[bdhawk]

i have been reloading since '73. i have three dillons, a rcbs single stage, and i cast most of the bullets that i shoot. i have a decent selection of manuals that span decades. i also use online data provided by trusted sources, and i have a computer program that has manuals from several powder, bullet, and mold companies. i never use loading data from a fellow reloader 'till i confirm it's safety and viability through a trusted source.

this being said, i still have problems with some reloading issues....

first, i noticed many many years ago, was the differences in recipes from manual to manual from different powder, bullet, and mold companies. sometimes, they are pretty darn huge!!

some companies use specially made 'guns' for measuring velocity and pressure. they are of a locked breach configuration, and frequently have a longer barrel that is used in the load being developed. for instance, there is no way my glock can achieve the velocities and pressures indicated in the manuals due to the gas actuation of the gun and the shorter barrel. the published, pressures and velocities, cannot be used as a realistic tool. in all fairness, some manuals do use normal guns for velocity measurements.

some manuals use C.U.P., and some use P.S.I. i know what they are, and how the measurements are arrived. i think using C.U.P., could prove to be confusing to a novice reloader.

does anyone else wrestle with these issues?

 

[fredj338]

As an exp reloader, you qucikly undertand the data is a guide, not bible. As you notem the info can be all over the place depnding on components & testing platforms. It's why I long ago adopted the 3 manual average, then do my own load workups watching for pressure signs. I load for several wildcats, no data available, so you learn to extrapolate & use a chronograph & watch for pressure signs. Same for lead bullet data in most guns. With bullets styles & weights all over the place, you have to deal w/ extrapolating data & working up. IMO, not easily done w/o a chronograph & some knowledge of pressure signs. The knowledge often comes w/ lots of trial & error in learning to read subtle & not so subtle pressure signs.

 

[bdhawk]

As an exp reloader, you quickly understand the data is a guide, not bible. As you notem the info can be all over the place depnding on components & testing platforms. It's why I long ago adopted the 3 manual average, then do my own load workups watching for pressure signs. I load for several wildcats, no data available, so you learn to extrapolate & use a chronograph & watch for pressure signs. Same for lead bullet data in most guns. With bullets styles & weights all over the place, you have to deal w/ extrapolating data & working up. IMO, not easily done w/o a chronograph & some knowledge of pressure signs. The knowledge often comes w/ lots of trial & error in learning to read subtle & not so subtle pressure signs.

thanks for your reply. you may have noted in the pic of my range, i have a chronograph, and i do use it in load development. i also agree wholeheartedly in your other methods, which i use as well.

i have never had the need to 'wildcat'. but, i too, have extrapolated, using bullets/and or powders that there was no exact load data available. you know, using a 175 gr. bullet with 180 grain bullet data, or using a powder burn rate chart to select a powder to fit my bullet weight.

 

[fredj338]

thanks for your reply. you may have noted in the pic of my range, i have a chronograph, and i do use it in load development. i also agree wholeheartedly in your other methods, which i use as well.

i have never had the need to 'wildcat'. but, i too, have extrapolated, using bullets/and or powders that there was no exact load data available. you know, using a 175 gr. bullet with 180 grain bullet data, or using a powder burn rate chart to select a powder to fit my bullet weight.

Which is pretty much where you end up as you become an advanced reloader. There are just so many diff components & most are not replicated in manuals.
As to wildcats, I reload or have reloaded for; 338-06 (before there was any data), 7mmJDJ, 260ai, 7mm Dakota (before their was data), 404jeffer (not wildact but precious little data) & a 338x74K. All require a bit of messing around to extrapolate data. Using a chronograph & paying attention, you can develope safe laods for anything w/o any publisged data, but you do have to understand all the dynamics going on. Not for the faint of heart or guys tath can't pay attentin to detail. I wish I had pressur equip, it would be sooo much easier.:supergrin: