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Reloading manual variances

tapwater
...Well, I posted it everywhere else, so why not here, too?..........


..OK, so my manuals are old, but this is way out of line.

#1...357 mag. 158 gr. JHP, 16.6 gr. of Win. 296 = 1610 fps
(from Win. data, 1976, which also stated that 296 was discontinued)

#2...357 mag. 158 gr. JHP, 17 gr. of Win. 296 = 1300 fps
(from the Hornady manual, 1987)

..Both are from 8 3/8" barrels. Of course manuals differ some, but this seems like an extreme case. My other older manuals don't list 296 powder, so I'm at a loss. Any thoughts guys?

..How about 18.2 gr. of 2400 with a 125 gr. JHP for 1500 fps. Anywhere near correct?
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Comments

3 comments

Date Votes
  • bpost
    All loads you listed were correct for the period the manual was published, but may not be valid for today's powder. It is still very prudent to load to the middle and work up. I've had a "few" loads that took a mallet to drive the empties out. Working up loads is fun. Keep pressure in mind as you change bullets and primers.

    Modern piezo transducer's measure very accurate chamber PSI. Those PSI figures would give the old time Copper units of pressure guys nightmares. Lawyers also play into the "worst case" scenarios.
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  • tapwater
    ..Thanks Bruce. I guess I really should break down and buy some more current manuals. I've been loading for about 30 years, but never used #296, and this seemed like an extreme case. .4 gr. more powder and 310 less fps.
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  • Warbirds
    When refering to old manuals and cross checking them with other old manuals, always err on the side of caution. And if you're not going to buy new books, go spend $70 on a chrono.
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