Posted: 1/7/2015 6:44:04 PM EDT
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Hey guys and gals I have a few reloading question about the 300 AAC Blackout.
I thought I would solicit your help. I have been loading the Hornady 30 Cal .308 110gr V-Max #23010. I have been using Hodgdon H110 powder of 17.5 grains. The bullet velocity is about 2100 feet per second. This round and load meets my expectations. Now on another note I have also been re-loading the Nosler Armageddon 30 Cal .308 110 gr #34057. I have been using Hodgdon H110 powder of 17.0 grains. The bullet velocity is about 2121 feet per second. This round and load also meets my expectations. This information I have stated above is from the Re-loading books from the bullet manufactures. Now what I want to do is load the Speer Hot Cor Soft Point 30 Cal .308 110 gr #1855 into the Blackout case. I have contacted Speer tech engineers and they say they have no tested load data for this round for the Blackout. Does anyone have any load data they have been using with this Speer bullet? If you compare the bullets the bullet weights are 110 grain also above you will notice the powder load is about the same, also the feet per second is close. The Hornady is a Vmax and the Nosler is FB tipped. The Speer is a soft-point. What are your thoughts about using the load data from Hornady or Nosler for the Speer bullet? I still want to use the Hodgdon H110 Powder. Any data that you have been using or any thoughts would be appreciated. I think this bullet would be a great for the Blackout if some load data could be developed. Talking with the Speer tech he was not sure when tested load data would become available for the Blackout. Mind you I’m not one to steer away from the Bullet manufacture books. This Speer Bullet seems to be available most of the time. The bullet seems to be of high quality. Thanks. Joe |
I've loaded 150 gr Hornady Interlocks with 17 gr W296 (same as H110) and Magnum primers to 1800 fps in my 8 inch. Works just fine. I get better accuracy seating them to 2.20 inch rather than at the cannelure. I won't say it should be ok, Im not a ballastician and I didn't stay at a holiday Inn express last night. 
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| At 17.5 grains of H110 you are on the low end of the scale for 110 grain bullets. Try a few of the new Speers at 17, and if they are accurate enough, and cycle, you are good to go. If you want to push them a little you could work up from there. I run most of my 110's at 19 grains of H110. The Speers do appear to be a little on the short side, so you may have trouble with feeding. |
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Ive run 110gr Vmax's at 19gr's with Win 296/H110. They are accurate, but it seems like its right up against it for the top end. Just starting to see primer flattening with Federal AR Match primers. I would imagine that at 17gr the Speer soft point would be fine over 17gr.
Go take a look at 300 Blackout forums: 300blktalk.com Lots of good load data there in the handloading forum. |
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Compare the bearing surface length of the Speer bullets with the Hornady and Nosler bullets. If the length is similar, you shouldn't have any major problems substituting the Hot Core bullets. Just make sure you work up your load as you did for the other bullets. While bearing surface is a big deal, there can be smaller, but significant issues like jacket thickness and toughness, that change how your barrel deals with the different bullet.
I'm not loading 300 Blackout for "precision" by any means. I just finally got to test out my 8" upper, and I used Sierra's 110gr Varminter bullet for one of my loads - it worked very well with H110 and with Lil' Gun. I also used Sierra's data to work up a load for 110gr .308" RN FMJs intended for .30 Carbine, with also excellent results. The point is that if the bearing surface isn't too far off, you can START with a different bullet and make smart reloading decisions based on how the bullet and cartridge perform. |
| I think you are overthinking this. Provided the bullet is .308 and it weighs 110g I would start with the starting load and go from there. Provided there are not gross differences in the bullet shapes you are going to be more than fine. I would try the same load you have been using. |