Max Load Discrepancies

by cwink on Fri 13 Jan 2012 - 17:05

Why is it that different publications publish different "max loads"... It may only be a difference of a grain or less, but it makes me worry that I am overloading certain rounds based on which load book/online site I use. Is that small a difference something to worry about?? Or are the publications just being over cautious on max loads??

by SubGunFan on Fri 13 Jan 2012 - 19:32

They use CYA on the max loads.......

Some differences could be the test equipment each company uses. Some might have different CYA factors. In general (IMO), 10% over max is still safe. Over 10% and you are on your own........

.

by **Beladran** on Fri 13 Jan 2012 - 19:35

I have seen some massive variances in pistol load data. Like sgf said test equipment an cya factor

by msredneck on Fri 13 Jan 2012 - 19:56

Lee book is very conservative

Hornady info tends to be hotter...Sierra and Lyman kinda in the middle....aint no biggie....just depends on what the lawyers let em do....

best thing I can say is watch your case bulging and your primers...

I tend to load hot ammo ....there's a lot more wiggle room than you think

by msredneck on Fri 13 Jan 2012 - 20:00

One other thing I do is try and find a powder that fills the case as much as possible...without having to just cram a bullet on top...you can shake the loaded round when complete...if you don't hear it rattling around...that's good...the less air space in the case the better as far as I'm concerned

by **captain-03** on Fri 13 Jan 2012 - 21:00

BE CAREFUL -- Regardless of the book you use, work up your loads. I usually start around the middle of the load data and start working up until I get the performance I want OR I start to see signs of pressure .... Pressure signs ...
1) fired case hard to extract; or
2) flattened primers; or
3) bulged case; or
4) gun goes KBOOM.

Work up using to recommended load data and watch for your pressure signs ... you will be OK ...

As some have said, there is a CYA factor built in; however, DO NOT take that for granted. BE SAFE!!

by bwechols on Fri 13 Jan 2012 - 21:29

I've seen the bit about flattened primers before, but don't know what it means. The only thing I can think of is the dimple from the firing pin being flattened back out by the pressure of the cartridge firing. Am I close?

by SubGunFan on Fri 13 Jan 2012 - 22:24

bwechols wrote:I've seen the bit about flattened primers before, but don't know what it means. The only thing I can think of is the dimple from the firing pin being flattened back out by the pressure of the cartridge firing. Am I close?

NO...... The firing pin dimple will still be there, though smaller. The main thing to look for is the primer filling in the space that is normally around the edge. Bolt face impression on the primer. A black dimple means a pierced primer (not good).

.

by Fish_Head on Mon 16 Jan 2012 - 17:33

Work your way up, find a load that is accurate, and as was stated, watch for the signs.... The bullet will still get there in plenty of time, dont worry. There is good advice in the answers here. Be careful.

by miker84 on Mon 16 Jan 2012 - 17:51

That's why I usually look up loads in 3 different books and on the powder or bullet mfg website.

by critt77matt on Mon 16 Jan 2012 - 20:09

i notice the case lengths are different sometimes.

by Fish_Head on Thu 19 Jan 2012 - 22:36

How do you post pictures on here? I have some recent examples of max load primers, which I use for loads on rifles.
Thanks

Max Load Discrepancies

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