It's hard to take what you say seriously if you just dismiss the load data as "lawyer loads", you can see the pressure and there's 3rd party testing out there that confirms that the pressures are accurate. But again the question leads to, why don't you just shoot a cartridge with more case capacity and run a slower powder and achieve the same higher velocity at lower pressure?
You did not read what I wrote. I find where a given case, bullet, powder, primer combination (varying only powder weight) shows pressure then back down.
You said that 3rd party people confirm the reloading manual numbers, where is this data confirming reloading manual pressures? Do they use the same measurement tools and techniques? I am confident that the people who prepare reloading manuals report their measurements honestly and accurately. But suppose that my barrel length or inside diameter or twist is different? I use 5R rifling profile, how many manuals use 5R barrels? Suppose I use different primers or cases or bullets. Do you know how to adjust manual pressure numbers for these differences? Please enlighten us.
For example, I use Federal primers - known to be somewhat soft so they show pressure sooner.
In 308 I use mostly Lake City LR brass with a reputation for thick walls and smaller case volume than Lapua. I also shoot Lapua, oddly enough with the same powder charge and to the same point of impact. I use 175 SMK bullets - pretty normal. GRT says that I am getting 53,800 psi (max is 60,191, my load is 89.3% of max) with an estimated muzzle velocity of 2,608 - the MV matches my measurements.
In 300 PRC, I use Lapua brass and Berger 230 grain bullets with secant ogive and J4 jackets. Those jackets and bearing surface are different than SMKs. Lapua brass is harder than Hornady and handles pressure better. GRT says that I am getting 57,172 psi (max is 63,817, my load is 89.5% of max) with an estimated muzzle velocity of 2,790 - 97.8% of actual. Actual measurements tell me that my muzzle velocity is 2,850.
GRT is a simulator using a LOT of math and exact numbers when the actual items being modeled vary and some of those calculations vary in non-linear fashion. GRT was careful to tell me that 300 PRC case volume varies, I accepted their guess. Same with the Berger bullets. I figure if it gets within 5 percent I think that is pretty darn good. If you think my loads are hot, I think you are wrong.
