Comparing 3 loads

[ReloadforFun]

Speer and Hornady specifically.

 

[alwslate]

Speer and Hornady specifically.

Really? Since they don’t list the pressures of their how do you know? Speer especially has lowered the data for .38 spl and .357 mag in recent years. Cheap import revolvers and J frame .357s and concerns about product liability are likely the reason. Their primary interest is not in providing handloaders near maximum handloads. The best manuals for the hand loader are probably Lyman. They provide pressures of all loads and provide data at least close to industry standards without exceeding them. The best manual for a hand loader is the one created by his own chronograph data. Manuals are just general guides not to be taken as gospel.

 

[ReloadforFun]

I worked there and ran the tests on the pressure gun. Just because they chose not to publish the pressure numbers does not mean the top loads are not at maximum.

The primary reason you see data lower than in the past is that measuring technology has improved.

Reloaders should have a chronograph - but that does not tell you pressure, but it does give you the performance of the loads in your gun.

 

[alwslate]

I have owned a chronograph since 1977 and I chronograph every single handload that I put together regardless of velocity and pressure level. With any handload that you use an appropriate powder and your velocity is in the range that is realistic for your ctg then you can be sure that pressures are within the normal range also.