Reload Manuals

[butterman]

Hi , I'm trying  another way of loading my 338 win. mag. I want to load at the start load suggested in the manuals for less recoil , but still a lot more power than say a 30-06. this way  I can Practice more.    My problem is 3 manuals will say start at say 61 gr. and 2 manuals will say 67 gr. and the 2 manuals that say 67 give the same vel. as the 61 gr.  they also give pressure readings of 40-43,000 range , so if I load the 61 gr. loads am I going to get detination     Who do you belive?    I would'nt worry so much but 6gr. differance is alot right ?

[JBMauser]

Minimum data as well as max data will varry depending on the barrel they used in their test.  If you load to published data at minimum it will go bang.  The problem you can get into is if you go much below the published minimum as then it can go BOOM.  Pick up a Lee Modern handloading manual.  He has an excellent chapter on reduced loads.  Cast bullets will yield less recoil as they squirt out of the barrel so to speak.  Less resistance, less recoil, geat accurary. 
Best of luck.. JB
 

[PaulS]

Hi , I'm trying  another way of loading my 338 win. mag. I want to load at the start load suggested in the manuals for less recoil , but still a lot more power than say a 30-06. this way  I can Practice more.    My problem is 3 manuals will say start at say 61 gr. and 2 manuals will say 67 gr. and the 2 manuals that say 67 give the same vel. as the 61 gr.  they also give pressure readings of 40-43,000 range , so if I load the 61 gr. loads am I going to get detination     Who do you belive?    I would'nt worry so much but 6gr. differance is alot right ?

I have never had a problem with any starting load - even the ones that seemed too low - aslong as I followed the data precisely. That means the seated length as well as everything else. I have had a problem when I attempted to seat the bullet out close to the lands. A very dangerous "detonation" that might have injured me and destroyed my rifle but for my guardian angel and the grace of God.

[Questor]

The bullets that are used could be the big factor here. Bullets for the 300 magnums have quite a range of lengths, including the length of the bearing surface that makes contact with the bore. Primer selection makes a difference too.

My suggestion is to use the starting load for a bullet like the one you want to use from the Speer manual. Follow their data and I expect you will get results very compatible with what you find in the manual. This is because Speer uses real guns for their testing.

You probably don't want a true reduced load because that implies a really large drop in velocity-- like down to 2000fps. You are probably asking for one that is like 30-06 and doesn't kick as hard as a 300 magnum. The starting loads will give you that property. Knocking a couple of hundred feet per second off the maximum load's velocity makes a very noticeable difference in recoil.

[butterman]

Thanks Questor :  I need to go back and look at what gun the manuals are shooting , a regular rifle
should be  OK , All I am looking for is the redused recoil so I can Plink  more , more like 2400 fps.   Thanks.