Load data manuals

Djmudge · November 26, 2012, 08:55 PM

I have another thread going and notice someone had other load data lower than mine in the lee book is. Picked up a Lyman Friday and most of the load data is lower on some and oal and diameters are lower. Who do you follow when it comes to load data?

mrawesome22 · November 26, 2012, 11:44 PM

I like the Lyman Thursday.

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Bart B. · November 27, 2012, 07:01 AM

Djmudge, rarely, if at all, does everyone use the same lot of powder, primer, case and barrel with the same pressure and velocity measuring stuff to test a given load. Until that happens, there'll be at least a 5% spread in load data; sometimes a 10% spread.

Gbro · November 27, 2012, 08:34 AM

Many component manufactures build there own "Recipe" book for their bullets, like Hornady, Speer, Nozler etc.
These manuals list their test equipment like Bart point's out.
Your equipment may not be just like theirs and that is why we all start a load that is at a low end of the recipe and test fire watching for signs of High Pressure, and of course how well they group.
If we try out a new fangled bullet that is of a different weight and shape and it's not in our manual we may look in another and find one very close. Then starting at a low end and work up.
There are also resources here on the web and that is good but your good manual's are just so important for reference. So is this Forum!

Brian Pfleuger · November 27, 2012, 09:08 AM

The safest thing to do is check at least 3 official sources, start at the lowest starting load and work up to the lowest max. In the real world, most folks work toward the highest max.

Load manuals are for reference only. You might run into a starting load that is actually max in your gun with your components. This should be rare but it does happen. You might also find max loads that are below starting loads in another book, this is actually not all that rare.

The Lyman 49th, on page 57, shows that changing nothing but primers in a .308Win load can make a difference of 2,600psi. That's about 5%, all by itself. Considering that every component you use is different than theirs, it's quite understandable that different manuals have different suggestions.

reloader28 · November 27, 2012, 09:30 AM

I follow my gun only.
The book is a basic, general starting point, nothing more.
You have to go by YOUR gun to get the best performance.

Sure Shot Mc Gee · November 27, 2012, 09:40 AM

reloader28 said:

Quote:

I follow my gun only.
The book is a basic, general starting point, nothing more.
You have to go by YOUR gun to get the best performance.

Couldn't have been said any better. I agree 110%

wogpotter · November 27, 2012, 09:54 AM

As others have said its the variation in components & equipment that you're seeing. Sometimes it can be quite large.

My usual advice is to look a little deeper than just the load tables. There is usually some kind of preface or intro to the load. I look at this first & allopcate a priority from several manuals, giving preference for the closest match for components & equipment to what I'm actually loading.

AS an example I was working up some loads for a 6" revolver. One of the sources had highger velocities than any of the others, looking at the equipment used it had a 10" pressure barrel in a universal reciever. I ignored that data.

serf 'rett · November 27, 2012, 10:48 AM

Manuals.

In the words of Capt. Barbossa: "...And thirdly, the code is more what you'd call "guidelines" than actual rules. Welcome aboard the Black Pearl, Miss Turner."

jmortimer · November 27, 2012, 11:19 AM

I start with powder manufacturer data. It's all online and easy to get. Next would be bullet manufacturer data if available and I need more info. Last would be the manuals. I work form the middle up or down depending.

William T. Watts · November 27, 2012, 11:40 AM

Bart B covered it pretty well, when opening/starting with a new lot number of the same number powder I begin at the starting load. Many years ago I found the starting load for H4895 to be a more than max load in my 30/06, rare, but it does happen. I should have added this disclaimer "I no longer purchase 1lb canisters unless I purchase multiply cans (4 or more cans) of the same lot, I now purchase 8lb jugs of the more common #'s such as H4831, IMR4064, IMR4895 etc. William

DASHZNT · November 27, 2012, 03:36 PM

For OAL I use my barrel... I start at the manual's OAL and go down from there depending on what my barrel likes. Thats the best part of reloading, you can make custom ammo tailor made for your weapon!

DASHZNT

Brian Pfleuger · November 27, 2012, 03:43 PM

Quote:

I start at the manual's OAL and go down from there depending on what my barrel likes.

I load almost all my ammo LONGER than book length. Book numbers ensure that ammo fits in standard magazines but you can almost always go longer (at least a little) and still fit a magazine and many times there is no magazine to fit. In most cases, longer ammo (bullet closer to rifling) shoots more accurately than shorter ammo.

The only bullets that I load shorter than book are Barnes TTSX as their unique shape puts them closer to the rifling at a shorter OAL than most other bullets.

Gbro · November 27, 2012, 06:57 PM

Quote:

when opening/starting with a new lot number of the same number powder I begin at the starting load. Many years ago I found the starting load for H4895 to be a more than max load in my 30/06, rare, but it does happen. William

And that is why i buy my powder in 8lbs canisters for most of my favorite loads. And if not that can of powder is for one firearm.

reloader28 · November 27, 2012, 08:18 PM

I agree on the OAL.
I guess I've always considered the book OAL as the minimum. My loads are always longer. Sometimes WAY longer.

