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I did the same thing when I got pistol powders, ended up with Win WST (for light .40 loads) and N340 (for expensive 9mm lol) and again, those were the only powders on my list. Hope someday they start getting more in-stock and keeping them in-stock so I can get other powders to try out.
Still working on the .260 Remington barrel in my MWS. 20" barrel, 1/9 twist, rifle length gas system, ar-10 carbine buffer system.
The 120 AMax bullets are what I've found on the cheap (locally), and the gun seems to shoot them well. I won't post the pics again, but sub-MOA for ten rounds straight.
The first load was with 36.8gr of Varget. This was enough to extract and eject reliably, but it wouldn't pick up the next round. It also wouldn't lock the bolt back on the last round.
Today, I shot with 37.2gr Varget. Same thing, only it came out a little bit faster (duh!). The MV today hovered between 2840-2850fps. It showed no pressure signs. im trying to get this gun to reliably cycle, but I don't want a small nuclear explosion to do it.
that being said, at what sorts of MV should I start worrying about over pressure?
Just doing what I can to stay on this side of the dirt.
According to the Hornady 9th edition, you are past the max load at 37.2gn. They are listing a MV of ~2700 with a max load of 37.1gn Varget out of a 24" barrel. You can also check http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp which lists a max load of 39gn. Your call on testing the upper bounds or seeing if the gas system can be adjusted. Have you tried any factory ammo yet? That should give you a good indicator if the rifle is setup correctly.Originally Posted by TheBelly
Yeah, I worried about max load, but I'm not seeing any sorts of over pressure signs.... It's really weird. I see that hodgdon says that I can take it up a bit. That's why I'll try maybe 5 rounds at 37.5 gr.
i really think I better do more research before I get too excited about upping the charge too much.
Just doing what I can to stay on this side of the dirt.
200 rounds of 12 gauge.
Got my new turret all set up and reloaded my first round!
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"When law and morality contradict each other, the citizen has the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense or losing his respect for the law." -Frederic Bastiat
"I am a conservative. Quite possibly I am on the losing side; often I think so. Yet, out of a curious perversity I had rather lose with Socrates, let us say, than win with Lenin."
― Russell Kirk, Author of The Conservative Mind
Congratulations! How'd it turn out? Does it meet the specs you were aiming for?
I'll let you know when I get to the range! It looks identical to all the factory ammo I have. Kind of anti-climactic. Since I don't have a super accurate AR to shoot it out of, I'm reloading more for economy than perfect accuracy right now.
My Feedback
"When law and morality contradict each other, the citizen has the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense or losing his respect for the law." -Frederic Bastiat
"I am a conservative. Quite possibly I am on the losing side; often I think so. Yet, out of a curious perversity I had rather lose with Socrates, let us say, than win with Lenin."
― Russell Kirk, Author of The Conservative Mind
Nothing wrong with that. My first few rounds I too was a little shocked at how simple it was. Lots to learn up front, but then once you get your hands dirty, you realize how easy it is and wish you started earlier, right? And reloading for economy is what I do as well. I can load things MUCH cheaper than I can buy them, usually half the cost even. If/when I get a nicer rifle capable of excellent accuracy or that I care to get excellent accuracy out of, I'll buy some expensive bullets and load those with a chronograph. But for the time being, as long as it goes bang and not boom, I'm happy.
Decapped and swaged 2000 308's. Only 1000 more to go, I will be glad when this is all finished.
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