When working up a load, is it best to start 10% below max or 2 grains below? I've been seeing more 2 grain reccoemndations lately, but following that for RL16 in a 130gr class bullet for 6.5cm, I'd be starting at 42.4, which would miss a node I see a lot of people staying at. Conversely starting at 40 would probably be a waste of time on the low end.
2 grains below max or 10% below when starting?
- Thread starter Winny94
- Start date
I dont see a caliber but Im assuming 6.5 creed base don the RL16 and 130 mention?
Disregard 10% or 2 grains, thats all contrived bullshit when the actual answer is so dependent on what spec exactly you have going on that there is no true answer. Which is why youre having trouble figuring out which one is correct.
I would start at the minimum suggested loads when trying to find the minimum starting point. (Though it being Alliant powder they dont really provide that for some reason)
And its not a waste of time starting at 40 and working up if 41 blows your gun up.
Disregard 10% or 2 grains, thats all contrived bullshit when the actual answer is so dependent on what spec exactly you have going on that there is no true answer. Which is why youre having trouble figuring out which one is correct.
I would start at the minimum suggested loads when trying to find the minimum starting point. (Though it being Alliant powder they dont really provide that for some reason)
And its not a waste of time starting at 40 and working up if 41 blows your gun up.
It depends on what brass you are using compared to what the load in the book is using also. I am using Peterson and I found my load at 41.4 with 140 grain bullets. It never hurts to start low, but it can be very painful to start too high.
How are you determining MAX?
I do my homework on the caliber and have an idea of where it will go with a particular combination of powder and bullet. Knowing this, I do a pressure test by starting at the bottom and then loading a single round in incremental increases of 0.5 grain until I reach the max I determine from my data gathering. Starting with the lowest charge weight, I shoot each round checking for pressure signs by examining the cases, feeling bolt lift and looking for ejector swipe/marks. Once I find pressure at a particular charge weight, I know I'm finished with the test and know what MY rifle will handle. I usually back off this actual "MAX" charge weight 0.5 grs and then do my OCW formula using what I've determined to be a "SAFE" maximum charge.
Hope this helps...
I do my homework on the caliber and have an idea of where it will go with a particular combination of powder and bullet. Knowing this, I do a pressure test by starting at the bottom and then loading a single round in incremental increases of 0.5 grain until I reach the max I determine from my data gathering. Starting with the lowest charge weight, I shoot each round checking for pressure signs by examining the cases, feeling bolt lift and looking for ejector swipe/marks. Once I find pressure at a particular charge weight, I know I'm finished with the test and know what MY rifle will handle. I usually back off this actual "MAX" charge weight 0.5 grs and then do my OCW formula using what I've determined to be a "SAFE" maximum charge.
Hope this helps...
There’s so many variables
Published data is with certain brass in one particular chamber/barrel at a certain length.
Different brass, chamber, barrel, primer, seating depth all make a big difference.
Knowing your brass is key.
Put my 147 ELD-M load in lapua or Nosler brass and I guarantee you’ll blow primers.
agreed. but there are definitely book maxes well below factory velocities. just have to go up in .5 increments and see where YOUR max is
Everyone seems to worry about brass volume and while it’s important the maximum pressure is also strong function of the chamber freebore or leade. A 308 Rem 700 has a long leade and very difficult to overpressure with max published loads. A barrel with a tight match chamber may hit pressure issues prior to max load.
Consider the components you’re using vs the components used in the data you’re reading. Then consider your chamber vs the chamber used to develop the data. If you have similar chambers and the same components and you’re well off the lands, then you don’t have to start at the bottom. Remember the heavier the case the less capacity the higher the pressure.
