Author Topic: Question on a compressed load for a .308 (Read 575 times)

Carroll B · « **on:** February 21, 2005, 02:52:24 PM »

Went to BassPro today and a new Ruger M77 followed me home. I bought some Hornady 110 gr SP bullets, primers, 50 pieces of new .308 brass, and Hodgdon 380 powder. My loading manual calls for 49.0 to 55.5 gr of H380 for this bullet. It says the 55.5 load is a compressed load. I loaded 10 bullets with a charge of 50.0 grains and 10 with 52.0 grains of H380. It will probably be 2-3 weeks before I have a chance to shoot these and chronograph them. At a load of 52.0 grains the powder is within 1/8 of an inch of the top of the brass. How would you pour more in the casing in order to approach 55 grains? I never load at max powder charge but this has me puzzled since a lighter load fills the brass. I am measuring each load with a mechanical scale and double checked the scale. I have been loading pistol ammo but this is the first time in 25 years I have loaded rifle ammo and don't remember the powder completely filling the case like this. I believe last time I loaded for a 25-06 I was using 2400 powder and the case was about 3/4 full.

JBMauser · « **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2005, 02:59:08 PM »

I don't know the consistancy of the powder that you are using but I will share some methods with you. Some will hold their finger over the filled case mouth and rest the base on their brass tumbler. the vibration will shake/settle the powder down. I read of one guy who kept an old electric razor on his work bench for the same function. He just held the loaded cartridge on it to settle. Best of luck. JB

Curtis · « **Reply #2 on:** February 21, 2005, 05:23:30 PM »

I sometimes use a powder funnel with a long drop tube and dribble the powder in slowly after weighing each charge. It settles quite a bit when filling this way, but is time consuming.

Curtis

Carroll B · « **Reply #3 on:** February 22, 2005, 12:28:46 AM »

Thanks for the tips. JB I have the vibrating tumbler next to my reload bench plus I just bought a new electric razor. I'll try the tumber and also the razor method. It just concerned me to fill the case at the lower end of the powder charge range. It made me check the scale and the relaoding manual several times to make sure I wasn't over charging. I sure don't want the gun blowing up when I'm shooting.

smokey66 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 23, 2005, 02:27:16 AM »

one other thing to bear in mind. not all brass have the same capacity. it can vary slightly from brand to brand. you might try a few differenet brands of brass.....

Wlscott · « **Reply #5 on:** February 23, 2005, 04:17:30 AM »

I load a max charge of Varget for my .223's. Just poured through a funnel, this load will overfill the case completely. I use an extended drop tube, and jiggle the case as I'm pouring to get it all in there.

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #6 on:** February 23, 2005, 06:03:12 AM »

Ain't H 380 a ball powder? Drop tubes and vibrating do pretty good with stick powders, but not much with ball. You might gain a grain or two when you fireform the cases, though.

My Lee #2 shows a top of 53 grains.

Between brass variation, powder variation, and the general cussedness of life, you sometimes run into book loads that you just cannot duplicate at home. This may be one of those cases.

while99 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 23, 2005, 10:12:26 AM »

You didn't state what brand of brass you purchased nor what brand of brass your loading manual referred to. Capacity does vary among brands, somewhat. Also, if the new brass is manufactured to minimum specs, once it has been fired in your rifle's chamber it will have slightly more capacity. Like other posters to this thread, I've used a drop tube and vibrated cases in the past and that seems to help some.