Reloading manuals lacking info?

[wilderness medic]

Brand new to reloading and just bought all the stuff minus components.

I have a Nosler and Lyman manual. What I don’t see is max case length(not OACL). I know I can measure my bore and find an ideal one but right now I’m curious what would be a no go and need trimming for .308 win and 5.56


Also the Lyman lumps 5.56 and .223 together. What’s the deal with that? No differentiating in the complements recipe.


Do you normally have to buy a book specific for your caliber? Both my manuals only have a couple components recipes for .308 and 5.56 and I was hoping for a lot more. I just want to start in with some cheap target rounds and all I see are things for Sierra match Kings etc. How do I get info for a cheap 62grn bullet load and reload safely?


Thanks.

[baih777]

The first page of each caliber usually lists info.
223/556 uses the same die. So you have to develop your own load because case volume is different.

Book should specify min/max case length.
Might need to use Google and write it down in your book.

Each caliber look at the bullet you want.
Should list COAL. Cartridge Over All Length.

When I started reloading. I scanned the pages of the load I was working with to keep on.the bench.
I used a highlighter on the info . That was the load I was working on.
I didn't want to get my books to dirty.

I rely on the Sierra book most of the time.

[rice_man]

It's been said here many times that more resources are nice to have. As you have found not all manuals list specifics for every round. With that said the load data for a Sierra Match King 62grn FMJ HPBT should be the same as a cheap 62grn FMJ HPBT. But you are correct in making sure to find a specific published load for the bullet type. And you are on the right path seeking help from experienced loaders. They will be able to point you to where you can find the published data.

What you absolutely should NOT do is use an unconfirmed recipe from someone off an internet forum. I will often look for opinions on people's pet loads but I will always confirm them with a published source.

And speaking of here is one if you haven't found it already

https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/

[wilderness medic]

Thanks.

So as long as the bullet grain and type, such as HPBT are the same the brand shouldn’t really matter? I just didn’t want to mess anything up and change anything at all. If I can insert a different brand bullet with everything else being the same that would be great.

Is that the same with brass? I see them stating brands like Remington brass for a recipe, however the brass I have is not Remington.

[Fjold]

You can mix and match individual components (Brass, bullets of the same weight), primer, etc.) as long as you start at the recommended minimum (starting) loads and work your way up.

What I do is compare my manuals loads against the components manufacturer's online data and build recipes from that.

If the Hornady book says that with their 150 grain JHP bullet you can use powders X, Y and Z and the Hodgdon website says that you can use Powders X, Y and Z with the Sierra Jacketed SP 150 grain bullet, you can figure that any jacketed 150 grain bullet will work with the starting load of powders X. Y and Z.

If you compare numerous databases you can find a starting point for just about any combination of components.

[baih777]

NEVER load ammo to what the book says is max load.
The reason books specify what brass they use is for reference only.

223/556 brass varies a lot between brands. Thickness and case volume.
It's best to start with same headstamp brass.

[rice_man]

Correct. There will be brand to brand performance (accuracy/precision) variability from brand to brand of the same type of bullet which is why you should always work up your loads starting at the bottom of the published loads.

As for cases the consensus from my research is that .223 and 5.56 cases do differ in volume but not any more so than one .223 brand from another .223. I've never separated .223 from 5.56 but my loads are midrange and not pushing max. They cycle fine and give me enough accuracy for plinking.

[wilderness medic]

Thanks guys.

Just picked up some 168grain .30 bullets and IMR 3031. I’m going to make a few loads and see if I blow up lol.


The max case length(not COAL) is bugging me. I can’t seem to find a max safe limit even online besides some forum posts saying “I’ve run up to x long without issue.”


I see trim to length 2.05, standard length 2.15. After one firing I’m throwing some at 2.25 already. Not sure if that’s normal or safe to not trim. So I guess I’ll probably just trim them all to be safe for now.

[OpenSightsOnly]

For 308, the trim to length is 2.005" while the max case length is 2.015"

For 223, the trim to length is 1.750" while the max case length is 1.760"

You worry too much

[baih777]

Which gun are you reloading for ?

308 max load length is 2.80

[wilderness medic]

For 308, the trim to length is 2.005" while the max case length is 2.015"

For 223, the trim to length is 1.750" while the max case length is 1.760"

You worry too much

[Fjold]

Remember that the further back you push the shoulder during sizing the more brass that you force into the neck, making the case longer. Resize the least amount possible.

[sofbak]

Buy a Lee manual. For every cartidge listed, there is a SAMMI drawing that gives you every cartidge dimension you will ever need.

I lost count but soon...

[OpenSightsOnly]

Spend $14 and do this - https://materials.nrahq.org/nra-guid...book-only.html

You set-up your 308 FL die based on brass fired from your chamber aka cartridge headspace.

After you resize, you measure the case length of the sized brass then trim to length for 308 or 2.005"

Don't resize to your brass to 2.014"

[wilderness medic]

Spend $14 and do this - https://materials.nrahq.org/nra-guid...book-only.html

You set-up your 308 FL die based on brass fired from your chamber aka cartridge headspace.

After you resize, you measure the case length of the sized brass then trim to length for 308 or 2.005"

Don't resize to your brass to 2.014"