Hornady Light Magnum loading technique

Turk · August 25, 2002, 09:44 AM

Looking Widener's Reloading catalog the add for Hornady Light Magnum and Heavy Magnum Ammunition it stated: Achieves higher velocity by combining a special cool-burning powder with a new loading technique.

Can anyone tell me what this new loading technique is???

I've been reloading since the early 70's and can't think of what they are doing. Not much left either compressed or not or tension from the crimp veres non-crimp.

Your thoughts please.

Turk

labgrade · August 25, 2002, 10:52 AM

Read (in a gun rag) something on this when they first came out.

IIRC, seems Hornady was using a slurry-like mixture - proprietory, yada. Didn't seem like the process was something the home roller could duplicate.

Art Eatman · August 25, 2002, 11:54 AM

Probably two separate deals: First, extensive playing in the powder-chem lab. Second, a lot of testing. In this latter, I'd imagine they found quite a few "unacceptable" pressure levels.

Art

Poodleshooter · August 26, 2002, 11:46 AM

Pull the bullet and you'll find that the powder is in one compressed solid chunk-not unlike fuel in a model rocket motor.

HankB · August 27, 2002, 02:04 PM

They're using a heavy charge of a slow-burning non-cannister powder. I believe their "new loading technique" involves a lot of compression of the powder - more so than a typical handloader can do. The powder must be "special" because sometimes ignition problems result when powder is overly compressed.

KP95DAO · August 27, 2002, 06:09 PM

I have done this for years with my 30-06s and achieved the same results. I would mention the powder used; but, I am restricted from mentioning it here.

green 788 · August 28, 2002, 09:25 AM

And besides that, if he told you he'd have to... Well, you know...

Shoot ya with one of 'em!

Dan

Gewehr98 · August 28, 2002, 11:30 AM

They use a powder-compaction press as part of the process, I didn't see if it was a standard arbor press or hydraulic. I'll see if I can dig up and post that photo here for everybody.

HankB · August 28, 2002, 12:24 PM

Quote:

I have done this for years with my 30-06s and achieved the same results.

I've often wondered about this. When shot over my Oehler chorongraph, I found that my 180 grain .30/06 handloads using ReLoder 22 powder gain about 200 feet per second over what standard 180 grain factory loads actually produce. (Either I have a "slow" barrel or the manufacturer's claims are so much BS.) The defunct - and sorely missed - Norma 205 did even better.

So . . . does anyone have chronograph data on how "Light Magnum" shoots from THEIR rifle, and how it compares with standard factory loads or a tailored handload?

JWC in MS · August 29, 2002, 02:26 PM

HankB,
A shooter who goes by the handle OKSHOOTER has published a manual on the 30:06 which has info on the Horndady Light mags in 30:06.
The 180 light mag from a 22" Rem 700 had nine shot AV of 2800 fps. For a handloader 2800 not a big deal. But he states the Average pressure for the load was only 54,300 psi!
His testing indicates to "reach" 2800 with a 22" barrel handloading usually resulted in about 60,000 psi.
OKSHOOTER uses the Oehler M43 in his testing.

August 25, 2002, 09:44 AM	#1
Turk Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2000 Location: USA Posts: 517	Hornady Light Magnum loading technique Looking Widener's Reloading catalog the add for Hornady Light Magnum and Heavy Magnum Ammunition it stated: Achieves higher velocity by combining a special cool-burning powder with a new loading technique. Can anyone tell me what this new loading technique is??? I've been reloading since the early 70's and can't think of what they are doing. Not much left either compressed or not or tension from the crimp veres non-crimp. Your thoughts please. Turk

August 27, 2002, 06:09 PM	#6
KP95DAO Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2000 Posts: 699	It's not that "special." I have done this for years with my 30-06s and achieved the same results. I would mention the powder used; but, I am restricted from mentioning it here.

August 28, 2002, 11:30 AM	#8
Gewehr98 Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2000 Location: Token Creek, WI Posts: 4,067	I remember seeing a video or picture of them loading the rounds. They use a powder-compaction press as part of the process, I didn't see if it was a standard arbor press or hydraulic. I'll see if I can dig up and post that photo here for everybody.

August 25, 2002, 10:52 AM	#2
labgrade Member In Memoriam Join Date: November 29, 1999 Location: west of a small town, CO Posts: 4,346	Read (in a gun rag) something on this when they first came out. IIRC, seems Hornady was using a slurry-like mixture - proprietory, yada. Didn't seem like the process was something the home roller could duplicate.

August 25, 2002, 11:54 AM	#3
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Probably two separate deals: First, extensive playing in the powder-chem lab. Second, a lot of testing. In this latter, I'd imagine they found quite a few "unacceptable" pressure levels. Art

August 26, 2002, 11:46 AM	#4
Poodleshooter Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2000 Location: Floating down the James River in VA Posts: 2,599	Pull the bullet and you'll find that the powder is in one compressed solid chunk-not unlike fuel in a model rocket motor.

August 27, 2002, 02:04 PM	#5
HankB Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2000 Location: Central Texas, outside of Austin Posts: 1,698	They're using a heavy charge of a slow-burning non-cannister powder. I believe their "new loading technique" involves a lot of compression of the powder - more so than a typical handloader can do. The powder must be "special" because sometimes ignition problems result when powder is overly compressed.

August 28, 2002, 09:25 AM	#7
green 788 Member Join Date: August 26, 2002 Location: Wytheville, VA Posts: 18	And besides that, if he told you he'd have to... Well, you know... Shoot ya with one of 'em! Dan

August 29, 2002, 02:26 PM	#10
JWC in MS Member Join Date: January 14, 2002 Location: Tupelo, Ms. Posts: 69	HankB, A shooter who goes by the handle OKSHOOTER has published a manual on the 30:06 which has info on the Horndady Light mags in 30:06. The 180 light mag from a 22" Rem 700 had nine shot AV of 2800 fps. For a handloader 2800 not a big deal. But he states the Average pressure for the load was only 54,300 psi! His testing indicates to "reach" 2800 with a 22" barrel handloading usually resulted in about 60,000 psi. OKSHOOTER uses the Oehler M43 in his testing.