Hodgdon load data

S

shelton573

Active member
So I finished prepping all my 270 brass not too long ago and was going to load some 110 vmax over H4350 so I referred to my hornady manual as well as the the hodgdon site. Hornady has the starting load at 50.8 gr where hodgdon has the starting load at 54 gr. I would say hodgdon wouldn't post an unsafe starting load but just curious why they start much higher. Is it a situation where they wade through all the BS and say this is a safe and efficient load to start with to keep from wasting components? I know every manual differs but just curious before I start loading some up. I used hodgdons info for my 223 and didn't have any issues what so ever. What is everyone's opinion?

Shelton
 
It's not uncommon for loading data to vary from one manual to the next. I generally look at several different manufacturer's books to get an average.

For instance, Sierra V edition start listed IMR 4350 @ 48.3 Max = 55.3
Hornady 7th edition starts IMR 4350 @49.7 Max = 56.6
" " " " H 4350 @50.1 Max = 58.8

Hodgdon site shows start IMR 4350 @52.5 Max = 57.8
" ' " " H 4350 @54.0 Max = 57.0

Regards,
hm
 
So does that mean neither of you would trust their starting load? I see it quite often when people ask about starting loads for a certain caliber/bullet/powder etc. on quite a few sites, people will send them a link to hodgdon and tell them to start here. Just curious how reliable and safe it is. Thanks for the input and replies!

Shelton
 
Originally Posted By: fw707All of the Hodgdon starting loads I've checked have been higher than any of the other book loads.

Not always.
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On one of my Creedmoor loads, Nosler lists a starting load that is the same as the Hodgdon max load.
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Shelton, this is one of the FEW times that I suggest loaders to ask people for opinions and data. If 37 people tell you that they are loading XX.X of a certain powder in a certain caliber with a certain bullet and get no pressure signs it's a fairly safe bet that the load is OK. Of course, I'd take into consideration WHO the info comes from. Folks like DAA, 2muchgun, and a few others on here won't lead you wrong.

You're right ... the manuals can be frustrating at times.

I hate to confess this, but in a situation like you have here I have actually took the lowest recommended starting load that I could find, and loaded individual rounds going up 1/2 grain of powder until I got to the higher published starting load ... just to put my mind at ease.
 
Originally Posted By: shelton573So does that mean neither of you would trust their starting load? I see it quite often when people ask about starting loads for a certain caliber/bullet/powder etc. on quite a few sites, people will send them a link to hodgdon and tell them to start here. Just curious how reliable and safe it is. Thanks for the input and replies!

Shelton

Personally, I use Creighton Audette's Ladder Method of load development described HERE.

Starting out at or near min. load and loading one round ea. as described above helps determine certain "accuracy nodes" (often one will find more than one such node in a series) at which a slight variation in powder charge does not materially affect POI which allows me to throw powder charges w/confidence rather than weighing each and every charge.

Regards,
hm
 
I always the book, if I use horady bullets I would own a hornady book, I use barnes bullets so I use barnes book and that's what I go by. I have called Barnes a few times to find a powder that would match up on different calibers..I'm sure hodgen wouldnt post an unsafe load, i just prefer the books.. I did download a app for my tablet they get all there info from 3 different powder company has different bullets different grains different loads and powder, have never used any of that data but worth a look to compare to the books, also comes with a calculator..
 
Hidalgo:

Thanks for the info! I will try to start a thread about a general the 110 load and see what the general idea is, or if anyone wants to post it here or PM me that would work. Also, when working up like you were talking, you just did one load of each to check for pressure? I do like the idea of that just to be safe.

hm1996:

Thanks for the info and the link! I will read into the process. I have heard people reference it before but did not know the heck they were talking about.

Shawn:

Thanks for the reply! I hear ya on trusting the books. I leaned on the books for the most part on my 22-250 because it was specific to the 50gr vmax. The main reason I was curious about this exact load is because Hodgdon's test bullet in the 110 weight was the Hornady hollow point which shares the same load data as the vmax. Since I am a newbie at this I tend to overthink things which i guess is a good thing most times! You care to share the app that you have? Be nice to have for reference info.

Thanks again!

Shelton
 
I don't know how to post it. I hate technology lol. But I went to the Google play thing typed in reloading and came up reloading assistant, has a lot of data you can pick rifle pistol shot gun what caliber it didn't have data for 204 though so I don't know why.
 
The play store not Google play, came loaded on my tablet when I got it, I believe its a standard thing ts was on my wife's phone as well
 
Originally Posted By: shawn@moI always the book, if I use horady bullets I would own a hornady book, I use barnes bullets so I use barnes book and that's what I go by.

While I am the first to emphasize safety and double-checking stuff, I think you might be "over-doing" it in that regard. Yes, there are probably a few bullets out there that might raise pressures more than others, but unless you're already on the verge of destruction a simple bullet change (staying with same weight) is not going to cause you a problem. Seating depths are likely to have more impact than bullet designs.

In general, ALL reloading data is generic by bullet weight and powder type so the source of your info is largely irrelevant and adding more manuals accomplishes little for safety. The greatest change any of us can make to any book load is the firearm it's used in and that's a difference we can't avoid. Only we can judge if a charge is safe in our rig, that's why EVERY manual tells us to start low and slowly work to book max only if we have no excess pressure signs earlier.

Most loads are safe so we would never see any difference in bullet types but we can't casually swap components without confirmation. So, if you change ANYTHING in an established load, drop down a bit and only work back if signs allow. Otherwise you will be trusting to luck for your safety and that ain't smart.

Bullets normally totally seal the powder in the bore so flat tail or boat tail or goat tail really won't matter if the diameter is correct to start with.

 
I'm sorta new to this as well, I've done it for 3 years now,but I don't reload for match shooting only for hunting purposes, imnot one to sit and play around just to make and shoot up shells, I don't go out exploring on my own I stick to the books, I load a shell in the middle never push to the max, just myself don't feel comfortable doing that. This is how I learned,and maybe I shouldn't have said I use 1 book for whatever bullet..I do have a Lyman book that I have used, but since I'm not a old pro I feel co mfortable using the book of the bullet, they have tested those bullets to that powder, so if you do have as problem you can call or a question call and they know because they are The ones they shot it.. Barnes company are really good about that... I find one load I'm comfortable with and am OK with the easy it shoots that's what I stick with. I don't go for speed I go for accuracy as far [beeep] I know a deer yotes whatever I may be shooting ast can't run 900 feet per second to 3000 feet per second. If the load I like is the 1st one I make I stick with it maybe a better one but if it isn't brokernwhy fix it right
 
Originally Posted By: shawn@moWhy did it put beep,I didn't say a anything bad?? Huh wierd

you double tapped the s key when typing as
 
Originally Posted By: larrOriginally Posted By: shawn@moWhy did it put beep,I didn't say a anything bad?? Huh wierd

you double tapped the s key when typing as

LOL. That will do it every time.
 
Always good to look at a couple of different references when starting out.
Something else to consider is that if you are looking at a CAN/Bottle of Hodgdon powder and going by that data, that is the MAX suggested for that particular bullet weight.
FWIW- if you can find Sierra load data, IME, accuracy loads they give have been very close.
 
Manuals and published data are only guides. It's been said countless times. Always pay attention to the your firearm and how the pressure is being handled. The max in each book is only max for the rifle or test barrel being used. Yours could be significantly lower or higher than what the book says.
 
Originally Posted By: HidalgoOriginally Posted By: fw707All of the Hodgdon starting loads I've checked have been higher than any of the other book loads.

Not always.
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Yes.
Always.
 
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