Ordered some Berger 175 gr OTM.  I have some Berger 175 gr LRBT and 168 gr Hybrid Target, but I decided to start with load development for mag feeding, which on my setup is COAL 2.800" ish.  So I decided to start that one with a boolit that was designed around that application, which is the Berger 175 gr OTM.  I think they should arrive in about a week, which is good timing as I have brass to prep, including from initial load testing with Lapua brass.  I will eventually get around to testing the other Bergers, but I am going to save those for where I will vary seating depths and load one by one.

I also picked up some H4895 at SEC recently, so will do some testing with that as well.  Right now, leaders are Varget and 8208.  I have heard really good things about H4895, and IMR 4895 to a certain extent as well, so really looking forward to trying that one.  Plus I'll have 4064 for 30-06 loads, where I've been reading really good things about 4064 for Garands. 

Finally some real progress, but then work gets super busy. . .

Got around to setting up and using the Annealeez.  It was an upgrade version, which after figuring it out (instructions were not helpful) it seems to be decent.  The attachment for the flame nozzle was "hinky" and hose was awkward.  Found a mod to address both on YT.  I got the parts in, but just have to make time to implement.  The mod is a different flame nozzle and attachment.

My Forster Co Ax press arrived yesterday.  That was one of the remaining main items for my reloading plans.  Probably won't have a chance to set it up for at least a couple of weeks, but looking forward to trying it.  Oh yeah, and eff Optics Planet and their backorder estimates.  When I place the back order, it was estimated in a few weeks.  About a week after the order, it changed to much longer.  It's now showing shipping estimated in August. 

Finally was able to get back to the range to shoot some test loads I rolled for Berger 168 gr hybrids.  Still in the initial phases of load development as I gradually get my brass prep process down with annealing and new press setup (eventually).  I've had good results with Federal brass and Sierra bullets, so have quite a bit of data to compare to Lapua/Sierra and Lapua/Berger combos with the same powder.  Also using those data points to compare to the Sierra and Berger manuals.  Seems like the Sierra manual has higher overall max charge weights and slightly higher velocities than the Berger manual.  For the Fed/Sierra combinations, the sweet spot seemed to be well below the max charge weight and velocity, but just something interesting that I noticed.

So question for you centerfire reloaders.  Do you ALWAYS stick with charge weights less than the manual?  No matter the velocity you're seeing?  Or do you usually push a little beyond the max charge weight and watch for signs of overpressure?  I spoke to a few shooting buddies and the responses ran the range.  I hope to get to doing the powder charge tests soon and my initial thought was to go beyond the max charge by maybe 2-3 steps (0.2 gr increments).  It would be 2x per charge weight, so not a whole lot of effort. 

[quote author=drck1000 link=topic=39748.msg380233#msg380233 date=1624047558
So question for you centerfire reloaders.  Do you ALWAYS stick with charge weights less than the manual?  No matter the velocity you're seeing?  Or do you usually push a little beyond the max charge weight and watch for signs of overpressure?  I spoke to a few shooting buddies and the responses ran the range.  I hope to get to doing the powder charge tests soon and my initial thought was to go beyond the max charge by maybe 2-3 steps (0.2 gr increments).  It would be 2x per charge weight, so not a whole lot of effort.
[/quote]

I’d say as long as you’ve worked up to the max charge.  For example min: 37.5gr   max: 41.6gr      If my current load development took me to 39gr, I wouldn’t jump to the max but work it up to there watching for over pressures (I ended up at 42.9gr).  I would also say it depends on the goals of your loads.  I went over to get better velocities when I was able to shoot up to 600yrds.  If you’re doing the same, it makes sense to me to go over max.  I’m actually re-doing my development process to find nodes below max charge (no need high velocity at 100yrds).  I don’t anneal, and going over max charge worked the brass (had to toss brass at 5-6 reloads, loose primer pockets). 

Some things to take into consideration for pressure differences (from books or online data like https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center) COAL if you are limited in length for a magazine, different primers/powders, and case volume.  Good luck!

