Originally Posted By: Jack RobertsThe loads listed in a manual may not be safe in your rifle. Depending on lots of things but mostly weather your chamber is larger or smaller than average, max loads may be seriously overpressure. That's why you always have to work up loads.
Jack
Jack makes an excellent point about working up a load. On the flip side of getting too extreme, there are dangers in "under-loading" powders as well. Reloading manuals have a low and a high. Because of the powder shortage issue, don't get cute by going too far under where the amount of powder is LESS than the halfway amount in a casing that is turned horizontally as upon ignition, gases will build up in the empty space above the powder rather quickly and can easily blow your rifle into pieces. Had a friend experience exactly that with a new Savage Model 12 (.223 caliber) and he'd been reloading for more than 40 yrs. So you see, reloading can be lots of fun, but has some inherent dangers you must be aware of. Good luck and welcome to the world of reloading and enjoy.
Alex
