hardcastonly

I've never seen the logic in trying to hand load any given cartridge to produce its maximum possible performance,
by running it up to its max potential pressure, or in some cases pushing hard on those stated max pressure levels.
yes I might be in the minority, but Ive never felt getting that extra potential, last 75 fps-150 fps you might have gained,
got you much more than increased recoil and stress on the gun.
I've generally just looked into the options and selected and purchased a slightly more potentially powerful cartridge,
or a similar cartridge and firearm designed to operate at higher pressures,
and then selected an accurate load at or marginally below factory pressure levels,
its generally safer and far less stress on the firearm,
an example
several of my friends back in the 1970s purchased siamese Mausers that were converted to 45/70 ,
that were then commonly available rather cheaply, (under $170 ) back then,
and then loaded those rifles to pressure levels that made me cringe,
yeah, it worked and no one I know of blew-up the converted Mausers.
but they were using loads of imr 3031 under cast 360-385 grain bullets,
that were a few grains over the suggested max listed in the manuals posted at the time and getting 2100 fps or a bit more.
yeah, it can be done but it results in a fairly light rifle that has significant recoil and for what?
the power far exceeds the need for even hunting thick timber elk!
but for about 20 years this was hardly a rare occurrence among the guys I hunted with.
personally I figured I valued my safety a bit more and I was willing to spend a bit more cash and carry a bit heavier rifle,
so I looked around and purchased a Ruger #1 in 458 win,
but even with that rifle I hand loaded 420-grain gas check bullets to about 1900 fps, as that's where I found the best accuracy.
and you certainly did not need more power,
another, common fad at the time was to purchase a Ruger single-action revolver in 45 colt and try to hand load it to over 1000 fps,
with 19 grains of 2400 under a 250-grain cast bullet, and yes again I've seen it done but it makes me a bit nervous,
I just stuck to a 44 mag and 20 grains of h110 under a 300 grain cast gas check bullet
how many guys deliberately download larger cartridges?