oal 75gr .223

[Appleseed]

This is similar to a question by diesel tech, although I do not have a gauge to check the chamber depth. I am loading 75gr hornady bt/vmax bullets. I used a dummy sized case and enlarged it a bit, left it long and chambered it letting the bullet hit the lands and seat. It did this with no tension on the bolt.

OAL is 2.42" but it is seated so little, there could be run-out, loading data says use 2.25" oal. I'm wondering if I can drop the depth 0.10" off the 2.42" and go with that to start load development, or should I run it on in? These are long narrow shouldered bullets so i'm concerned about seating against the lands.

[dcloco]

A - always start at the bottom of the charge weight.

B - I like to start 0.020" off the lands. Some bullets like to be closer, some like to be further off the lands.

[Appleseed]

.020" off will be about the listed oal from the hodgen data table, 3 powders are all at about 22 grains for this bullet. Would that indicate the highest load or the optimum?
Got it on their website.

[LG]

I believe Hodgdon website shows both starting loads and maximum loads for every bullet/powder combo listed.

[Appleseed]

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

One tried is a little less than their low end. It is accurate. See the heavier loads to the right now but haven't tried any. How much less is safe?

[Appleseed]

Happy to be mistaken...dropped back a grain under max listed load and shooting small groups. So far, this barrel likes loads on the lower end. Did the same with 55gr.