picking a load

MDS · January 2, 2011, 06:50 PM

I always look at three or four loads before I pick on to try. (1st load) Is there any reason to not just pick a published load and go for it?

noylj · January 2, 2011, 06:55 PM

I check a couple sources just so my starting load is the lowest of the two or three I find. I have had a couple of cases where the starting load for one source was at max pressure in my gun.
I also tend to stay away from powders that have spikey pressure at max or have real sensitivity of temperature.
Powders I am hesitant to use for a wide range of calibers are N310, TiteGroup, and Clays.

PawPaw · January 2, 2011, 07:34 PM

Some loads work fine across a variety of rifles, but each rifle will show you which load it likes best.

For example, in .308 Winchester, I've used a load of 43.0 grains of Reloder 15 and a 168 grain Sierra Matchking. Some rifles like this load just fine, some rifles really like it, every .308 I've tried it in seems to do okay with this load. It duplicates the Federal GMM load.

Almost every .38 special likes a wadcutter load of 2.7 grains of Bullseye under a 148 grain wadcutter. It's a standard load that's been around for a long time.

Sometimes using a standard load works just fine. But you won't know what your firearm likes until you try several loads.

MDS · January 2, 2011, 10:12 PM

I guess that would be the best reason.

January 2, 2011, 06:50 PM	#1
MDS Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 492	picking a load I always look at three or four loads before I pick on to try. (1st load) Is there any reason to not just pick a published load and go for it?

January 2, 2011, 07:34 PM	#3
PawPaw Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Location: Central Louisiana Posts: 3,137	Some loads work fine across a variety of rifles, but each rifle will show you which load it likes best. For example, in .308 Winchester, I've used a load of 43.0 grains of Reloder 15 and a 168 grain Sierra Matchking. Some rifles like this load just fine, some rifles really like it, every .308 I've tried it in seems to do okay with this load. It duplicates the Federal GMM load. Almost every .38 special likes a wadcutter load of 2.7 grains of Bullseye under a 148 grain wadcutter. It's a standard load that's been around for a long time. Sometimes using a standard load works just fine. But you won't know what your firearm likes until you try several loads. __________________ Dennis Dezendorf http://pawpawshouse.blogspot.com

January 2, 2011, 06:55 PM	#2
noylj Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2007 Location: Between CA and NM Posts: 858	I check a couple sources just so my starting load is the lowest of the two or three I find. I have had a couple of cases where the starting load for one source was at max pressure in my gun. I also tend to stay away from powders that have spikey pressure at max or have real sensitivity of temperature. Powders I am hesitant to use for a wide range of calibers are N310, TiteGroup, and Clays.

January 2, 2011, 10:12 PM	#4
MDS Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 492	I guess that would be the best reason.