handi loading data help

[mtbugle]

i am going to start loading for my new barrels, in 204, 25-06, and 243.  question is with all talk of long throats and needing to seat long to get to .005 or so from lands in a lot of handi's calibers, are these some of them.  also any quirks pertaining to these for these caliber would be appreciated. i did load some for 204 last year and as yet not happy with accuracy. i was trying to stay at posted oal at that time. also if getting close to lands is 10% decrease in powder charge from previous safe load, a safe starting point. i did see in previous posts that 32 gr seems preferred bullet wt.  thanks for help in advance.

[quickdtoo]

Trying to reach the lands may be futile in some barrels with shorter, lighter bullets, may not be possible in some with even the longest/heaviest of bullets. Those that can't just load to SAAMI recommended COL and they shoot well anyway, Handi and Weatherby throats have a lot in common!!

One option is to use TSX bullets, they're long for their weight and don't need to be loaded to the lands for best accuracy, in fact, their recommendation is .050" off of the lands and seems to be a good place to start.

Tim

[mtbugle]

thanks, ill be trying to figure how far out it is to lands tonight, and wing it from there.

[Mac11700]

Handi and Weatherby throats have a lot in common!! 

While very true...this is not a good thing...nor is it supposed to be this way either..

If you have a good barrel...you will know it right away once you measure it...but...utilizing a 10% reduction from any of the starting loads in all the various current reloading manuals isn't a recommended practice either...

Loading into the lands can mean different things to different people and a-lot will be determined by how much contact you actually have with the lands and if it is full contact with all of them (completely around the bullet) ...or just partially...( touching only in 1 or 2 spots )...Also...this will be determined by how accurate you can precisely measure this contact...and..by how small of changes in seating depth your loading equipment will allow you to make and how accurately you can interpet these changes...A person can indeed load out to just where the bullet is making the slightest contact..and still utilize the published data with certain bullets..but this will depend entirely on the paticular bullet you wish to use due to the different compositions of the jacket material...and or any coatings used upon them and of your paticular barrel and it's internal dimensions...and lastly of the other components you have used...Since there are no 2 barrels that will give the exact same readings...changing only 1 component or having any dimensional change from what the original data was derived from will alter any data published...Sometimes this will be a-lot...other times hardly no changes at all from it...The point is one never really knows until they try...When in doubt...call either the powder manufactures..or the bullet manufactures...They are always willing to assist you...

I have had great luck with my 243 Bull barrel...although others have not...Same too for 4 of the 5 different 25-06 barrels I have owned...I have had no trouble with long throats..short throats..or any of the other problems many people have had with them...so...I count myself very lucky in this regard...I will recommend to you to follow all of the cleaning and preparation tips found in the FAQ's and then try some of the Combined Technologies Silver Ballistic tips in the 243/25-06...I and many others have had exceptional luck using these bullets...provided you shoot only these bullets from a perfectly cleaned bore...and shoot only them without mixing in shooting uncoated bullets while working up loads...I have found they have worked best using maximum published loads seated .003" off the lands in my guns...They may not in yours...so..follow the manufactures prescribed loads...and work up in small increments watching for any high pressure signs while doing so...I also utilize a chronograph while doing load development and highly recommend you to purchase one if you don't already have one...All hand loaders really need one to verify their data...otherwise they are just guessing what their velocities are...

Good Luck

Mac

[McLernon]

My 204 Handi is loaded to within .030 inches of the lands with at least one half diameter of bullet engagement in the case. I neck size only. I use 32 gr. Vmax over 30 gr BL-C(2). Most rifles shoot best at about .03 off the rifling.

Mc