Which do I follow?

[crimeguy7]

:banghead: Ok so as i was instructed to do, i started reading about reloading and getting familiar with how things work. I had asked a few newby questions and was told to READ! But now that I did that I have even more questions!!

Which data do I follow. The powder has one set, the bullet has another set, the book has another set of numbers?!?:banghead:

 

[rcmodel]

No two sets of data are ever going to match exactly, because the data was collected in different ways, in different guns, with different powder lots, possibly years apart.

You can use whichever data set you want to use though.

We don't ever start out with the max load given.

Start low and work up until you get signs of excess pressure, or you reach the max load, whichever happens first.

None of the starting loads from the different data sets are dangerous in any modern gun in good working order.

rc

 

[Walkalong]

Yep, and it gets easier, promise.

 

[ranger335v]

"Which data do I follow. The powder has one set, the bullet has another set, the book has another set of numbers?!?"

RC has it right!

Remember those lines in every book that says: "Start low and work up until you get signs of excess pressure, or you reach the max load, whichever happens first." ? THAT'S the data you follow! It allows for any possible variations in bullets (of the same weight), powder and primer lots, cases, your firearm vs. what the book makers used, etc.

Reading data and blindly following ANY book load can be a route to sorrow, thinking has to come into play as well.

 

[lgbloader]

I had asked a few newby questions and was told to READ! But now that I did that I have even more questions!!

Now that is what I want to hear. See, it is a bit more complicated than it first appears but once you get to the next stage, it all comes together fairly quickly.

The people who responded are absolutely correct in that you should always start with the starting load and work up. Keep a sharp eye for pressure signs and don't skip ahead or cheat.

LGB

 

[SquirrelNuts]

I had the same frustration. I bought several reloading manuals, and found several online data sources. My fix was to put all the data I could find into an Excel spreadsheet.

The columns are:
Source
Powder (this was the same throughout the entire sheet for load comparison)
Starting Load Grains
Starting load Velocity (usually given)
Starting Load Pressure (if given)
Maximum Load Grains
Maixmum Load Velocity (usually given)
Maximum Load Pressure (if given)
Minimum COL
Notes column

You will see that some sources are a bit different (as you have found out) but you will find a trend. For the attached example, I started with 47.0 grains of Varget with a COL of 3.250". That was the most prevalent starting combination.

 

[crimeguy7]

Different data!

Thanks for the input. I like the idea of using excel to compile all the different data........the quest goes on!!

 

[rcmodel]

Excel is probably fine, but you add another potential problem to having safe load data.

It is very easy for anyone to make a typo when entering all that data into a spread sheet.

Just one mistake will throw you a curve ball in all the other data that is correct.

rc

 

[Otto]

Which data do I follow. The powder has one set, the bullet has another set, the book has another set of numbers?!?

The powder manufacturer's data is usually the most up-to-date, comprehensive and safest to use.

They test each and every lot of powder that's produced and adjust the load recipes if necessary. Alliant's Blue Dot is one example of this: http://www.alliantpowder.com/getting_started/safety/safety_notices.aspx

I always check published reloading data against the powder makers recommendations. But neither is a substitute for common sense.

 

[Walkalong]

I like my Speer #11 and #13 manuals. They have never gotten me in trouble. They do go over some data in other books and online. I have a Speer #8 I think it is, but it is just for the cool factor these days, not really for using.

If my Speer #13 goes over the online data from a powder maker, I am just a bit more carefull is all. Speer used actual firearms to work up most of their data, that makes a difference.

I plan on buying the Speer #14 one day, maybe the newest Hornady as well.

 

[something vague]

It is always great to have a few different loading manuals on hand to be able to compare the data from each company. If you want a nice low load, sometimes on book may not go as low as you want but another manual might. I have found with my handgun loads that Speer seems to be on the high end of things while Hornady's data is on the low end. If I'm looking for just a plinking round, most likely I will end up working that load through the hornady manual while still referencing the Speer to see where it falls. Then I will run the data through the powder company's data and eventually will come up with a comfortable accurate load that falls within all companies data, if that makes any sense. For handgun hunting loads, Speer seems to be my manual of choice as they reasure me that the hot fast loads are still within the safe operating pressures that suit my guns. It's all about using common sense and starting low and work your way up while keeping a close eye on things.