Ok first of all I am a new handloader. the only thing that I have relaoded so far is the 168SMK' s, which I have went up and down on the powder and changed the OAL around, I have mostly been using the OAL at about 2.85, and around 42Gr of Varget powder. Well I got these new Hornady SST bullets and wondere if it should be loaded at about the same as the SMK talked about above? I loaded 1 round with this SST which is a 165GR bullet and put 42Grains of Varget in it with a OAL of 2.85, do you think this is a safe starting load????If you shake the case it sounds compressed, no shake?

Also the crimp made around the bullet jacket is for crimping right? Well if I dont crimp then this means nothing correct? If I dont crimp then the crimp around the jacket wont matter where it sits since I could have the OAL where ever right?

Does anyone have the Hornady Manual? I dont I will get it but in the mean time if someone here has it can you put the Data on here?


Thanks

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Im sorry guys, I was not thinking straight..

.308

According to " Hornady Handbook of Reloading #5" the starting load is 32.6 grs. @ 2100 f/s; Max. 44.0 grs. @ 2600 f/s of Varget. When you change any component, one should start with starting load.

Yes. The cannelure around the bullet is used for crimping.

Yes. If you don' t crimp the cannelure it is insignificant for that round, but they are important in some applications.

Yes. An unused cannelure' s position on the finished cartridge will not do any harm.

If you get a chance and haven' t already, read up on cannelures and crimping. Good luck.

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Troy,

According to Hodgdon Maker of Varget, the 42g is starting for a Hornaday HDY SP. The SST is a little different though. It shows a compressed load for this setup at 46 g. and COL is 2.8, cup is 40,800. If you are concerned start lower with powder. COL concerns me mor than anything.

In my .308 I shoot the MARKIIVT, with 165 GK 42g 3031 and col of 2.85 for my gun. 5 shot groups @ 100 M is in a quarter, Factory gun, handload ammo!!!! I use a sinclair bullet comparator, it is great.

Dana

sounds to me like somenoe should have read a book about reloading before they got started.Might i make a suggestion?Go buy a reloading book like the one made by lee and read it cover to cover and tell us what answer you found.

you should always know as much as possible about something before attempting to go whole hog and get yourself killed.That is going bear hunting with 22 pistol and a jar of peanut butter!DUH!!!

WOW that is a super idea, buy books and learn more[:-]

Well iowabuckslayer, I have books and I have read the books before asking the question???????????????????????????

But these books are all not the same!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I have read on these forums not only here, but several on hte internet and there are so many people that have so many diffrent ideas, kinda like the books. The books not all have not exactly the same load data and so..

So I thought I would ask a simple question, which I learned on my own from my experiance. I did get a slight bit of help here and there.

Here is the books I have, the newist version from all..

Speer
Lee
Hornady
Sierra