Guys, relatively new to reloading. This is the second load I've worked on and the first for 308.
I've got Hornady fired factory brass, H4895 and 168g TMK's. Shooting a Tikka t3x. I set up the ladder based on the book min/max from 41.0-43.8 grains. 3 shots each in .3 grain increments. My shoulder is sore today.
After putting them in charts, there is clearly a plateau/node at 42.2-42.8. The ES for all nine of those shots was 20 fps.
For the highest charge at 43.8, there was clearly no node. It was still a very steep curve on the chart. BUT, all three shots at 43.8 were within 2 fps - 2749, 2748, 2748. There was a scuff on one of the case heads showing a slight pressure sign. I've read all about the soft Hornady brass, but that's what I have and I'm going to use. I know there's better brass out there, but I've been saving Hornady brass for a while now from hunting and shooting and have a couple hundred cases. I don't know if one scuffed case head is enough to say the pressure is too high. There were no signs on the primers.
None of the individual charges in the node from 42.2-42.8 were as consistent as the charge at 43.8. Tighest ES from any one of those three was 12.
Obviously I'd prefer the faster load in 308. It gives me about 100 more yards for effective hunting range.
Should I go with the hotter, more consistent load or go with somewhere in the slower chart node.
I know that the right answer is "Do more experimentation." I'm hoping that somebody has been through this and can save me components and two more 60 mile trips to the range just for more load dev.
Thanks for any input. These forums have saved me a lot of wasted time and components.
I've got Hornady fired factory brass, H4895 and 168g TMK's. Shooting a Tikka t3x. I set up the ladder based on the book min/max from 41.0-43.8 grains. 3 shots each in .3 grain increments. My shoulder is sore today.
After putting them in charts, there is clearly a plateau/node at 42.2-42.8. The ES for all nine of those shots was 20 fps.
For the highest charge at 43.8, there was clearly no node. It was still a very steep curve on the chart. BUT, all three shots at 43.8 were within 2 fps - 2749, 2748, 2748. There was a scuff on one of the case heads showing a slight pressure sign. I've read all about the soft Hornady brass, but that's what I have and I'm going to use. I know there's better brass out there, but I've been saving Hornady brass for a while now from hunting and shooting and have a couple hundred cases. I don't know if one scuffed case head is enough to say the pressure is too high. There were no signs on the primers.
None of the individual charges in the node from 42.2-42.8 were as consistent as the charge at 43.8. Tighest ES from any one of those three was 12.
Obviously I'd prefer the faster load in 308. It gives me about 100 more yards for effective hunting range.
Should I go with the hotter, more consistent load or go with somewhere in the slower chart node.
I know that the right answer is "Do more experimentation." I'm hoping that somebody has been through this and can save me components and two more 60 mile trips to the range just for more load dev.
Thanks for any input. These forums have saved me a lot of wasted time and components.
