Mike,
You are one software crazy kind of guy!

Here is the page from the Speer #8 manual that "THE LOAD" has been taken from. Again, thanks to Paul who has so generously scanned them so we can have a digital copy of them.
"THE LOAD" for some was the begining of the data for the 158grain LSWC. I too used that bullet ONLY it was a home cast, home lubed one. My powder charge was in keeping in my normal approach to new data. I struck out for the mean value and hit it!


Again, I'm not recommending this at all. I just shot it and have given a report. Use at your own risk.

Mike,

I suppose you noticed the use of psi was almost an exclusive with IMR powders?

I think you'll also notice the pressures reported and the primer appearances don't agree too well. I'm referring to the primers of the H110 loads you posted and the primers of the SR 4756 loads I posted.

Jim, I looked at this data one bullet at a time. Didn't see much more in it than what can be derived from table itself. Understand your concern about sources and over-conservatism. The only reason I used Hodgdon data for this view is that it's easy to download it. I don't put any more or less trust in it then in e.g. bullet's manufacturer's data. Could you provide a link to THR discussion you've mentioned?

Skip, when a guy named smith crazy calls you crazy you know you need help...

On a serious note. Thank you and understood. I do not read anything published in the forums as recommendation - just reporting with varying degree of reliability. For their and my own sake I do hope that noone reads anything more in my posts either.

Paul,yes, I did see it. It's a part of the reason I thought that chart deserves to be posted. Still wondering why max pressures are SO different.

Had a chat with very knowledgable gentleman today who sells moderately priced ($500) strain pressure gauges - www.shootingsoftware.com. The conversation deserves a separate post, but one thing he said is relevant to our primers discussion. His advice was: if I am concerned that my primers look flat - change the brand of primers and find those that don't. He doesn't put much faith in reading primers either...

Mike

Primers definitely don't tell all. Here's a WLP in 41mag.



Here's the rest of the case.

Pinky,

I doubt very seriously that there was too much pressure on that case. I've had the same thing happen on several Starline .360 DWs and they never responded to an email I sent on the matter. Of course, I also got some head separations to go with the split cases. It's the only brand I've had that problem with in the .357 Handi rifle.

Thanks for the info, Paul. When I fired that one it felt no different from the others. Had a modest charge of AA2 under a 215lswc. I was surprised when I had to beat the case out of the cylinder. The gun looks fine.

+1

I had 4 or 5 357 mag cases with a crack that looked almost same. Rounds were charged with 4.2 gr. TG under 125 gr. plated bullet, i.e. low end of 38 spl range. The brass (S&B) was on it's 6th reload cycle though and had quite a bit of thickening at the rim.

--M

quote:

Skip, when a guy named smith crazy calls you crazy you know you need help...

Yes, but the question that begs to be asked is this: "If you really are crazy, do you know it?"

Pinky,

I added a picture of the Starline ruptures on my previous post. One was in the side, just like what you had. Out of that batch of brass, of which I've only used about 25, I've had at least 6-8 of these incidents. People always want to brag on Starline, but I've had other than stellar service from this lot of brass.

That case was either new or once-fired. I loaded both in that batch. Day in, day out I prefer Win brass. Goes through the dies better.

quote:

Yes, but the question that begs to be asked is this: "If you really are crazy, do you know it?"

Crazy? Who's crazy?

Great pic!

Let me see. What is that old saying? If I weren't so old I could remember it.

It goes something like "One picture is worth....."

Wish I could remember the rest.

Something about words though.

Someone help me out!

quote:

Yes, but the question that begs to be asked is this: "If you really are crazy, do you know it?"

Bro. Crazy I am not sure. If a fellow was to be sitting watching rats come out of a button hole on his shirt do you think that would be an indicator all is not well upstairs. Please advise soon.........Bro. Nutty

Guys,

Sorry I have been out of the discussion, but if you look up handloader volume 62 pg 66 they discuss "the load" and how it works. Then again, they revisit it again in volume 64 pg 66.

Very interesting discussion. I would not due it justice to summarize here but you can easily buy the issues on DVD if you are interested.

Finally if you really want some hot loads, try issue 58, pg 30 to 34. They will make "the load" look "the lame".