Compressed Loads w/ slow burning powders ... ?

[Gettn2]

Just curious if anyone has any input on a compressed load with Retumbo or H1000?

Loading up some 338 RUM loads for a friend and he wants to push the limit on load capacity. The 300gr SMK's want to start compressing at 87grs.
He wants to get his ES and SD's down as low as possible ... but I have never seen that with a compressed load.

Any thoughts?

 

[gunderwood]

Re: Compressed Loads w/ slow burning powders ... ?

Like always, it depends on a lot of things. Not a tactical gun, but I have a long range varmint gun (300 Varminter). It is a .300WSM throated for the 125gr BT or 110gr Vmaxs. I get great ES with a compressed load of 74.5gr of H4350 and a 110gr Vmax. Single digits with no brass prep. If I do my part, they all go in one hole at 100 yards.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Compressed Loads w/ slow burning powders ... ?

IMHO, the benefit with compressed loads is more consistent ignition. There may be other benefits, but I'm not clear on them. My experience with compressed loads is that, as long as pressure limits are not exceeded, they tend to be more accurate.

Greg

 

[bohem]

Re: Compressed Loads w/ slow burning powders ... ?

I shoot a compressed load of RL22 in my 30-06 under 208 Amax's.

The pressures increased predicably with more "crunch" and the ES/SD's fell.

Be careful not to crunch them too much, you want to load the round, let it sit for about 24-48 hours and then re-check the OAL. If it has changed, you're compressing the powder too much and it's shoving the bullet back out.

If you're a BR guy loading between strings at a match, this doesn't matter, but then again, I don't know an BR guys shooting compressed loads of slow powder at 100-300y, maybe at 1000