powder...... how low can you go?

[bnewc75]

As I understand it, in gerneral when starting a new loads we should be at least 10% under max loads but how low can one go when starting up a new load 15% 20% under max?

let me rephrase my question

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I have been and will continue to stay within the recommended load paramites established set in my nosler, hornaday, and speer manuals............. just wondering how much tolerance typically has been added to low end recommendations for safety sake?

 

[n4zov]

If you are referring to handguns, I don't think there is any established limit on how low you can go except you have to enough velocity to get the bullet out of the muzzle and not have it stuck in the bore! Of course, you want enough velocity to function autoloaders. Frankly I don't see much need to reduce starting loads by more than 10% unless you have an older gun that is questionable with modern loads. However some powders such as 296 caution against reducing loads at all!

In the old NRA Handloading Handbook published back in the 60's there was something about greatly reduced loads, but I cannot remember the details. I will check and see if I still have my copy.

 

[jbouwens]

Ah be careful, The 500 mag with H-110 powder and a load posted at the low end WILL squib on you. I found this out the hard way, You would think a mag primmer would set off 38 grains of H-110 but the bullet travels about three inches (not good for a six inch gun) I usually start a load out at the low end of the posted specs and go up from there. Of course not all calibers are equal (for that matter neither are guns) so looking at multiple resources and make your loads accordingly. I have seen so pretty low powder charges listed here on the forum (I shake my head saying to myself "wow that's low") quite often. I don't load any crazy low loads-- I like to feel the bullets leave the gun- especially in my speed guns (model 10s), I saw a guy stack up four bullets in his barrel before he stopped to check why he was "missing" the steal, It turned out good--gun was fine but he was shooting something like 2.9 grains of Winchester 231 behind 158 swc bullets. I shoot the same steal with a 4.0 grain load. He has shot since Christ was a Corporal but the low load almost cost him a gun or worse. Take care not to go too low.

 

[handgunner356]

Unless you have a crony and work down slowly I'd never go lower than the 10%. The loadings offered are on the safe side anyway and you could go too light pretty easily. Any change in componts can throw off the results also. Usually as I work my way down untill I find extreme variations in velocity, 100fps or more before I run into squibs. I move back up on my charges as soon as I see that happening.

 

[OKFC05]

These guys are right. There is NO general rule other than stay within the start/max loads from at least one (preferably 2) reputable manual.

Some powders will bite you big time if you start to experiment.

 

[TSQUARED]

With the faster burning powders such as American Select, Clays, WST, or Bullseye I have been able to get very mild loads with lead or plated bullets and reduced loads. I would not reduce very much with the medium burning powders like Unique and not at all with the slow burners like W-296.

 

[bnewc75]

let me rephrase my question

I have been and will continue to stay within the recommended load paramites established set in my nosler, hornaday, and speer manuals............. just wondering how much tolerance typically has been added to low end recommendations for safety sake?

 

[NAYTH]

There is a rare occurrence that can happen with very light loads in larger cases; it is called "Case Detonation".

Basically what happens is that the powder flashes over and reaches maximum CPU in the increased unfilled area of the case, before the bullet starts to move. The results are quite "entertaining" to say the least; blown cylinders usually result. I have seen older loading manuals address this problem and recommend case fillers or wads when charging "squib-loads".

Nayth

 

[HAWKEYE10]

My Lyman manual has a high and low for
pistol. The danger being that at low FPS a
half jacketed bullet can separate and some can
stay in the barrel. Don

 

[fredj338]

As I understand it, in gerneral when starting a new loads we should be at least 10% under max loads but how low can one go when starting up a new load 15% 20% under max?

Except for the really slow burning ball powders like W296/H110 maybe AA#9, you can go lower until the bullet sticks. IMO, loading mousefarts loads has no real point, just shoot a 22lr & be done with it.

 

[canoe on the yukon]

As I understand it, in gerneral when starting a new loads we should be at least 10% under max loads but how low can one go when starting up a new load 15% 20% under max?

A lot depends on the components in question but as a general rule,if you're going below a reasonable level,you're far better off in using a faster powder.I see a lot of examples on the forum of reloaders using what in my opinion is "too little"powder in their quest for greater versatility.

Every powder has a sweet spot where it performs as intended.While too much is a big no no,too little will,at best,be ineficient.If one insists on dropping the velocity even lower than a recommended starting load,a faster powder is usually the answer.