I’d say as long as you’ve worked up to the max charge.  For example min: 37.5gr   max: 41.6gr      If my current load development took me to 39gr, I wouldn’t jump to the max but work it up to there watching for over pressures (I ended up at 42.9gr).  I would also say it depends on the goals of your loads.  I went over to get better velocities when I was able to shoot up to 600yrds.  If you’re doing the same, it makes sense to me to go over max.  I’m actually re-doing my development process to find nodes below max charge (no need high velocity at 100yrds).  I don’t anneal, and going over max charge worked the brass (had to toss brass at 5-6 reloads, loose primer pockets). 

Some things to take into consideration for pressure differences (from books or online data like https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center) COAL if you are limited in length for a magazine, different primers/powders, and case volume.  Good luck!

Thanks!  I will be working up the max charge, at least that was the plan when I was laying out the charge weights for the different powders.  Have put that off since I switched to Lapua brass.  So have been loading/shooting 5 - (5) rounds groups as I gear up to the "real" brass prep process. 

Goal for this particular round is finding the best load for this gun.  Then see how that translates to longer range, which I consider the 400-1000ish range.  I'm not necessarily chasing higher velocity, just wondering what's up there.  I understand that .308 is somewhat hamstrung for 1000, but I've had decent success working up a load with Fed brass and Sierra.  I just think I can to better.  If I stick with this long range stuff, I'll likely transition to some 6/6.5 mm stuff. 

I'm working at 2.810" ish for now.  I want to work up a load for mag length/use.  Then eventually play with the seating depth.  I have two different bullets as well.  One which is meant for mag length (2.810" COAL) and one that is meant (at least from what I read) for seating longer, where I will have to single load. 

Finally was able to get back to the range to shoot some test loads I rolled for Berger 168 gr hybrids.  Still in the initial phases of load development as I gradually get my brass prep process down with annealing and new press setup (eventually).  I've had good results with Federal brass and Sierra bullets, so have quite a bit of data to compare to Lapua/Sierra and Lapua/Berger combos with the same powder.  Also using those data points to compare to the Sierra and Berger manuals.  Seems like the Sierra manual has higher overall max charge weights and slightly higher velocities than the Berger manual.  For the Fed/Sierra combinations, the sweet spot seemed to be well below the max charge weight and velocity, but just something interesting that I noticed.

So question for you centerfire reloaders.  Do you ALWAYS stick with charge weights less than the manual?  No matter the velocity you're seeing?  Or do you usually push a little beyond the max charge weight and watch for signs of overpressure?  I spoke to a few shooting buddies and the responses ran the range.  I hope to get to doing the powder charge tests soon and my initial thought was to go beyond the max charge by maybe 2-3 steps (0.2 gr increments).  It would be 2x per charge weight, so not a whole lot of effort.

I always watch loads that are over max in publications. Also some powders are more temp sensitive than others. I look at the primers and case after firing.

I always watch loads that are over max in publications. Also some powders are more temp sensitive than others. I look at the primers and case after firing.

For the "max in publications" do you stick to say the manual for the given bullet?  Or the powder?  Or both? 

Temp sensitivity.  That is one variable that I haven't been tracking.  I started this journey in the "winter time", but definitely cooler temps on average than now.  I don't have that much data to compare, but the differences between Fed/Sierra and Lapua/Berger for the same bullet and powder charge have seemed pretty close.  If I had to guess (don't have my notes with me), I would say within about 20-30 fps for average V. 

I've been regularly keeping an eye on primers.  As I shoot them, I line up the brass in order, just in case I felt something different in a shot, I can go back and look at which brass.  Then I look at the primers before putting the brass back into the box.  After switching to Lapua, been a lot more consistent.  When I was using Fed brass, noticed loose primer pockets where the primers were proud seemingly at random.  Have gone exclusively to Lapua since then. 

