Why The Gap In Hodgdon Chart For 300 AAC Blackout?

UtopiaTexasG19 · July 4, 2012, 09:28 PM

The Hodgdon powder chart for the 300 AAC Blackout goes from 110-135 grain bullets and then skips to the 220 grain bullet. Why is there a gap in bullet weight from 135-220 grain bullets? I can see a chart stopping at a weight and going no further but the powders listed for the 220 grain bullets are the same names for the lower weights so why would they not also work for weights in between? I have re-loaded for a number of years for my pistols and two rifle calibers and have not seen this before. Thanks...

dacaur · July 4, 2012, 09:59 PM

My best guess is that bullets between 140 and 210 dont stabilize well out of a 300blk....

BillM · July 4, 2012, 10:30 PM

Light bullet supersonic, or heavy bullet sub-sonic for use with a
suppressor. Those are the two applications for the caliber.

You could certainly work up a load "in the middle"---but I would
suspect the gap in the load data reflects the two very different
loads used in reality.

mohr308 · July 4, 2012, 10:57 PM

Hogdons annual manual has load data (page 22) for the 300 blackout from 110 to 208grain. the grains listed are:
110,125,130,135,140,150,155,168,180,208

UtopiaTexasG19 · July 5, 2012, 07:13 AM

I have one of Hodgdon's annual manuals that is two years old and have been depending on the "on line" charts that have this gap in weights. I have some 150 grain Winchesters that work great in my Marlin 336 in 30-30 and want to try them out in the Blackout. I wonder why Hodgdon has not changed the web site to reflect the intermediate weights but have changed the figures in a annual manual?

mohr308 · July 5, 2012, 07:29 AM

No idea, I have this years manual and there it is! If I could get my printer to work I would scan it for you.

UtopiaTexasG19 · July 5, 2012, 08:05 AM

I would appreciate a copy of that page if possible!

mohr308 · July 5, 2012, 08:55 AM

I will work on that for ya

oldpapps · July 5, 2012, 04:37 PM

Why The Gap In Hodgdon Chart For 300 AAC Blackout?

So many answers....

The 300 BlackOut is new. (SAAMI standardized) Things take a little time to catch up.

Emphasis is on both ends of the bullet weight spectrum in the beginning.

Few suitable mid-weight bullets available from the major manufacturers.

I can think of more but they are less main stream.

Bullet stability and twist. The faster the bullet travels, the greater the needed twist. The revers is also true. So a sub-sonic is traveling slow and the twist can be slower. Push a lighter bullet faster and it could become 'over stabilized' and if the jacket is thin, it could come apart. I have not had this problem but it is feasible. 220 grain bullets traveling slower, stabilize and the jacket thickness is only for controlled expansion. Yes, I know it is not the bullet's weight but the bearing surface that counts. But they both go hand in hand to a large degree. Sticking a steel core in or not putting in any lead does add to the mess.

So far so good. Now to the mid-weight bullets. The 150 to 180 grain bullets with pointy ends, work better when chambering in an AR type weapon, are designed to expand at higher velocities, think 308/30.06/300XX Mag. It will not be long before the major manufactures start pumping out lighter jacketed pointy bullets in this weight range. The new soft tipped bullets for the 30-30 are a step in that direction.

As for now, it is a load your own proposition.

These is what I have been using. NOTE: these are safe in my weapon with my components, in the manner that I load them. These loads are not to be taken as proven or safe. COL is very touchy and minor changes can and do make major pressure/velocity changes.

Reformed Lake City 5.56 brass, CCI SR primers, 17.5 gr of H110 under 147 GI FMJ, no crimp, COL 2.065 inches. Weapon DSA 16in, carbine gas system. Average velocity (@ 10 feet) is 1988 FPS.

As soon/if the weather breaks, I will begin testing with Hornady 150 gr InterBonds. (Sorry, ambient temps of 100 degrees, set on black asphalt makes for temps of over 140 degrees. I've measured it!)

The .300 BlackOut fits in between the .223/5.56 and the .308/7.62 but doesn't begin to replace either of them. Sorta like a 30-30 in an AR platform that does well with lighter (110 grain) bullets and can also be used with a suppressor with heaver bullets. It is a fun gun with lot of possibilities to play with.

Enjoy, I do.

