One more worm for the can!
Back in the '50's, every loading bench didn't have a Chrony to help in any way and we had to think and take care of ourselves. Some of my Dad's friends swore by the manuals and the indicated velocities, and swelled primer pockets beyond belief on several occasions. We read everything that was available to us and pretty much stayed out of trouble.
We have used the same brass over time, plus added some new stock from time to time. Don't know of any brass that failed in as few as 10 loadings. Does that mean our pressures are low? I don't think so. The loads in my 8mm are from the 8mm-06 tables and COAL is the same as the 8mm-06. It does put elk down with authority and doesn't punish me in the process. After 20 years with the same load, Chrony said it was pushing a 200gr Nosler in the 2400fps catagory. Not Warp Speed but sure gets the job done. Wife#2 liked it so much she put it on the "her stuff" list when we got divorced. It stayed with me!
This load development didn't happen overnight and the brass just keeps asking for more. I"ve still got a half a box of the original Herter's box of ammo that we got in 1963 when we got that rifle. It's the only one that I know of in our family of rifles that has been what I consider extremely over pressured. One particular load dropped the spent primer on the ground at my feet. After the 2nd primer hit the ground, I was smart enough to pull the bullets on the rest of that batch. I was "working in my lab" and got a bit aggressive with some really fast powder. That Mauser action is tough. Period. Most of my rifle loads today can be found somewhere in the "range listed" in the Lyman #45 manual. Because "the book" said so? Heavens NO. Because the rifles said so! As stated by others here, I totally agree the manual is but a guide and one we need to READ, digest, and not take too lightly, BUT be ever so mindful that our rilfes are all different, they are entities unto themselves. When we let the rifles talk, they will, and we need to listen to the rifles, always tempered by the manuals, but not restricted to the manuals. The individual rifle has the last word.
IF I were starting reloading today, I would use the manual religiously and only after extensive experience, would I venture from reloading into handloading - where I am today - tailoring my loads for a specific rifle with a specific purpose. Contrary to what you may read, we all can't just go buy the "next bigger" cartridge available. We have to figure out how to make our rifles perform the way we need to have them perform - safely. Overtime, we learn what works for smaller game and what works for larger game. We may even figure we need to adjust our expectations, or limit our range. Neither of which are a problem to me.
I generally neck size rifle cases, but when I do full-length size, I am extremely careful NOT to touch the shoulder! Most of my rifles headspace on the shoulder, and when the case comes out of the rifle, that shoulder is where it needs to be - it is fireformed to fit the chamber. Don't want to mess with that dimension for best performance! There is virtually no difference between a chamber that is out of dimension and a chamber cut for a wildcat cartridge. The case has to fit the chamber. The sizing die needs to replicate the chamber, not necessarily what it's supposed to be. We tend to overwork our cases in the process of resizing and that work hardens the brass to the point of creating premature brass failures. Some of our brass dates back to 1954. The brass has never been annealed and keeps on sending projectiles downrange.
Upon reading the post concerning extrapolating powder charges downward - this can be an extremely exciting situation, depending on what powder you are using. Powders have a minimum pressure needed to burn properly, or pressures will spike. Hodgdon's states specifically that their 4895 will work at the 65% load density area. In his elder years, my Dad has taken a liking to reduced loads and shoots a lot of them. H4895 has served him well, BUT when he tried to do the same with some other powder, his Remington 722 got a new bolt! Pressures sky-rocketed! We all know why, and so did he...after. Never too old to learn or be reminded.
Experience is a great teacher, and a tough task master. We can learn a lot from reading the old masters, and, when they are being open, they will share some of the pitfalls they have experienced and how to identify them. I believe we can read our rifles, just as I believe we can and need to listen to them....let the rifles talk....give them the floor!
Hmm, maybe this was more than one worm.......
Regards,
Sweetwater