November 26, 2012, 08:55 PM	#1
Djmudge Member Join Date: September 30, 2012 Location: Olive Branch, MS Posts: 32	Load data manuals I have another thread going and notice someone had other load data lower than mine in the lee book is. Picked up a Lyman Friday and most of the load data is lower on some and oal and diameters are lower. Who do you follow when it comes to load data? __________________ Iowa Hawkeyes

November 27, 2012, 08:34 AM	#4
Gbro Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,084	Many component manufactures build there own "Recipe" book for their bullets, like Hornady, Speer, Nozler etc. These manuals list their test equipment like Bart point's out. Your equipment may not be just like theirs and that is why we all start a load that is at a low end of the recipe and test fire watching for signs of High Pressure, and of course how well they group. If we try out a new fangled bullet that is of a different weight and shape and it's not in our manual we may look in another and find one very close. Then starting at a low end and work up. There are also resources here on the web and that is good but your good manual's are just so important for reference. So is this Forum! __________________ Gbro CGVS For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, But to us who are being saved, It Is The Power Of God. 1Corinthians 1-18

November 27, 2012, 09:54 AM	#8
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	As others have said its the variation in components & equipment that you're seeing. Sometimes it can be quite large. My usual advice is to look a little deeper than just the load tables. There is usually some kind of preface or intro to the load. I look at this first & allopcate a priority from several manuals, giving preference for the closest match for components & equipment to what I'm actually loading. AS an example I was working up some loads for a 6" revolver. One of the sources had highger velocities than any of the others, looking at the equipment used it had a 10" pressure barrel in a universal reciever. I ignored that data. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

November 27, 2012, 10:48 AM	#9
serf 'rett Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2009 Location: Stuttgart, AR Posts: 1,569	Manuals. In the words of Capt. Barbossa: "...And thirdly, the code is more what you'd call "guidelines" than actual rules. Welcome aboard the Black Pearl, Miss Turner." __________________ A lack of planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an emergency on my part. Last edited by serf 'rett; November 27, 2012 at 10:54 AM.

November 27, 2012, 11:40 AM	#11
William T. Watts Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2010 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 1,074	Bart B covered it pretty well, when opening/starting with a new lot number of the same number powder I begin at the starting load. Many years ago I found the starting load for H4895 to be a more than max load in my 30/06, rare, but it does happen. I should have added this disclaimer "I no longer purchase 1lb canisters unless I purchase multiply cans (4 or more cans) of the same lot, I now purchase 8lb jugs of the more common #'s such as H4831, IMR4064, IMR4895 etc. William Last edited by William T. Watts; November 29, 2012 at 10:51 AM.

November 26, 2012, 11:44 PM	#2
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	I like the Lyman Thursday. Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using Tapatalk 2

November 27, 2012, 07:01 AM	#3
Bart B. Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Posts: 8,927	Djmudge, rarely, if at all, does everyone use the same lot of powder, primer, case and barrel with the same pressure and velocity measuring stuff to test a given load. Until that happens, there'll be at least a 5% spread in load data; sometimes a 10% spread.

November 27, 2012, 09:08 AM	#5
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	The safest thing to do is check at least 3 official sources, start at the lowest starting load and work up to the lowest max. In the real world, most folks work toward the highest max. Load manuals are for reference only. You might run into a starting load that is actually max in your gun with your components. This should be rare but it does happen. You might also find max loads that are below starting loads in another book, this is actually not all that rare. The Lyman 49th, on page 57, shows that changing nothing but primers in a .308Win load can make a difference of 2,600psi. That's about 5%, all by itself. Considering that every component you use is different than theirs, it's quite understandable that different manuals have different suggestions.

November 27, 2012, 09:30 AM	#6
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	I follow my gun only. The book is a basic, general starting point, nothing more. You have to go by YOUR gun to get the best performance.

November 27, 2012, 11:19 AM	#10
jmortimer Junior member Join Date: January 24, 2010 Location: South West Riverside County California Posts: 2,763	I start with powder manufacturer data. It's all online and easy to get. Next would be bullet manufacturer data if available and I need more info. Last would be the manuals. I work form the middle up or down depending.

November 27, 2012, 03:36 PM	#12
DASHZNT Junior member Join Date: July 13, 2012 Posts: 179	For OAL I use my barrel... I start at the manual's OAL and go down from there depending on what my barrel likes. Thats the best part of reloading, you can make custom ammo tailor made for your weapon! DASHZNT

November 27, 2012, 08:18 PM	#15
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	I agree on the OAL. I guess I've always considered the book OAL as the minimum. My loads are always longer. Sometimes WAY longer.

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