Rifle bullets - Same data for different brands of the same weight?

DaveInPA · December 11, 2008, 06:56 AM

I'm loading some .223 rounds with 50 grain Nosler BT bullets. I can't find any load data for these specific bullets for the powders I'm using. Can I use load data for any 50 grain bullet, working up slowly of course?

steve4102 · December 11, 2008, 08:20 AM

Yes, as long as they are of similar construction and as you said, start low and work up. After all nothing in YOUR load is the same as the load tested in the manual. Your primers, brass and powder are all of different lot numbers and the real biggie, you are not using the same firearm or test barrel as one one used in the manual.

Load data is NOT a recipe and should not be treated as such. Published load data is only a guideline.

458winshooter · December 11, 2008, 05:28 PM

+1 for starting low and working up.Don't be suprised if you cannot reach the same ballistics as published.And I will beat the dead horse again,start low and work up.Be safe and have fun.

DaveInPA · December 11, 2008, 05:54 PM

My manual listed a range of 25.5 - 27.5 grains of BL(C)-2. I loaded five rounds each of 25.5, 26.0, 26.5, and 27.0 grains. I'll test them this weekend if the weather holds out.

Thanks guys.

wpcexpert · December 11, 2008, 06:06 PM

Dave, If I remember,(go ahead and shoot me a PM if you want), I've got a latest edition Nosler book. I'll post what it says for BL(C)-2. I'm pretty sure it has a load for it.

steve4102 · December 11, 2008, 06:59 PM

http://www.nosler.com/?p=15&b=22cal&s=150

DaveInPA · December 11, 2008, 07:11 PM

Steve,

I've been to that site, trust me. BL-C(2) is not listed.

steve4102 · December 11, 2008, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Steve,

I've been to that site, trust me. BL-C(2) is not listed.

I know, just though you could use what was listed and compare to your other data.

wpcexpert · December 12, 2008, 12:14 AM

Dave, sorry bud. Nosler didn't have any BL(C)-2 data. At all for the .223.

Sorry man.

steve4102 · December 12, 2008, 02:33 AM

223 50gr Bullet BLC-2

Hornady #7 22.9gr @ 2900fps 26.7gr @3300fps

Sierra #5 27.1gr @3000fps 28.5 @ 3200fps

Lyman 48 50gr Sierra Blitz 24gr @ 2666fps 27.5gr @ 3076fps

Speer #13 25.5gr @ 2961fps 27.5gr @ 3200fps

Nosler #4 23.5gr @ 3068fps 25.5gr @ 3298fps

Quick Load data:

Cartridge : .223 Rem. (SAAMI)
Bullet : .224, 50, Nosler BalTip 39522
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.260 inch or 57.40 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch or 609.6 mm
Powder : Hodgdon BL-C2

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 83 21.60 2573 735 23740 5183 77.4 1.340
-18.0 85 22.14 2642 775 25413 5385 79.2 1.304
-16.0 87 22.68 2713 817 27220 5584 80.9 1.269
-14.0 89 23.22 2783 860 29172 5780 82.5 1.234
-12.0 91 23.76 2855 905 31283 5972 84.1 1.201
-10.0 93 24.30 2927 951 33570 6159 85.6 1.167
-08.0 95 24.84 3000 999 36048 6341 87.1 1.135
-06.0 98 25.38 3073 1049 38739 6515 88.6 1.101
-04.0 100 25.92 3147 1099 41664 6682 89.9 1.066
-02.0 102 26.46 3221 1152 44850 6841 91.3 1.032
+00.0 104 27.00 3296 1206 48329 6990 92.5 1.000 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 106 27.54 3371 1261 52130 7129 93.6 0.968 ! Near Maximum !
+04.0 108 28.08 3446 1318 56297 7256 94.7 0.937 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 110 28.62 3522 1377 60871 7371 95.7 0.907 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 112 29.16 3598 1437 65909 7473 96.6 0.878 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 114 29.70 3674 1499 71474 7560 97.4 0.850 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

DaveInPA · December 12, 2008, 06:37 AM

Quote:

223 50gr Bullet BLC-2

Hornady #7 22.9gr @ 2900fps 26.7gr @3300fps

Sierra #5 27.1gr @3000fps 28.5 @ 3200fps

Lyman 48 50gr Sierra Blitz 24gr @ 2666fps 27.5gr @ 3076fps

Speer #13 25.5gr @ 2961fps 27.5gr @ 3200fps

Nosler #4 23.5gr @ 3068fps 25.5gr @ 3298fps

Wow that's scary. Mine are loaded 25.5, 26.0, 26.5, and 27.0 grains. Any idea why the Nosler manual calls for loads so much lighter than the other manuals?

steve4102 · December 12, 2008, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Any idea why the Nosler manual calls for loads so much lighter than the other manuals?

