What's up with Hodgdon Loading Data?

[Ron AKA]

I find the Hodgdon reloading data page very handy. You can find it here:

Cartridge Loads - Hodgdon Reloading Data Center - data.hodgdon.com

However in the last few days I see they have updated their data to includge their new powders. Great, except they have also updates some of their older data and switched from CUP to PSI. Also great except they have changed my favourite hunting load in my 264WM for 140 grains from 61 grains of 4831 to 55 grains! And, reduced the max velocity from the 3100 range down to 2853. This is less than what they list for 140 grain bullets in a 308. It is also only 100 fps better than the 260 Rem. It seems to be a bit of a joke. Could it be that they want to make their newer powders look good? They are not great either but better than what they list for the 4831. At 55 grains my barrel will last forever and ruin the reputation of the 264WM! Perhaps they want to put barrel makers out of business...

I shot a number of 62 grains of 4831 behind 140's yesterday and the primers looked as they always do. Good thing the powder does not read the loading data. Does anybody know if they really do any testing to generate these loads? Or do they just have a computer guy doing estimating? Or, worse still do they have the lawyers choose the loads?

In any case I have to consider this source of reloading data somewhat useless.

Ron

[reverend ron]

See chuckhawks.com/264mag

[irish murphy]

Is the powder you are using brand new stock?The manufacturers of powder advise loading changes when the burn rate of the latest batch is different.If you have old batch powder its probably alright.But maybe new stock batches of the same powder might have a different burn rate.

[Ron AKA]

Originally Posted by irish murphy

Is the powder you are using brand new stock?The manufacturers of powder advise loading changes when the burn rate of the latest batch is different.If you have old batch powder its probably alright.But maybe new stock batches of the same powder might have a different burn rate.

Many years ago I started out buying 4831 from the local gunshop. He bought it in bulk and sold it in brown paper bags for about $1.50 a lb.. I believe it was WW2 surplus machine gun powder.
More recently however I have bought the Hodgdon 4831, and yes I recall it was said to be not quite the same as the good stuff (in the paper bags!). I recall my old Lyman manual which was published back in the 60's listed 63 or 64 grains as the max load. More recently Hodgdon has listed it as 61 grains, with a reduction in velocity from the good old days. But this change to 55 grains has just come in the last week or so. I've seen nothing about them changing the 4831 product. Somewhere along the line they introduced a short cut version 4831SC, but I have never used it.

Ron

[samuel]

The load manuals I checked do vary from 56.8 to 63gr,s.You will find this variance in different load guides because one is using a different setup,like a no expansion chamber while the next may be minimum expansion and another is using 'out of the box' rifles.None have the same internal demensions and one may be using a 30lb test barrel with 0 expansion chamber, while the next is using a light hunting rifle with up to .006" case expansion.What I do in this case,(really in any case that I am building up a load.)is to pay attention to the minimum load and work my way up to a most accurate load.I just never seem to get to the max loads as when I get so far the loads start to loose accuracy and I find myself backing down again.The difference in ballistics between accuracy loads and where they start loosing accuracy is so slight in performance,I never notice.All of the shooting is done from a mechanical device or sandbags,for the best accuracy I can get.I like 5shot groups but some use 3shot groups which is ok.If you are doing what I call loose or natural shooting,then it would be advisable to pay strict attention to max loads.The SC or shortcut powder was to make extruded powders feed better in dispensers.The charge is the same for both.4831 is a good powder for high capacity cases and longer barrels,altho some new powder might be a tad better.Also,they didnt change burnrate in the 4831.There may be a slight difference between lot numbers but that is normal. sam.