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Posted: 12/9/2008 6:40:58 PM EDT
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I was loading up some .45 tonight (230 gr FMJ-RN over Titegroup) and just got to thinking...Hodgdon and Richard Lee's manual list the max load for this combo at 4.8gr and Hornady 7th Ed. lists max at 5.2gr. That's a .5 grain difference, so what if you were to load to 6gr? Kaboom, maybe?...or not even close due to all parties lowballing for liability purposes? I'm not condoning loading over max, just wondering what the real max load might be...another 10%, 15%, etc. Thoughts?
I'm quite obviously bored...and mistakingly loaded 200 rounds to 6 grains 
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It depends on what you're loading for, actually. The max load is usually calculated but occasionally determined through experimentation, and reflects the pressure in the chamber. If you use a barrel other than what your manual publisher used, your results will vary. I am not familiar with your caliber but I reload a lot for 223, and one example is the difference between 5.56 and 223 Rem. They're almost identical but the latter has a chamber with a slightly lower volume, so pressure tends to be higher in a 223 than in a NATO barrel. That means that if you are loading 5.56 with a "max load" calculated for a NATO chamber, you should probably not put that ammo in a 223 rifle.
So I guess the short answer to your question is, depending on what you are firing and what Hodgdon, Lee, and Hornady used, you could be exceeding your barrel's rating with any of those numbers. Or you could be well below it. And I'd bet real money they have a safety factor in there like you suggested, but I have no idea what it is. You have a couple reloading manuals. Maybe somewhere in the tiny print they describe how they come at "max load." My description above comes from what I remember reading in my Sierra manual and from asking around gun shops. |
| Thanks Sarge...I edited my original post. I have gone as high as 5.1 grains with Titegroup with no noticeable ill effects. I did notice that Hornady lists the COAL at 1.230, while the other list it at 1.200...could that account for the more generous max load listing (more case volume)? |
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Does anyone commercially manufacture +P with a 230 gr bullet? I always see it in the 185-200gr variety.
ETA...Disregard, just found this: http://www.realguns.com/Commentary/comar95.htm |
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