Newbie.... am I on the right track?

[Trickyd66]

Evening all,
Just dipping my toe into reloading so please go gently

Could someone please tell me if I'm on the right track or missing something (I would buy quickload but don't have a CD drive computer an GRT is no longer available so trying to do things the old way!)

Looking to come up with a load for 222rem using Ramshot TAC and 35gn Hornady vmax.
No published load data for 35gn and TAC.

Looking at the published data for TAC , it appears that as the projectile gets heavier, the powder charge decreases. If I add .2 of a grain to the start load of a 40 gn would I be on the right track?

Cheers,
TD66

 

[JamesH]

PMax is a free online calculator you can enter data into to have a sense check. Should be easy to find with a Google.

 

[User00056]

My immediate thought would be to ask what's driving you to use a 35g bullet rather than a 40?

 

[Trickyd66]

PMax is a free online calculator you can enter data into to have a sense check. Should be easy to find with a Google.

Cheers, appreciated, will have a look.

 

[takbok]

@Trickyd66 from the look of it Tac will be a compressed load right up to 50gr bullets. Use the 40gr data and increase charge until you run out of case capacity or reach pressure limits (unlikely).

In the absence of data for a bullet weight, using data for the next weight up is a safe starting point.

Always start low and work up.

 

[Trickyd66]

@Trickyd66 from the look of it Tac will be a compressed load right up to 50gr bullets. Use the 40gr data and increase charge until you run out of case capacity or reach pressure limits (unlikely).

Cheers, appreciated.

 

[20-250]

If there's no data for a powder in a common cartridge with a readily available bullet, there's generally a very good reason. Such as the powder is incompatible.

 

[3595wilk]

You can still download GRT. Link to do so still works.

XXL reloading for 20 Euro per annum offers a really big database - and allows you to customise inputs.

 

[Smellydog]

Good bullet in 222.
I'd start at 1 gn less than the 40gn listed max.
I stopped starting at the bottom listing decades ago. Waste of time and components.
Nothing bad will happen and if it's compressed so bloody what, been doing that for years as well. In fact, any appropriate powder that has to be compressed is usually a slow for calibre powder and therefore inherently safe.

 

[Bo Diddley]

I use the 35grn Vmax in my Hornet, but its not my preferred choice, Sierra 40grn SP is.
I suppose you will be able to push them quicker out of a triple, but I'd plumb for 40grn Vmax.
The 35s sometimes "splash" on Impact out of the Hornet, that's why I switched to the Sierra as my go to for foxes.
I guess you either have lots of 35s or are chasing speed/trajectory advantages. They run out of steam as well.

 

[Hornet]

I use the 35grn Vmax in my Hornet, but its not my preferred choice, Sierra 40grn SP is.
I suppose you will be able to push them quicker out of a triple, but I'd plumb for 40grn Vmax.
The 35s sometimes "splash" on Impact out of the Hornet, that's why I switched to the Sierra as my go to for foxes.
I guess you either have lots of 35s or are chasing speed/trajectory advantages. They run out of steam as well.

My findings also, in a hornet that is, the 40gn and 45gn performed superbly.

 

[Donkey Basher]

I had a brief excursion into the use of light varmint bullets in my 222… I was looking for the fabled fast & flat… it didn’t last long as I soon realised fast = quick deceleration & light thin skinned bullets break up without necessarily penetrating well! I ended up using the same 52gn Sierra MatchKing HPBT I was using to shoot targets as it pole axed foxes!

 

[Smellydog]

Opposite for me in my current rifle. Good clean fox kills . Check my videos.
It's not always down to bullet weight and construction. The barrels rifling can alter a bullets terminal performance from one rifle to another.
Over normal distances they work fine. Not bad at long range either in daytime.

 

[HandB]

50gr VMAX with 22gr N130 powder works well in my BSA .222 so I recommend working up to that in your rifle.

 

[kenbro]

These powders work very well with 35 x 222.
KB.
Ps. Fb will attest to that.