Reloading question

[Reloaderdave]

I haven't reloaded for quite a few years and way back (many years) when I was reloading for my Super Blackhawk .44 Magnum, I noticed something when I went to the range and have thought about it over the years. Maybe I can get some reasons as to why or what I noticed. I always went by the load data in the reloading manuals and never stupidly experimented. I bought and read books on reloading and bought reloading manuals and studied them extensively before buying any equipment. Anyhow, I reloaded light target loads and heavy loads which the manuals stated were equal to factory full power loads. I kept them separate in marked cartridge containers with the bullet weight and powder charge. Target loads shot great with light recoil. The max loads shot great with naturally more recoil. Accuracy with either one was very good at 25 yards. But what I noticed was my heavy max loads did not in any way have the felt recoil of a full house factory load. I always measured the powder charges and checked all the cases side by side before bullet seating. So why would my reloaded full charge loads have way less recoil than a factory full charge load? I went by the book. I was using Unique with 240 grain JHP bullets and CCI large pistol magnum primers. The manuals gave load data for Unique & 240 grain JHP bullets to equal a factory load and I duplicated it, but it sure didn't feel like it. And I would think that if the muzzle velocity on my reloads was the same as the factory loads, then the recoil should be close to a factory load (opposite & equal reaction). Was I imagining things or what? At the time, it wasn't adding up.
Sorry for the long post.
Dave

[Fyathyrio]

Unless you're using the same powder the factory is using, you really can't compare. I tried IMR 4227 for my first .44 mag reloads and found it's a bit softer then the factory PMC ammo I first used. My next powder will likely be H110. I use Unique for my .44 Spl and like it.

Newer manuals may have different recipes now compared to yours, a handy resource for more current info without the expense is Loadbooks USA. It has the data from all the major powder and bullet manufacturers for one cartridge, and only costs $7.

[Beelzy]

The factory doesn't use Unique for Full House Magnum loadings. They use a slower powder like H-110 or Win 296.

The Loading with Unique may give "factory" speed, but that's about it.

Load with a slower burning powder and I guarantee you will have that factory recoil you seek.

[Dark Mod]

You would want to compare velocities, for example using W231 under max load will still be less than the STARTING load with H110

If you want power you can just look at the manual before you buy your powder and see what will give you the most velocity

[dexter9659]

You may feel the same recoil for two different loads, but they may not be equal in speed or ballistics.

Conversely, you may have simlar speeds and balistics, but the recoil may be much stiffer in one load. Different powders give different recoil.

[Snoopy47]

You really need a chrono to start to compare, and have the same bullet weight. Also, I noticed I need less powder for lead bullets than I do plated ones to get the same recoil feel. Lead seals better.

[Bill Steele]

As many have stated before, felt recoil can be very different, even with similar ME produced, simply by the brand of powder used.