7.7 Arisaka Hornady 173gr Load Data

[BJung]

I have an old Hornady load manual with the 173gr round nose bullet listed but not the 173 FMJBT. Are they the same?

If I did a ladder test using the 173 FMJBT and found a node, would the 173 RN node be close to the same load using the same powder, primer, and case? Has anyone tested bullets of the same bullet manufacturer and same weight but the bullet design was different?

 

[troy fairweather]

Will be fine, just start a few grains off the max. That's one of the strongest rifles ever made.

 

[bigpower491]

I have an old Hornady load manual with the 173gr round nose bullet listed but not the 173 FMJBT. Are they the same?

If I did a ladder test using the 173 FMJBT and found a node, would the 173 RN node be close to the same load using the same powder, primer, and case? Has anyone tested bullets of the same bullet manufacturer and same weight but the bullet design was different?

Hornadys load data covers all bullets of the same weight per given caliber on the same powder chart
Their 11 edition data calls out 2 174gr bullets and all their propellants. You'll be golden

 

[Bcwitt]

7.7 jap is loaded to about same pressure as 303 British, inspite of more capacity. Then the rife itself (type99) is one of the strongest ever made. I pull down 762x54r & load grain for grain w LPS bullet. It's kinda hard to overload a jap.

 

[BJung]

I assembled testloads 5.5gr beyond Hornady's recommended charge for R15 and the felt recoil was much less than a hot testload I shot years ago. The primer on this current testload was not even flattened. From my results my node was 4.8gr above the maximum struck about 3" below where the tip of the front sight (assuming you're familiar with Arisaka front sights) was placed. I'm wondering if I use the aperture of the aerial sights than the battle sights (the aperture when the aerial sights are down) will raise the POI. I plan to compare groups next time but has anyone done this already?

 

[Remington1911]

My general rule of thumb is, if the bullet weighs the same as a weight given in the manual good enough for me, never an issue.

That said, I don't hunt with these old guns and use them as a dinger of steel or as a hole punch, so pushing a bullet fast enough for them to do their magic on game is a non issue for me.

So I generally start on the low side of things and work my way up looking for something that my rifle likes best. Generally I find that to be middle of the road load, and that is good enough for me. Distance you are playing at is a big deal as well, I stay inside of 300 so keeping the bullet supersonic does not require you pushing it that hard.

I just think there is little valid reason to push these old girls that hard. If you want to hog hunt or something, cool, and workup a loading for that....but otherwise if you are banging the 8" plate at 200 all day that is good enough for me.....hell it is a good day if I can even see the damn plate.