Testing reloads for acceptable-desired Powder Charge Weight

[stevelsd]

I use QuickLoad as well as other bullet manufacturers for "suggested" powder charge weights.
In the past I have always started at a estimated minimum powder charge weight and work work my way up by .3 or .5 grs. till I perceive pressure issues either on the case or on the bolt

After reading many many forum reloaders approach for acceptable-desired powder charge weight, i saw a number of reloaders mention they start at a fairly maximum powder charge weight and then work their way down by .3 or .5 to their desired powder charge.

Have I been doing this incorrectly or better yet, "inefficiently", or are there just new insights that express this approach to be a better way to find powder weights?

 

[jimbires]

start low and work up while watching for pressure is the golden rule that should always be followed .


if starting out at close to a max load , what do you do when you lock the gun up ? or how much do you lower the charge to get a safe load ? this is a method for disaster .

 

[JD338]

Solid advice for sure. And using a chronograph will be an asset. One thing I have done is load only one round in one grain increments to get close to top end speeds for a given cartridge.
Start low and work up.

JD338

 

[stevelsd]

Super Excellent JimBires and JD338.
Your thoughts are what mine were but I saw a number of peeps saying opposite and since I have been away for a while I was wondering if I missed something!

Thanks guys!

 

[DrMike]

Can't imagine where those people are from who start "HIGH" and work their way down. I suppose they are posting from rooms 203, 204, and 205 in their local hospital, or they will soon be posting from there. It is a mark of arrogance (if not ignorance) to "pick a load near maximum charge" and work down. Rifles and components cost far too much to carelessly play with ruination.

 

[stevelsd]

Thanks DrMike
12 years ago when first starting out hand loading. I started at minimum but ended up locking my bolt. I learned quickly. Again I thought I missed somethings being away for a while. Super thanks

 

[Charlie-NY]

After reading many many forum reloaders approach for acceptable-desired powder charge weight, i saw a number of reloaders mention they start at a fairly maximum powder charge weight and then work their way down by .3 or .5 to their desired powder charge.


Worse than that are the guys who believe that all printed data was developed by lawyers. Some of these guys start at top loads and then load up to see how far they can go. Pressure signs often don't show until loads are way above acceptable standards. If you can get surprisingly high velocities, you probably have surprisingly high pressure, whether you see it or not. IMO, if you can't get 8-10 reloads on a piece of high-quality brass, you're probably over the SAMMI pressure limit.

 

[TackDriver284]

I start low and work up to max while watching pressure under a chronograph, once I start seeing pressure, I stop and I back off about a grain and seek an accurate load. If you do not understand how to read pressure, do not approach maximum loads or go over. Starting at maximum is asking for trouble and I rather keep all of my fingers instead of disregarding the reloading rule,,,,start low and work up!

 

[PJGunner]

Most of the time I'll pick a load halfway between the minumum and maximum loads in the manual I'm usig. If I'm running Nosler bullets, I'll use the latest Nosler manual I have on hand and work up from that point. It's worked out just fine for me, especially in these days of shortages and high prices. If I'm using Speer bullets I use the Speer manual. About the only time I might start with the starting load in a manual is if it's for a cartridge I've never loaded before.
Paul B.

 

[Todd NE WY]

I follow a similar process to @PJGunner, I typically pick a medium load and work from there, often times it ends up being the load as accuracy trumps velocity for my purposes.

 

[RL338]

A lot of bullet and cartridge combos I work with have very little published data. I start with QL to find a starting point and work up in 1/2 gr or 1 gr depending on case size.

 

[TackDriver284]

A lot of bullet and cartridge combos I work with have very little published data. I start with QL to find a starting point and work up in 1/2 gr or 1 gr depending on case size.

True, I also look at a certain bullet weight, and if there are no data for that weight, example is 130 grain 6.5 mm, I go to the next bullet weight which is 140 grain 6.5 mm and I look at the mid charge for that weight, and its safe to use that weight for the 130 grain weight as a starting point if no data is found. I use several reloading manuals, online data and Quickload before I settle on a starting weight.