There is a very good article in the August/September issue of Handloader magazine entitled Velocity and Pressure: An Overview of Internal and External Ballistics that would answer a lot of your questions. The article hits on many of the points mentioned in this thread: many of which the author of the article disagrees with. If you local magazine sources don't carry Handloader, you can buy it here: http://www.riflemagazine.com/home/index.cfm?CFID=212304&CFTOKEN=99540499
working up loads / chronographs & velocity
- Thread starter Major Beer
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One of the most frustrating things about reloading -- especially for people new to the hobby -- is the inconsistency of data. One manual says not to drop more than 3% below max for starting loads. Another manual lists a max load that is 10% below the other manual's max. Or maybe 10% more.
So you stay on the safe side and increase loads slowly, watch for pressure signs, use a chronograph, collect data...
But, hey, somewhere along the line shouldn't accuracy count? Most -- by all means not all, and not in all guns, and not with all powders -- loads get less accurate as they approach maximum. Safety first, but after that I look for tight groups rather than hotter loads.
So you stay on the safe side and increase loads slowly, watch for pressure signs, use a chronograph, collect data...
But, hey, somewhere along the line shouldn't accuracy count? Most -- by all means not all, and not in all guns, and not with all powders -- loads get less accurate as they approach maximum. Safety first, but after that I look for tight groups rather than hotter loads.
Major Beer
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amen brother - that is where my initial question of this post came from. i have looked all over the internet, and posted more or less the same question and received a wide variety of responses.
for now, i am following what the Hodgdon's Manual advises as far as the powder we have and what the Lee manual has to say. I bought the Spreer #13 - read that one later. i am going to bone up on more info before i load anything else. i have the basics but i am realizing there is a lot to this, and i just want to be safe, and take my time. in the mean time, i can collect a pile of brass for my new handgun.
before i know it, it will be bow season here in Ohio
redneck2
Member
One thing you find out when you REALLY starte getting into handloading is what you don't know. Anyone typing on this forum probably has maybe 5% or less of the knowledge they really should have. We are severely limited by lack of equipment, experience, time, and money
Even the most experienced benchrest shooter has relatively limited experience with caliber/powder/primer/case/bullet/firearm combinations. For example, there are probably 30-40 powders that would work well with a 30-06. There are 6-10 primer manufacturers, hundreds of bullets, and dozens of brands of cases. No one has experience with every combination, and that's only one of thousands of calibers.
One of the above posts mentioned Handloader magazine. I've dropped subscriptions to about every magazine but Handloader. The amount of info they have is amazing. I also appreciate the way they debunk "facts" that everybody used to take for granted.
One thing I learned is that, typically for a 10% increase in powder, you get a 2 1/2% increase in velocity. All I can suggest is keep your mind open but don't believe everything you read. The more you search, the more you'll find out you don't know.
Even the most experienced benchrest shooter has relatively limited experience with caliber/powder/primer/case/bullet/firearm combinations. For example, there are probably 30-40 powders that would work well with a 30-06. There are 6-10 primer manufacturers, hundreds of bullets, and dozens of brands of cases. No one has experience with every combination, and that's only one of thousands of calibers.
One of the above posts mentioned Handloader magazine. I've dropped subscriptions to about every magazine but Handloader. The amount of info they have is amazing. I also appreciate the way they debunk "facts" that everybody used to take for granted.
One thing I learned is that, typically for a 10% increase in powder, you get a 2 1/2% increase in velocity. All I can suggest is keep your mind open but don't believe everything you read. The more you search, the more you'll find out you don't know.
Mannlicher
Member
Chronographs are pretty darn cheap these days. Every reloader should have one.
USSR
Member
Ditto.
Don
Major Beer
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- Aug 5, 2005
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just got mine in the mail
i bought an F-1 chrony - i have yet to try it. been fixing my brakes on my car - oh i forgot how fun replacing calipers on an a rear disk car could be - especially one with about 10 winters on it. ah well saved 200-250 bucks.
can't wait to try it - the car
and oh ya the chrony
as far as that august article in Handloader - turns out my friend i shoot with had that issue. i have not read it, but i am getting a script for that magazine. i looked at their website where you can snag a free PDF of their issues (partial magazine) - i did see one about the Mosin NeGants in there - i have always wanted one of those for some reason (WWII buff). the glance i got to see of the magazine was pretty good - enough to tempt me to buy it.
i here ya - granted i am starting pistol rounds. i do not plan on getting into rifle rounds for a while. i am really into thinking about trying out IDPA so i am going to get into pistol shooting pretty heavy. plus since i am beginner it only makes sense that i start with light handling of power, etc.
thanks again for all the advice.
shoot safe
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i bought an F-1 chrony - i have yet to try it. been fixing my brakes on my car - oh i forgot how fun replacing calipers on an a rear disk car could be - especially one with about 10 winters on it. ah well saved 200-250 bucks.
can't wait to try it - the car
and oh ya the chrony as far as that august article in Handloader - turns out my friend i shoot with had that issue. i have not read it, but i am getting a script for that magazine. i looked at their website where you can snag a free PDF of their issues (partial magazine) - i did see one about the Mosin NeGants in there - i have always wanted one of those for some reason (WWII buff). the glance i got to see of the magazine was pretty good - enough to tempt me to buy it.
i here ya - granted i am starting pistol rounds. i do not plan on getting into rifle rounds for a while. i am really into thinking about trying out IDPA so i am going to get into pistol shooting pretty heavy. plus since i am beginner it only makes sense that i start with light handling of power, etc.
thanks again for all the advice.
shoot safe
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