how best to find load data

[gmorrice96]

hi all

I am somewhat a novice reloader. I have loaded for my .243 and had very good results so I have gone through the motions from start to finish.

my question is where is the best / most comprehensive place to find load data. I am more interested in picking a bullet and powder combination and finding out the min and max load. I was using ramshot powder which I find had a very comprehensive and might I add FREE list of load data. I am finding the VV and Hodgdon data a little light and most of the powder and bullet combinations I want to try are not listed.

I am not keen on using data which is not for a specific combination. I see that for a given powder and bullet weight, the min and max load can change quite a bit so am not keen on guessing as I am unsure how safe that would be. I guess the difference is down to the bullet and its properties.

An example from the VV data online for the 30-06

• 180Gr TSX with N550 - Min 44.6gr to max 49.4gr
• 180Gr naturalis & N550 - Min 49.4gr to max 54.0gr

so from the above we can see that the min load for one bullet is the max for another of the same weight with the same powder.

I am not so keen on buying multiple reloading books as they are quite expensive and have no guarantee of containing my required load data. perhaps quickload is the way forward as from what I gather, it contains most powders and bullets and will perform the calculations as required. my only issue with this is that it is expensive and once you have the data the software is not needed till the next time you want to change (which might be never).


any advice would be welcome, maybe I am missing something or maybe I am overthinking things.

thanks

 

[Muir]

Have you ever read a book on how to reload? Most of your questions are found in such books.~Muir

 

[takbok]

What bullet are you wanting to shoot? 30-06?

There can be bullet specific data for some of the lead free options, as per your example. For the normal jacketed bullets you can use the data for any bullet manufacturer.

I'd personally choose the powder that gives the best velocity and fills the case well. I'm pretty happy with load data that I dredge up on the net from powder manufacturers, and also seeing what works for people on forums. I pore through my Lee book for hours too.

I remember you mentioning Ramshot Hunter a while ago and have started using it in my .270 - works really well! Thanks.

I do think that some load data is way too conservative. It's useful to use a chronograph. I don't suspect that this is much help but that's my thoughts.

 

[andychas]

hi
I would very highly recommend at least one reloading manual, there is a wealth of information enclosed that can help with all sorts of reloading queries you may have. I would try your favourite bullet manufacturer (Nosler, Sierra or Speer for example).
theres also heaps of resources online. In addition to all the major manufacturers publishing data, there are a few sites like Load Data http://www.loaddata.com/home/index.cfm who collate all the load data from various manufacturers as well as other reliable sources.
There is a fee to access this unsurprisingly but it may be money well spent. As always, treat all loads with caution and work up from minimum loads.
cheers
Andy

 

[ABWD]

Have you ever read a book on how to reload? Most of your questions are found in such books.~Muir

+1 with Muir.

 

[gmorrice96]

Have you ever read a book on how to reload? Most of your questions are found in such books.~Muir

to be honest I do not own a manual neither have I read one . I have watched a lot of videos on youtube, I find watching somebody talking you through the process while showing you is easier to follow. perhaps I should buy some books like you suggest. I am confident in the process of reloading but only when I have the data I feel is correct.

do the manuals give guidance on how to select a powder charge where the specific data is not listed for that calibre, powder and bullet? if so, is there any that you would recommend?

thanks

 

[gmorrice96]

What bullet are you wanting to shoot? 30-06?

There can be bullet specific data for some of the lead free options, as per your example. For the normal jacketed bullets you can use the data for any bullet manufacturer.

I'd personally choose the powder that gives the best velocity and fills the case well. I'm pretty happy with load data that I dredge up on the net from powder manufacturers, and also seeing what works for people on forums. I pore through my Lee book for hours too.

I remember you mentioning Ramshot Hunter a while ago and have started using it in my .270 - works really well! Thanks.

I do think that some load data is way too conservative. It's useful to use a chronograph. I don't suspect that this is much help but that's my thoughts.

I have some 130gr TTSX, 150 Gr game kings and 150 Gr SST. I have a couple I want to try for the 243 since the sierras I was using have been difficult to get hold of. most of the data is in the ramshot literature I am pleased to say, I am thinking about trying to buy a decent quantity of hunter and big game from henry kranks when they have both in stock and just sticking with them.

 

[Southern]

Do like Muir says and buy at least one book, like the one by Richard Lee.

