Working up a new load.

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   I finally got to the range to try out my first handload in many years for my #4.
The load was PrviPartizan once fired brass, CCI #200 large rifle primers, IMR 3031 powder & a Hornady 150 Gr spire point (flat base) bullet.

I was looking for a 150 gr load that would be pretty much middle of the road for velocity, but accurate. In the Savage made #4 Mk1* with a 2 groove barrel.

Checking various manuals I came up with a starting load of 40.0Gr powder. The cases were full length resized, and the dies were set up to give me minumal resizing in the chamber of this exact rifle.

Here's the chrono data for 2 X 5 shot strings.

String #1.
Velocity: 2458, 2491, 2526, 2481, 2522.
Avg: 2514, ES 67.1, SD 27.2.

String #2.

Velocity: 2464, 2444, 2482, 2519, 2509.
Avg: 2483, ES 74.8, SD 31.0.

Accuracy @ 100yds was about average for the same ammo when factory new (3 1/2").

This is a little more spread than I was hoping for, so I'm thinking of backing off slightly on the powder charge to give me 2450 as an average.

Also the charges were thown in my old Lyman measure & I've been reloading for .308 using ball powder, and a different measure, so I think I may need to get some practice with this measure & stick powders in an attempt to make the thrown charges a little more consistant.

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
Shamu Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 20510	Post Options Post Reply Quote Shamu Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Working up a new load. Posted: October 20 2007 at 6:46pm
	I finally got to the range to try out my first handload in many years for my #4. The load was PrviPartizan once fired brass, CCI #200 large rifle primers, IMR 3031 powder & a Hornady 150 Gr spire point (flat base) bullet. I was looking for a 150 gr load that would be pretty much middle of the road for velocity, but accurate. In the Savage made #4 Mk1* with a 2 groove barrel. Checking various manuals I came up with a starting load of 40.0Gr powder. The cases were full length resized, and the dies were set up to give me minumal resizing in the chamber of this exact rifle. Here's the chrono data for 2 X 5 shot strings. String #1. Velocity: 2458, 2491, 2526, 2481, 2522. Avg: 2514, ES 67.1, SD 27.2. String #2. Velocity: 2464, 2444, 2482, 2519, 2509. Avg: 2483, ES 74.8, SD 31.0. Accuracy @ 100yds was about average for the same ammo when factory new (3 1/2"). This is a little more spread than I was hoping for, so I'm thinking of backing off slightly on the powder charge to give me 2450 as an average. Also the charges were thown in my old Lyman measure & I've been reloading for .308 using ball powder, and a different measure, so I think I may need to get some practice with this measure & stick powders in an attempt to make the thrown charges a little more consistant.
	Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)

Smokey Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: May 11 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 806	Post Options Post Reply Quote Smokey Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: October 20 2007 at 6:55pm
	You might get better accuracy by increasing the charge slightly.

Shamu Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 20510	Post Options Post Reply Quote Shamu Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: January 25 2008 at 7:44am
	Well a friend is giving me 60 once-fired Igman .303 brass. I think I'll use some of them as a test bed for upping the load slightly. I'm thinking of 10 rounds at 40.5 Gr & 10 more @ 41.0 Gr. I don't want to go much beyond this, so I'm thinking whichever of the 40.0, 40.5, or 41.0 Gr loads works best for accuracy, and consistancy will be the "standard" I'll use. Of course if I didn't have flipping Bronchitis, and it was a bit warmer than 9 degrees, I'd be right on it. As it is I'll get the loads done when I feel 100%, and wait for spring to test them
	Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)

allan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: March 11 2006 Location: Dapto-Australia Status: Offline Points: 1924	Post Options Post Reply Quote allan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: January 25 2008 at 8:27am
	hope ya get better soon mate, so's ya can get onto the project.
	'SAVIOUR OF OUR SKIES BOYO!'

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: January 25 2008 at 5:52pm
	Looking back through Old data I loaded back in my Early days of reloading the .303 with 3031 with 150 gn projectiles I went as low as a starting load of 34 gns through to about 41.2 .I have a listing in my notes as 37.5 being a accurate load ! This would of been data I used in my 1902 MkIII. Dave

Cookie Monster Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Joined: January 22 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 7510	Post Options Post Reply Quote Cookie Monster Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: January 25 2008 at 10:12pm
	Dave I have used simular loading with IMR 3031 worked very well

SW28fan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: July 02 2007 Location: Texas Status: Online Points: 3389	Post Options Post Reply Quote SW28fan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: January 26 2008 at 1:13pm
	I have had good results with H-414 and the Hornady 150 gr and the 174 gr. Though a Lady Shooter swears by a load I make for her the 150 grain on 22 grains of SR 4759 for a velocity of 1800 fps but almost no recoil. Hey it gets a Female shooting in our Vintage rifle matches. It also is very accurate in my two groove No4 Mk1 (no bloody *) Longbranch. I haven't tried it a 200 yards yet.
	Have a Nice Day If already having a nice day please disregard

Shamu Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 20510	Post Options Post Reply Quote Shamu Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: January 28 2008 at 9:56pm
	Maybe I need to look at some milder loads as well! I'll add a batch at 37.0, 37.5, & 38.0! Never hurts to learn from the experience of others. Somewhere back in the foggy depths there is a bell ringing about Dave's 37.5 Gr. If only I'd kept better records back before the flood when I reloaded for the Enfield............................................................. Thanks, guys.
	Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)

Smokey Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: May 11 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 806	Post Options Post Reply Quote Smokey Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 03 2008 at 7:36am
	I remember I got excellent results using the Hornady 150gr spire point (0.3125) over 36gr IMR3031. Extremely mild and quite accurate. No idea what the velocity was.