Interpreting reloading data

[crracer_712]

I'm loading some 30-06 and 243 rounds and for bullets I have 150 grain/100 grain Remington core-lokt bullets. These are the soft point bullets. In my Lee reloading manual it shows 150 grain jacketed bullets, will this load data work for the bullets I'm using?

I ask because it doesn't say FMJ, as it does with the pistol ammo, just says jacketed, which they are, but also they have the lead soft point.

One of the concerns I have is that doing a test fit using the Minimum OAL for a given load, which of course is under the SAAMI max OAL, when the bullet is seated, the cannelure doesn't reach the the case.

I've test fit the tested case/bullet and it doesn't hit the rifling.

 

[kingmt]

Sounds like your good to go.

 

[crracer_712]

From what I gather, apparently Remington 700's have a rather deep throat, so guess not much chance of having it it the rifling any. Unless this is something fairly new for Remington. My 700 is an early 2000 era rifle.

Forgot to mention the cases were all trimmed

 

[kingmt]

Not my 770. It has the tightest chamber in every aspect of any gun I have had. Its accuracy is outstanding also.

 

[crracer_712]

That's good to hear. I don't currently own a 243, but was wanting to get one and didn't know much about the 770's. I have a couple of 243's that belong to my dad, a Savage Axis and a CZ550. He lives in the city, so he just leaves all his guns with me.

 

[NCsmitty]

was wanting to get one and didn't know much about the 770's.

I'm a Remington fan, but I feel there are much better choices in that price range than the 770. Maybe if you shoot less than a box of ammo a year, but the plastic components of the rifle are susceptible to breaking.

In my Lee reloading manual it shows 150 grain jacketed bullets, will this load data work for the bullets I'm using?

If you use the starting load for a 150gr copper jacket, lead core bullet you will be fine. Bullet weight trumps bullet brand. Work up as normal.

The only exception is solid copper bullets like Barnes and Hornady GMX and sintered (powder metal) bullets. They have their own load data.

You do not need to crimp your bullets, so the cannelure position is irrelevant. COAL is a flexible number that you determine, and the book reference is only a suggested number.
It can vary by brand because of the ogive slope of the bullet. As long as you do not jam the bullet into the rifling, a little jump to the leade will not be noticed.


NCsmitty

 

[crracer_712]

I was under the impression that Min OAL was there so you don't increase cartridge pressure. That is what I was concerned with with regard to the bullet's not seating to the connelure when I seat them to the minimum OAL.

My concern being that, the manual gave an OAL for a 'jacketed' bullet, and while I was using a 'jacketed' bullet, it is also a soft point. I was wondering since the bullet isn't seating to the connelure, if the pressure would be lower.

 

[kingmt]

Within reason it isn't a big deal.

 

[kingmt]

For a bench gun It's not bad. For a hunting rifle it isn't good. The bolt is upside down so it catches on the next round in the mag. One round at a time you can't tell.

 

[NCsmitty]

I was under the impression that Min OAL was there so you don't increase cartridge pressure.

It's really not an issue for bottle neck rifle cartridges, and you basically have free rein on COAL. It's a bit sensitive in pistol cartridges though, due to the faster powders used, and that's probably what you were thinking about.


NCsmitty

 

[kingmt]

It still increases pressure but can also relieve it. I know double talk but the pressure to unseat the bullet will be higher but when you get a running start at the lande you won't get as muck peak pressure.

 

[crracer_712]

I checked out my connelure distance to case mouth. On the ammo that has a min oal of 3.300, the connelure is .100 from touching the case mouth.

Maybe I'll take 3 and seat them to the connelure to see if it affects accuracy, and check for pressure signs after first shot.

Interestingly enough. I was loading my 243 rounds last night and while setting the OAL, the connelure was dead on set flush to the case mouth (top of connelure/top of case mouth as in no exposed connelure), Made for a nice factory crimp.

 

[crracer_712]

I'm a Remington fan, but I feel there are much better choices in that price range than the 770. Maybe if you shoot less than a box of ammo a year, but the plastic components of the rifle are susceptible to breaking.

I am not familiar with the 770 at all, are there more plastic to them than just the stock? How do they compare to the basic 700 all black with synthetic stock? I had one of those in 243, but the ex took it with her. Why, I have no idea, she couldn't shoot it without closing her eyes and flinching.

 

[kingmt]

I never figured out why my ex took all the pictures of me & our wedding. Then again maybe I just didn't care enough to figure it out I just thought it odd.