Briman

Some people have actually tried such loads instead of going on theories and old wives tales. Slow burning rifle powder partially filling a case can cause detonation, but noone has ever duplicated the situation reliably. Using faster burning powders in rifle cases doesn't lead to the same theoretical problem, so long as the case isn't overloaded or double charged.

bigbulls

I'm just puting up information guys. Don't get all ruffled up.

Not everyone that visits these forums is as knowledgable about reloading as others here. And I certainly don't claim to be a reloading guru. I've only been doing it a very short time off and on.

Joe Blow could come here and see that people are using 18 grains of powder in a 270 for reduced loads and think ..... if he can do it so can I ...... and then BOOM.

Briman

Sorry if I sounded a bit gruff, I was in a hurry when I wrote the last post, often times the wrong emotions are relayed when the words aren't carefully picked. My apologies.

I have to put a disclaimer in that I didn't get in my last post. The powder was 2400. The load would be used with a cast bullet. I wouldn't recommend using it with a jacketed bullet. I've only started experimenting with cast loads about a year ago, but I have some acquaintances that are old timers that have been making their own bullets for decades who are my mentors. Loads in rifle cases using red dot, unique, or 2400 and a few others aren't going to be found in too many reloading books, though there are a few. Noneof these powders will detonate, but there is a serious danger to the inattentive reloader who double charges. An old man I shoot with did do this and blew up his beautiful new Ruger M77. Don't try something new or outside the bounds of the reloading manuals unless you have read up on what you are about to do or are knowledgeable about what you are doing.

Be safe.

Slamfire

The phenomenom has been duplicated in the laboritory and was reported in Handloader magazine. I'll look it up if you require the cite. What happens, once in a while, when using reduced loads of really slow burners is the primer impulse bumps the bullet into the leade where the rifling stops it. Then the burnig powder builds up pressure which can't go out the barrel due to the obstruction, and blows the brass case, this gas, inside the action, tears the rifle apart. Some rifles handle escaping gas better than others. So it is just a simple case of bore obstruction, like not removing the spider webbing from the barrel before pulling the trigger.

Charley

Folks, I understand the cautions, and have read the report many times. Detonation CAN occur, and it HAS ben duplicated in the labs. many of you seem to be mis-interpering the results of the study.
Again; DON"T TRY TO USE SLOW POWDERS FOR REDUCED LOADS!

Reduced loads are safe and useful with the proper powder.

You are right. That is why I cringe every time someone comes to the net, with NO knowledge of reloading, and says: "Hey, Bubba here. I've got my granpa's .30/06 and I'm gonna be getting a RBCLEE press. What powder do I use for making really hot loads? I've heard that reloading books have sissy loads 'cause of lawyers."

Someone always gives him a load, very often a top end load. Recipe for disaster, plain and simple. Folks, the net is a great resource, but only a resource. Buy a friggin reloading manual...actually, buy two of them! By manual, I mean Hornady's, or Lyman's od RCBS or Lee. A loadbook from a powder manufacturer isn't a loading manual, and it usually assumes a certain degree of safe loading practices and knowledge. If you don't have that knowledge, you can get into trouble damned quick. Read the bloody thing. THEN go to your 'putur and start asking questions.

With some powders (slow burners) and some cartridges (usually big volume cases), reduced charges are as dangerous, or more so, than over charges!

Getting back to Joe Blow, I ain't his poppa. Joe's gotta get some knowledge. If he doesn't spend a little time actually researching and studying, he's an idiot anyway, and I'm not going to assume any responsibility for his actions.

Rebel Hog

Hello Kelbro,



Listen to bigbulls,it will happen!....Be careful guy!!


KEEP ON ROOTING!!!!

bigcountry

You sure? The pressures can drop off very very sharply according to Hodgdon and not push a bullet out in rare cases and then cause the momentum is going down, you can get a spike? The smokeless is supposed to be under some pressure.

Kelbro, Hodgdon has out some nice reduced loads. Stick with thier data I suggest.