A lot of powder makers have data online.
Your .30-06 data for VihtaVuori is here:
Rifle reloading data - Rifle reloading - Reloading Data - Vihtavuori

Nosler has their entire manual online. You can download each cartridge as a separate PDF. And they have some hotter loads with a wide variety of powders.
http://www.nosler.com/nosler-load-data/30-06-springfield/

 

[gmorrice96]

Do like Muir says and buy at least one book, like the one by Richard Lee.

A lot of powder makers have data online.
Your .30-06 data for VihtaVuori is here:
Rifle reloading data - Rifle reloading - Reloading Data - Vihtavuori

Nosler has their entire manual online. You can download each cartridge as a separate PDF. And they have some hotter loads with a wide variety of powders.
http://www.nosler.com/nosler-load-data/30-06-springfield/

Thanks for the reply I do appreciate the advice of yourself, muir and all the other regulars. Perhaps buying a book to see what it says is best as I may be asking something that's already answered like Muir says.

my real question, which I maybe didn't put forward clearly (or may be on the first page of every manual and I look like an idiot), is what to do if the combination is not listed. for example if you look at the Vihtavouri data for 30-06 there are 2 x 150 bullets listed a lapua mega and lock base. If I want to use the N550 powder and 150grain game kings how do I decide what min and max load to go with? the reason I ask is that the min for the lock base is higher than the max of the mega. so if I chose the min of one of them and work up I may either be too low or already at max.

again thanks for your advice

 

[Conure]

The wonderful thing about youtube is that any one can upload their video and such videos can have any data or information the uploader wishes to put in it. Safe/unsafe whatever.

If you follow one and it has unsafe information and there is a problem how do you persue this issue?

On the other hand a book that is published the information is attributable to someone and you have someone to go to with you issue should the data be unsafe. An error online can be altered with a keystroke a printed book well they first have to get hold of your copy to do anything to it.

That is why I always suggest a book ......................... the fact that I happen to like books is besides the point!

 

[Southern]

Different bullets will generate higher pressures than others, because of their construction. A bullet of solid copper, thicker jacket, etc will have more friction in the barrel initially. That is why Barnes changed their design by reducing the diameter a bit and putting in driving bands. A thick copper base, like the Swift Scirocco, or a copper section, like the A-Frame or Partition, may generate higher pressures with less powder.

Go by what the bullet makers say.

 

[gmorrice96]

The wonderful thing about youtube is that any one can upload their video and such videos can have any data or information the uploader wishes to put in it. Safe/unsafe whatever.

If you follow one and it has unsafe information and there is a problem how do you persue this issue?

On the other hand a book that is published the information is attributable to someone and you have someone to go to with you issue should the data be unsafe. An error online can be altered with a keystroke a printed book well they first have to get hold of your copy to do anything to it.

That is why I always suggest a book ......................... the fact that I happen to like books is besides the point!

I fully agree regarding internet videos and the possibility of biased opinions being expressed or even bad / unsafe habits being put forward in a tutorial. I have a few channels that I trust, people that have been reloading for a long time. I never use any load data other than published data (which is my problem I guess, as not all combinations I want are published). I use the videos to learn the process but for sure not the load data. Your point on using non published load data could be extended to the posts on here asking for load data which could easily be unsafe or could contain a typo, but that is besides the point I guess.

perhaps a combination of video and books will work best, unlike you I am not really a book person but I see your point.

thanks for your opinion.

 

[gmorrice96]

Different bullets will generate higher pressures than others, because of their construction. A bullet of solid copper, thicker jacket, etc will have more friction in the barrel initially. That is why Barnes changed their design by reducing the diameter a bit and putting in driving bands. A thick copper base, like the Swift Scirocco, or a copper section, like the A-Frame or Partition, may generate higher pressures with less powder.

Go by what the bullet makers say.

Thanks for the explanation, I appreciate your time.

One last question which may be a stupid one based on your last sentence (but that may be newbie advice). If you (a very experienced reloader) have a certain bullet which you want to use, do you check the powders listed by the manufacturer and buy one that suits or will you use a powder you already have which you believe to be suitable and if so how do you decide on how much to use in your load.

 

[Southern]

For something like the .30-06, the place to start is with proven loads, like 4350. You have to start low and work up, because formulations change. If I have no such loads to go on, I will buy the factory ammunition, see how it shoots, chronograph it, pull a bullet, weight the powder charge, and see if I can identify the powder - as a starting place. A company like Winchester that also sells powder and bullets is a great place to start.

