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 10 Recommendatons for reloading 180 grain sp for Krag (Read 15487 times)
Century2
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Re: Recommendatons for reloading 180 grain sp for Krag
Reply #15 - Nov 15th, 2011 at 8:10pm
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I have wondered too about the factory loadings. If that load book is the same as mine, it will show that 46gr of IMR 4350 will get a 180gr bullet to 2460fps in a 30” barrel (Nosler, Pg 10). I have read that Winchester and Remington factory loads clock-in for 30” in the 2440 to 2480 range so that Nosler load looks to be trying to match the factory loads. One thing for sure: They beat up the brass pretty bad and I have never duplicated such with my own loadings. You sure won’t see me shoving 46 grains of 4350 into my brass!
  

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Parashooter
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Re: Recommendatons for reloading 180 grain sp for Krag
Reply #16 - Nov 15th, 2011 at 11:22pm
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Personally, I put a good bit of faith in IMR's pressure-tested data for IMR powders. This from an ancient DuPont-era booklet -

.30-40 KRAG
WIN. CASE; WIN. 8 1/2-120 PR
REM. 180 GR. SPCL
.308" DIA.; 25.5" BBL.; 3.00" C.O.L.

Powder Grains Vel. C.U.P.
SR 4759 24.0 1940 39100
IMR 4227 23.0 1900 37800
IMR 4198 29.5 2150 39800
IMR 3031 38.0 2375 39300
IMR 4064 41.0 2435 39000
IMR 4895 35.5 2270 38800
IMR 4320 35.5 2210 38100
IMR 4350 46.0C 2445 38700
IMR 4831 49.0C 2425 35900

C=Compressed load

Oddly enough, the same data is currently on the Hodgdon website but with a Speer bullet and longer OAL. They have, however, removed the data for 4227 and 4198 - neither of which are particularly well-suited for this application anyhow.

Cartridge:       30-40 Krag
Load Type:       Rifle

     Maximum Loads
     
Bullet Weight (Gr.)      Mfg.      Powder      Bullet Diam.      C.O.L.                       Grs.      Vel. (ft/s)      Pressure      
180 GR. SPR GS SP       IMR       IMR 4831       .308"       3.090"                      49.0C       2425       35.900 CUP              
180 GR. SPR GS SP       IMR       IMR 4350       .308"       3.090"                      46.0C       2445       38,700 CUP              
180 GR. SPR GS SP       IMR       IMR 4320       .308"       3.090"                      35.5       2210       38,100 CUP              
180 GR. SPR GS SP       IMR       IMR 4064       .308"       3.090"                      41.0       2435       39,000 CUP              
180 GR. SPR GS SP       IMR       IMR 4895       .308"       3.090"                      35.5       2270       38,800 CUP              
180 GR. SPR GS SP       IMR       IMR 3031       .308"       3.090"                      38.0       2375       39,300 CUP              
180 GR. SPR GS SP       IMR       SR 4759       .308"       3.090"                      24.0       1940       39,100 CUP

If one trusts IMR data, 46 grains of 4350 shouldn't normally be an overload for these bullets in .30-40.
  
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Century2
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Re: Recommendatons for reloading 180 grain sp for Krag
Reply #17 - Nov 16th, 2011 at 1:37am
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I should clarify that I shoot paper only. The 46 grain wallop is just not needed for it. On a colder day I have shot factory ammo in my 30” Krags with good results – but better so with the lighter “accuracy” loads. The same 46gr/IMR4350/180gr bullet recipe will give you about 2200fps in a 22” Krag which IS the accuracy load (Loadbook, Sierra, Pg. 15). I have 22", 24" and 30” Krags and would use 46gr but just not in the 30” for shooting paper. Parashooter, that data you listed says it is for a 25.5” barrel yet the velocities seem to be in keeping with a 30” barrel (per my previous post). Hot day maybe?  I am starting to wish they listed a test temperature. If not ‘hot day’ then we could expect the fps and the CUP to pick a bit if they also tested a 30” rifle - no?
  

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waterman
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Re: Recommendatons for reloading 180 grain sp for Krag
Reply #18 - Nov 16th, 2011 at 1:57am
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I would expect the fps to increase with a 30" barrel, but why should pressure increase?  We are burning the same amount of the same powder in the same case in chambers which are more or less (+/-) the same.  Peak pressure ought to occur before the bullet has gone very far down the bore.  Pressures will increase as temperature increases.   Unless you keep the cartridges in the cooler.
  
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Century2
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Re: Recommendatons for reloading 180 grain sp for Krag
Reply #19 - Nov 16th, 2011 at 12:51pm
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If someone could confirm that CUP is a constant, that would be great since limiting CUP is a primary concern in a Krag. Going back to the Loadbook to compare the test criteria, the only differences I see noted between the IMR testing and the Nosler testing is the primers and the overall cartridge length.  IMR used Winchester LR primers whereas Nosler used CCI 200 primers. IMR used an OAL of 3.000” whereas Nosler appears to have used 3.089”. IMR data shows a “C” after the powder load also (means compressed?). If the Winchester primers are hotter and the IMR load density was higher or even compressed, maybe that is why the IMR data for a 25.5” barrel is similar to Nosler data for a 30”?
  

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Re: Recommendatons for reloading 180 grain sp for Krag
Reply #20 - Nov 17th, 2011 at 1:04am
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And here I was thinking I was setting the world on fire with my rudimentary loading datas, LOL

I got a look at a Lyman reloading handbook today, and they listed similar data for 180 grain bullets as my Hornady book.  However, the Lyman book did also rate the IMR 4350 at 46 grains as maximum load and not recommended.  The recommended load was 42 grains.  Interestingly enough, the book did not list data for 165 grain bullets!  only 150, 168, 174, 180, 210 and 220.  I found that odd as I believe 165 to be more common than 168 for the Krag...  but I guess I am still learning here too.
  
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waterman
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Re: Recommendatons for reloading 180 grain sp for Krag
Reply #21 - Nov 17th, 2011 at 7:45am
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If you read that a certain load develops 39,600 CUP, you should not think of that as anything but a general indicator of results that might be expected.  Any time you change anything in a given load, you will potentially change the pressure that load develops.  If you change primers, pressures will change.  They will increase if a hotter primer is used and decrease if milder brand is used.  And there is variability in primers from a single source.  I would expect a tough bullet like a Nosler to offer more resistance to the rifling, and to develop higher pressure than the same weight Sierra Matchking.  Use your micrometers.  Not all .30 caliber bullets are .308 diameter.  And slug the barrel of your Krag.  They run from about .306 to over .311.  If you shoot a .308 bullet in a .307 barrel, pressures will go up.  If you shoot a .308 bullet in a .311 barrel, pressures will go down.

Powder changes from one lot to another.  Not much, but there are changes.  Brass changes from one maker to the next and may change with the same maker from lot to lot.  Compare the volume of W-W cases with R-P cases.  Weigh both types.  There are many reasons to stay away from high end loads for your Krag.  There are not too many good reasons to use them.
  
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Century2
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Re: Recommendatons for reloading 180 grain sp for Krag
Reply #22 - Nov 17th, 2011 at 12:28pm
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After shooting alongside muzzleloaders, I confess that I now gauge the ventholes in my brass - amazing variance. I use the chuck-end of a drill bit and roll the brass on its side. Wheather that brass is new or used, you'll find that the bit will stand proud in some brass (new or used) and virtually flop out of others. Couldn't convince me that that wouldn't affect shot-to-shot performance. I group my brass by this test.
  

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