OSOK

July 4, 2012, 09:28 PM	#1
UtopiaTexasG19 Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2011 Location: S.E. Texas Gulf Coast Posts: 743	Why The Gap In Hodgdon Chart For 300 AAC Blackout? The Hodgdon powder chart for the 300 AAC Blackout goes from 110-135 grain bullets and then skips to the 220 grain bullet. Why is there a gap in bullet weight from 135-220 grain bullets? I can see a chart stopping at a weight and going no further but the powders listed for the 220 grain bullets are the same names for the lower weights so why would they not also work for weights in between? I have re-loaded for a number of years for my pistols and two rifle calibers and have not seen this before. Thanks...

July 4, 2012, 09:59 PM	#2
dacaur Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2010 Posts: 733	My best guess is that bullets between 140 and 210 dont stabilize well out of a 300blk.... Last edited by dacaur; July 6, 2012 at 01:32 PM.

July 4, 2012, 10:57 PM	#4
mohr308 Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2012 Location: Western New York Posts: 466	Texas Hogdons annual manual has load data (page 22) for the 300 blackout from 110 to 208grain. the grains listed are: 110,125,130,135,140,150,155,168,180,208

July 5, 2012, 04:37 PM	#9
oldpapps Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2011 Location: Middle America Posts: 518	Why The Gap In Hodgdon Chart For 300 AAC Blackout? Why The Gap In Hodgdon Chart For 300 AAC Blackout? So many answers.... The 300 BlackOut is new. (SAAMI standardized) Things take a little time to catch up. Emphasis is on both ends of the bullet weight spectrum in the beginning. Few suitable mid-weight bullets available from the major manufacturers. I can think of more but they are less main stream. Bullet stability and twist. The faster the bullet travels, the greater the needed twist. The revers is also true. So a sub-sonic is traveling slow and the twist can be slower. Push a lighter bullet faster and it could become 'over stabilized' and if the jacket is thin, it could come apart. I have not had this problem but it is feasible. 220 grain bullets traveling slower, stabilize and the jacket thickness is only for controlled expansion. Yes, I know it is not the bullet's weight but the bearing surface that counts. But they both go hand in hand to a large degree. Sticking a steel core in or not putting in any lead does add to the mess. So far so good. Now to the mid-weight bullets. The 150 to 180 grain bullets with pointy ends, work better when chambering in an AR type weapon, are designed to expand at higher velocities, think 308/30.06/300XX Mag. It will not be long before the major manufactures start pumping out lighter jacketed pointy bullets in this weight range. The new soft tipped bullets for the 30-30 are a step in that direction. As for now, it is a load your own proposition. These is what I have been using. NOTE: these are safe in my weapon with my components, in the manner that I load them. These loads are not to be taken as proven or safe. COL is very touchy and minor changes can and do make major pressure/velocity changes. Reformed Lake City 5.56 brass, CCI SR primers, 17.5 gr of H110 under 147 GI FMJ, no crimp, COL 2.065 inches. Weapon DSA 16in, carbine gas system. Average velocity (@ 10 feet) is 1988 FPS. As soon/if the weather breaks, I will begin testing with Hornady 150 gr InterBonds. (Sorry, ambient temps of 100 degrees, set on black asphalt makes for temps of over 140 degrees. I've measured it!) The .300 BlackOut fits in between the .223/5.56 and the .308/7.62 but doesn't begin to replace either of them. Sorta like a 30-30 in an AR platform that does well with lighter (110 grain) bullets and can also be used with a suppressor with heaver bullets. It is a fun gun with lot of possibilities to play with. Enjoy, I do. OSOK

July 4, 2012, 10:30 PM	#3
BillM Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Amity Oregon Posts: 791	Light bullet supersonic, or heavy bullet sub-sonic for use with a suppressor. Those are the two applications for the caliber. You could certainly work up a load "in the middle"---but I would suspect the gap in the load data reflects the two very different loads used in reality.

July 5, 2012, 07:13 AM	#5
UtopiaTexasG19 Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2011 Location: S.E. Texas Gulf Coast Posts: 743	I have one of Hodgdon's annual manuals that is two years old and have been depending on the "on line" charts that have this gap in weights. I have some 150 grain Winchesters that work great in my Marlin 336 in 30-30 and want to try them out in the Blackout. I wonder why Hodgdon has not changed the web site to reflect the intermediate weights but have changed the figures in a annual manual?

July 5, 2012, 07:29 AM	#6
mohr308 Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2012 Location: Western New York Posts: 466	No idea, I have this years manual and there it is! If I could get my printer to work I would scan it for you.

July 5, 2012, 08:05 AM	#7
UtopiaTexasG19 Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2011 Location: S.E. Texas Gulf Coast Posts: 743	I would appreciate a copy of that page if possible!

July 5, 2012, 08:55 AM	#8
mohr308 Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2012 Location: Western New York Posts: 466	I will work on that for ya