For the "max in publications" do you stick to say the manual for the given bullet?  Or the powder?  Or both? 

Temp sensitivity.  That is one variable that I haven't been tracking.  I started this journey in the "winter time", but definitely cooler temps on average than now.  I don't have that much data to compare, but the differences between Fed/Sierra and Lapua/Berger for the same bullet and powder charge have seemed pretty close.  If I had to guess (don't have my notes with me), I would say within about 20-30 fps for average V. 

I've been regularly keeping an eye on primers.  As I shoot them, I line up the brass in order, just in case I felt something different in a shot, I can go back and look at which brass.  Then I look at the primers before putting the brass back into the box.  After switching to Lapua, been a lot more consistent.  When I was using Fed brass, noticed loose primer pockets where the primers were proud seemingly at random.  Have gone exclusively to Lapua since then.

I use manuals as a guide but not an absolute. Rule of thumb is that stick powders are less sensitive to temperatures and ball powders are more sensitive. I haven't tested that out.

I use manuals as a guide but not an absolute. Rule of thumb is that stick powders are less sensitive to temperatures and ball powders are more sensitive. I haven't tested that out.

Understood.  I tend to think of them as guidance, but I'm very much still new to this.  I do have buddies who view them as absolute limit, as well as guidance.  Just interested in what other folks do.  I assume the range. 

I have started to track more on burn rates on the powders I have for loading for .308.  Will track the temps closer. 

Custom action ordered and now starts the waiting game.  Damn, some of these components have long lead times. . . Looks like mid-October at the earliest.  I hope that the timelines quotes are conservative, but no real rush.  Need some time to save up some $$$ from OT for the new optic.   

Custom action ordered and now starts the waiting game.  Damn, some of these components have long lead times. . . Looks like mid-October at the earliest.  I hope that the timelines quotes are conservative, but no real rush.  Need some time to save up some $$$ from OT for the new optic.   

Which action and barrel are you going with?

What’s the barrels twist rate?

Which action and barrel are you going with?

What’s the barrels twist rate?

Defiance and Bartlein.

Defiance and Bartlein.

Nice whats the wait on that bad boy?

Nice whats the wait on that bad boy?

Looks like Oct (likely into November).  Most of the wait is for the chassis though.  Defiance action wait (at least what I was told) was "just" 6-8 weeks.  I ordered a few weeks ago though.  Not in any rush.  Just getting in line. 

Looks like Oct (likely into November).  Most of the wait is for the chassis though.  Defiance action wait (at least what I was told) was "just" 6-8 weeks.  I ordered a few weeks ago though.  Not in any rush.  Just getting in line.

You getting just the action and installing the barrel yourself?

What chamber you going with on the barrel?

You getting just the action and installing the barrel yourself?

What chamber you going with on the barrel?

Custom build.  This one is .308.  Have a 6.something in early planning stages. 

Gearing up for loading for 6.5 CM.  Current plan is to not really get into it for a while, but component availability is crap. 

Initial plans are for H4350, Hornady 140 gr ELDs, and Lapua brass LRP.  I was able to find some H4350.  Will keep an eye our for Hornady ELDs and maybe some Berger 140gr(ish) hybrids or something like those. 

For brass, starting with LRP, mostly because that's what I have.  That and finding SRP are like unicorn farts.  I was doing some research and nothing definitive on LRP vs SRP.  Lots of personal preference and plusses/minuses each side.  Overall, my (still relatively rookie) perspective is focus on consistency in whatever I do first, limiting variables.  Hopefully availability SRP returns.  That said, I do prefer to streamline components.  Varget is supposed to be decent to good for 6.5 CM, which is one of my faves for .308.  Too bad H4350 isn't common for .308 Win, but heard that some folks have had good success with that powder.  My faves for .308 is Varget and 8208 leaders, with IMR 4064 still promising. 

Just need the dies. Oh, and the barreled action…

Just need the dies. Oh, and the barreled action…

heads

Ordered a barrel… should I be concerned about harmonics?