max load question

[calixt0]

Ok If I ladder up my loads and still don't see signs of pressure at the listed max pressure can I safely continue or should I stop there?

[M27]

What caliber?

What are you shooting out of?

9mm or 45acp probubly.

40 I would be weary.

A chronograph is a must to go over max.

why do you want hotter loads. for fun, sh1ts and giggles or are they for hunting or SD?

[Oceanbob]

Depends on the platform and the caliber.

A couple of things for sure; when shooting max loads wear good eye protection and a good pair of Gloves to catch the KB parts with.

Serious

[shooterbill]

Load data is only a guide. If you cross reference with multiple sources, you will see irregularities. A max load in one book might be a starting or mid load in another. For example- Hodgdon lists a max load for 223 55gr fmj using W748 as 26.3gr. Speer lists max as 28.5 with the same load. Use multiple sources and common sense.

[M27]

Load data is only a guide. If you cross reference with multiple sources, you will see irregularities. A max load in one book might be a starting or mid load in another. For example- Hodgdon lists a max load for 223 55gr fmj using W748 as 26.3gr. Speer lists max as 28.5 with the same load. Use multiple sources and common sense.

very true.

for 230gn 45 ACP useing AA#5 hornady says a max load of 7.9gn

accurate's data for the same thing has a starting load of 7.8 with a max of 8.7

[calixt0]

I'm only starting to work up my 223 loads for my ar15. I'm using 55gr fmjbt using H335. I don't necessarily want hot lots. I ask because if I use hogdons website its has a max of 23.5 gr and my loading manuals, and load data on canister its closer to 26gr. I was just curious as I work up my loads for accuracy what if I find I'm at 25 gr and still don't see acceptable accuracy or pressure sings can i keep climbing the ladder or should I stop no matter what when I hit that magical 25-26 range.

[shooterbill]

H335 recipes seem to be around 25.5 to 26 gr. for the 55 fmj. When you start loading hotter rounds, your gun and brass get beat up.

[rsrocket1]

The Hornady 4th ed manual says 25.4g max for a 55g fmjbt with a COL of 2.20". My accuracy node for 55g fmjbt is at 25.0g H335 with the bullet seated right in the middle of the cannelure (about 2.26"). I would be happy if the node were at 23 or 24g, but 25.0g was where my 20" AR loved the bullets so that's where I load it. No signs of pressure at all using CCI 400 primers. My run of Quickload says that 25.6 is right at SAAMI max and in hot weather, you're probably over that so I would be careful if you go above 25. You might also try moving down the ladder to see if you find an accuracy node.

[Munny$hot]

I've found that a hotter load doesn't mean the most accurate. I'm certain powder manufactures build in some wiggle room with their max and minimum load data. I've found that with H335 powder, Wolf primers, and Remington 55gr bullets 23.5gr of powder seems to be the most accurate out of a 16" barrel. If your trying to load close to 5.56 spec to fragment FMJ bullets, the easier route would be to find hollow points that will expand at lower velocities instead.

[calixt0]

rsrocket.. I'm starting at 21.3 and will be moving up in .3 or .4 gr incrments until I see pressure signs or an accuracy node. again started so low (below most printed values for that powder and bullet cobination) but its what Hodgens website data suggested as a beginning load.

[Munny$hot]

rsrocket.. I'm starting at 21.3 and will be moving up in .3 or .4 gr incrments until I see pressure signs or an accuracy node. again started so low (below most printed values for that powder and bullet cobination) but its what Hodgens website data suggested as a beginning load.

23.0 It should also be printed on you bottle label.

[mjmagee67]

Sure you could but why? Max loads are harder on guns and brass and uses more powder. If all your doing is punching paper and plinking you just don't need all that power. I've gone to upper middle of the road load, working more on accuracy. If we are talking 223 I use 24.8+/- of H335 under a 55gr pill.

Now I do use "Max" loads on my hunting rifles, I am looking for a quick kill! Plus my hunting rifles are just not shot that much!

[spamsucker]

My Short cut: Load in .1gr increments from 1.5 grains under book max to .5grains under book max. That's 10 loads with only powder charge difference. Take the most accurate load and start tuning that one with primer choice, bullet seating depth and neck tension. Unless you're going to get into competition of some sort then you won't need to get much more in depth than that.

Don't waste money by over charging your loads. It beats up your gun and your brass and is almost never as accurate. You load enough powder to get into the FPS zone and get the accuracy you want. For my money I'll lose 150fps happily if it means that the bullet lands right on top of the last one. Just means I can let precision take over some of the work that I would otherwise need energy from velocity to do.

In 18 years of handloading I've found that things tend to get less and less accurate as the charges get up at or past book max. My best accuracy results have always come from loads with .5-1.5gr under book max.

[calixt0]

23.0 It should also be printed on you bottle label.

it is

[calixt0]

Sure you could but why? Max loads are harder on guns and brass and uses more powder. If all your doing is punching paper and plinking you just don't need all that power. I've gone to upper middle of the road load, working more on accuracy. If we are talking 223 I use 24.8+/- of H335 under a 55gr pill.

Now I do use "Max" loads on my hunting rifles, I am looking for a quick kill! Plus my hunting rifles are just not shot that much!

I'm just finding accuracy with paper punching ammo first. I will use what I learn (not load data but rather experience as I've never reloaded before) to work up some accurate hunting loads for rabbits and squirrels. I would like to find a load about 23 gr. but was just wondering if I could go up if I don't see pressure signs if i haven't found accuracy yet.

Just trying to cover my bases