With a metric cartridge, or European powders, I would look at an ammunition manufacturer, like Norma, publishes the ballistics for there ammunition, and load data for their bullets and powder, so it is easy to figure out things. And Norma powders are identical to some Alliant powders, so you have another source.

 

[plonker]

Thanks for the explanation, I appreciate your time.

One last question which may be a stupid one based on your last sentence (but that may be newbie advice). If you (a very experienced reloader) have a certain bullet which you want to use, do you check the powders listed by the manufacturer and buy one that suits or will you use a powder you already have which you believe to be suitable and if so how do you decide on how much to use in your load.

I started with vhitavori powder when I first stated loading so have stuck with the "brand" and just bought the appropriate powder for different t cartridges. I now have n133,n140 and n160 for 4 different caliber.
As for how much to put in the case,I just use the vhitavori on line manual and also 2 reloading books to gague a good starting point.I personally start with a middle of the road load and go from there
Also put the question about what powder for what load on here as there is a vast amount of experience.
Also if your local stockist does not have the powder you want you can look at the burn rate of powders (reloading book) and choose a powder very close as an alternative.
atb
dave

 

[deeangeo]

If as you say in your opening thread you're a 'Novice reloader', my view is that it's probably rather too soon for you to go 'off piste' with propellant/bullet combinations not listed for the firearm you're using. If you have an experienced reloader near you who can mentor you through what you want to do, that could be useful.

Definitely read a manual, there are many good ones out there with Lee & Lyman among the frontrunners.
Cheers.

 

[Alantoo]

I would write direct to both the bullet and powder manufacturers and ask.

I recently wrote to Barnes asking if they had any load data for the 130 grain TTSX in .308W and IMR4895. They sent back an as yet unpublished chart.


The interesting thing on the new chart, which differs from their web site data, (which only had data for the 130 gr TSX) is that the C.O.A.L. is given as 2.785" rather than the SAAMI 2.810".

There was also a potentially dangerous typo on the chart, which they acknowledged when I queried it. The case length given was 20 thou over SAAMI which underlines the need to check and double check any data from any source.


The Hornady manual can be bought and downloaded online for just over £10. It has a very good introduction and discussion regarding the various causes and tell tales of over pressure which I think you should be aware of before experimenting with loads.

It is worth having this information from a manufacturer's manual rather than by word of mouth, however well meaning the mentor.


Alan

 

[Conure]

The problem today is there monometal type bullets that produces totally different pressure curves and pressures than traditional cup and core bullets. I see this causing many problems as it seems today people just cannot be bothered to follow safe reloading practice as it might cost few penies and god forbid take up soem prescious time.

 

[JTO]

If you know the bullet you want to use, try a manual published by the maker of that bullet.
If you know the powder you want to use, perhaps because of availability, try a manual published by the maker of that powder.
If you know the calibre you want to load for, perhaps a little booklet from Store might help you decide, cheaply, on the above options.

 

[243 fallow]

hi all

I am somewhat a novice reloader. I have loaded for my .243 and had very good results so I have gone through the motions from start to finish.

my question is where is the best / most comprehensive place to find load data. I am more interested in picking a bullet and powder combination and finding out the min and max load. I was using ramshot powder which I find had a very comprehensive and might I add FREE list of load data. I am finding the VV and Hodgdon data a little light and most of the powder and bullet combinations I want to try are not listed.

I am not keen on using data which is not for a specific combination. I see that for a given powder and bullet weight, the min and max load can change quite a bit so am not keen on guessing as I am unsure how safe that would be. I guess the difference is down to the bullet and its properties.

An example from the VV data online for the 30-06

• 180Gr TSX with N550 - Min 44.6gr to max 49.4gr
• 180Gr naturalis & N550 - Min 49.4gr to max 54.0gr

so from the above we can see that the min load for one bullet is the max for another of the same weight with the same powder.

I am not so keen on buying multiple reloading books as they are quite expensive and have no guarantee of containing my required load data. perhaps quickload is the way forward as from what I gather, it contains most powders and bullets and will perform the calculations as required. my only issue with this is that it is expensive and once you have the data the software is not needed till the next time you want to change (which might be never).


any advice would be welcome, maybe I am missing something or maybe I am overthinking things.

thanks

For goodness sake gmorrice96 get yourself A reloading manual, they can be had 2nd hand for next to nothing or new for not much more than 30 quid. It will be the best part of your reloading kit you can buy ffs !. They make for interesting reading anyway. If you pm your details you can borrow my Lee manual. I prefer my Hornady book but thats just me. There full of info and every calibre you can think of.