Different lot number, tighter test chamber, old data with lousy pressure testing equip. Could be any number of reasons.

wpcexpert · December 12, 2008, 05:05 PM

Yeah, Nosler's new book doesn't even have a load for it. Weird. Guess they don't like it.

December 11, 2008, 05:28 PM	#3
458winshooter Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Transplanted to Ridgeland,SC Posts: 606	Rolling your own.... +1 for starting low and working up.Don't be suprised if you cannot reach the same ballistics as published.And I will beat the dead horse again,start low and work up.Be safe and have fun.

December 12, 2008, 12:14 AM	#9
wpcexpert Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 791	Dave, sorry bud. Nosler didn't have any BL(C)-2 data. At all for the .223. Sorry man. __________________ When once a republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil. - Thomas Jefferson

December 11, 2008, 06:56 AM	#1
DaveInPA Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2008 Location: Berks County, PA Posts: 1,106	Rifle bullets - Same data for different brands of the same weight? I'm loading some .223 rounds with 50 grain Nosler BT bullets. I can't find any load data for these specific bullets for the powders I'm using. Can I use load data for any 50 grain bullet, working up slowly of course?

December 11, 2008, 08:20 AM	#2
steve4102 Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,955	Yes, as long as they are of similar construction and as you said, start low and work up. After all nothing in YOUR load is the same as the load tested in the manual. Your primers, brass and powder are all of different lot numbers and the real biggie, you are not using the same firearm or test barrel as one one used in the manual. Load data is NOT a recipe and should not be treated as such. Published load data is only a guideline.

December 11, 2008, 05:54 PM	#4
DaveInPA Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2008 Location: Berks County, PA Posts: 1,106	My manual listed a range of 25.5 - 27.5 grains of BL(C)-2. I loaded five rounds each of 25.5, 26.0, 26.5, and 27.0 grains. I'll test them this weekend if the weather holds out. Thanks guys.

December 11, 2008, 06:06 PM	#5
wpcexpert Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 791	Dave, If I remember,(go ahead and shoot me a PM if you want), I've got a latest edition Nosler book. I'll post what it says for BL(C)-2. I'm pretty sure it has a load for it. __________________ When once a republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil. - Thomas Jefferson

December 11, 2008, 06:59 PM	#6
steve4102 Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,955	http://www.nosler.com/?p=15&b=22cal&s=150

December 11, 2008, 07:11 PM	#7
DaveInPA Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2008 Location: Berks County, PA Posts: 1,106	Steve, I've been to that site, trust me. BL-C(2) is not listed.

December 12, 2008, 02:33 AM	#10
steve4102 Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,955	223 50gr Bullet BLC-2 Hornady #7 22.9gr @ 2900fps 26.7gr @3300fps Sierra #5 27.1gr @3000fps 28.5 @ 3200fps Lyman 48 50gr Sierra Blitz 24gr @ 2666fps 27.5gr @ 3076fps Speer #13 25.5gr @ 2961fps 27.5gr @ 3200fps Nosler #4 23.5gr @ 3068fps 25.5gr @ 3298fps Quick Load data: Cartridge : .223 Rem. (SAAMI) Bullet : .224, 50, Nosler BalTip 39522 Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.260 inch or 57.40 mm Barrel Length : 24.0 inch or 609.6 mm Powder : Hodgdon BL-C2 Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge, incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge. CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads ! Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time % % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms -20.0 83 21.60 2573 735 23740 5183 77.4 1.340 -18.0 85 22.14 2642 775 25413 5385 79.2 1.304 -16.0 87 22.68 2713 817 27220 5584 80.9 1.269 -14.0 89 23.22 2783 860 29172 5780 82.5 1.234 -12.0 91 23.76 2855 905 31283 5972 84.1 1.201 -10.0 93 24.30 2927 951 33570 6159 85.6 1.167 -08.0 95 24.84 3000 999 36048 6341 87.1 1.135 -06.0 98 25.38 3073 1049 38739 6515 88.6 1.101 -04.0 100 25.92 3147 1099 41664 6682 89.9 1.066 -02.0 102 26.46 3221 1152 44850 6841 91.3 1.032 +00.0 104 27.00 3296 1206 48329 6990 92.5 1.000 ! Near Maximum ! +02.0 106 27.54 3371 1261 52130 7129 93.6 0.968 ! Near Maximum ! +04.0 108 28.08 3446 1318 56297 7256 94.7 0.937 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! +06.0 110 28.62 3522 1377 60871 7371 95.7 0.907 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! +08.0 112 29.16 3598 1437 65909 7473 96.6 0.878 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! +10.0 114 29.70 3674 1499 71474 7560 97.4 0.850 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

December 12, 2008, 05:05 PM	#13
wpcexpert Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 791	Yeah, Nosler's new book doesn't even have a load for it. Weird. Guess they don't like it. __________________ When once a republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil. - Thomas Jefferson