Yes, no, some times, seldom.
Isn't that reassuring?
Things change. I know that I have in the last 15 years.
The methods and degree of precision have all changed in dealing with smokeless powders. I don't know if this is good or bad. Add to this the potential of litigation and lots of things may well be different.
All of this shouldn't amount to a breath in a hurricane.
Loading books, manuals, papers and other sources of data (hopefully from reliable sources) are nothing more than starting points. Safe starting points, we can only hope.
Begin with a safe point and slowly expand the variables until you find the safe results that you want.
I know and fully understand the trepidations when firing 'that first load'.
As 'we' don't have the hi-tech equipment to measure the actual chamber pressures, we must learn what to expect from the weapon, brass casings, primers, weapon's function, recoil, blast and I'm sure many other more personnel factors.
A general rule, I follow it, is when I trust a book's starting charge, I will also trust that book's MAXIMUM charge listed. Any factor that is changed can throw the balance over the top, start again.
I use 'old' powder, some that hasn't been available for years and years. For those powders from yesteryear that are the mainstays of today, they must have had 'lot' changes. Start over at a know save point.
