I’ve contacted and alerted Lyman as to a potential catastrophic overcharge in their manual for 30-40 Krag and 180gr bullets

In looking through my manual for a fellow member, I found an error where Lyman recommends a starting point of 38gr with a max of 42gr of IMR4895 for 180gr bullets. Hodgdon website lists a max of 35.5gr for a 180gr bullet. I’m not a fan of IMR4895 for the Krag, but wanted to post this information to warn others. I’ve taken screen shots of both the manual and Hodgdon website, but was reluctant to post in case someone saved or printed the image without the warning.

Totally agree with you regarding consulting several sources. I wanted to post this one because I view it as potentially catastrophic and specific for 30-40 Krag reloders. Max to max load is a 7gr difference, that’s substantial. I wouldn’t want to shoot that load or even be next to it if someone else were to shoot it. Everyone who starts reloading started off “new”. I know I reached out to several of my seasoned reloading friends and read a lot before I ever loaded my first round.   But that’s me, not everyone. I could see a younger me potentially following a dangerous recipe from a printed reputable 50th printing and not consulting other sources. Maybe I’m still new enough to reloading myself to have not experienced this extreme before, but my intent is simply to alert reloaders to a potential overcharge.

Thanks for the warning. I have six different manufacturers, it can be confusing, when loading for a new caliber. I loaded some 30-06 rounds to 2700 fps according to one manual, and it was not near their max load. It resulted in flat primers, a partially backed out primer and a split case.

So it’s the information from Hodgdon’s own website that caused me concern and seem to indicate a potential overcharge.

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With that said, they list other 308 rounds that are higher than Lyman for the same powder (IMR 4895) and bullet weight (180gr).

30-06: start 45, max 48
.308: start 40.5, max 44.7

Could be as simple as unfamiliarity with the round and being overly cautious/conservative.

Not many rifles chambered for .30-40, that are ... "not an antique or something along those lines".

Note also that the Hogdon website for IMR4895 and 180g bullet shows a max load of 35.5 but no starting load is listed.

Thanks for posting this.

I haven't used that manual for 180 gr data, but I have notes from 2018 having loaded 220 gr Hornady 3090's with Lyman's starting load of 35.0, Win primers, bullets seated to just cover the crimp groove.  I noted vertical stringing at 50 yards but no other signs of pressure issues.  I did not chrono those.