i have been raeding on here that some guys are getting up to 77 gr. in a 338 win mag case . i on the other hand can barely get 72 with federal, r.p. and winchester cases. how and what gives on this.
The case capacity of a given cartridge is relative to the bullet and powder used. Sometimes the load is compressed to achieve those amounts of powder with a specific bullet. The poster stated 77gn of RL-19 for a 200gn BT in his 338 Win, Nosler's listed max is 76gn of RL-19 with a 200/210 bullet. I do not find this as an OMG situation. This could be an over pressure load for your specific rifle, but it may be fine in their rifle, hence the standard statement of start low and work up.
FWIW, I use 73gn of RL-19 in my 338Win to propel a 225AB.
I have been up to 78gr of RL19 without signs of pressure problems in MY rifle even on hot days. But 77grs is better. It is a compressed load. I cannot get that much in by just using a powder dump. I use rem or win brass. What I do is use a powder funnel and drop into it(or hand weight) then shake the case/funnel side to side to settle the charge BEFORE removing the funnel and moving on to the next one in the reloading block. This leaves the charge at about the bottom of the neck. IF I just charge the case without the funnel and shaking it to settle the charge it will overflow the case. Over my chronograph at 20' from the muzzle I get a consistant 3005FPS with a 3-4FPS vary in my ruger m77. It is a very accurate load.
