best's comments. How much of the case is filled up by the powder charge is called "load density," and is stated in some manuals, as a percentage. The fuller the case with powder, the greater the load density.

There is such a thing as more than filling the case, where the bullet actually mashes the powder down a bit in being seated. This is known as a compressed charge, or compressed load. Such a condition is usually stated in the manual.

It is generally regarded as a Good Thing to have more of the case filled with powder than not, for evenness in powder ignition. But in any instance, follow the guidance of the manual, and do not exceed the maximum loads.

BTW, having less than 100% load density, and hearing the powder when you shake a cartridge, gives you a way to easily check each case for powder charge at the end of a loading session!

Hope you enjoy your journey into The Magnificent Obsession--Reloading!

 

[longrifleman]

It is generally regarded as a Good Thing to have more of the case filled with powder than not, for evenness in powder ignition.

Another aspect to this that I try to use as a safety factor is that charges that fill more than half the case make it easy to spot double double charges. Powder running down the side of the case is a big give away.

I thought that I would keep it simple and start with the 30-30 for a lever action 150g bullet

Actually, I've found the .30-30 to be fairly finnicky to reload. Thin case with a shoulder that loves to buckle, bullet has to be crimped, which means case prep is critical. Moderate case capacity so small changes in powder volume seem to affect it more than some. If you can master this caliber, you won't have trouble with most anything. It sounds like you are doing things the right way so don't let me discourage you.

My Marlin likes IMR 3031.

 

[sixfootunder01]

Neophyte

again guys thanks so much, your words or wisdom have really hit home.
I played around last night a little more and now I at least feel a little more confident and not LOST.
Once the 30-30 is tackled I will start on the 7mm
thanks

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Somewhere in your manuals the should be a "burn rate" chart for powders.

The slower the powder, the more case space it takes up space(usually). So if you are really worried about it, use one of the "slower" burning powders listed for whatever caliber you are loading.

This may or may not give you the highest velocity/best accuracy load, but it will be a safe load, and will come nearer filling the case.