Reloading Data

What is reloading data?

Reloading data is the set of parameters that turn a cartridge case, a primer, a powder and a bullet into a safe, repeatable handload: the powder charge in grains, the cartridge overall length (C.O.L.), the expected muzzle velocity, the case fill rate and the peak chamber pressure. Every recipe in this database is tied to one specific cartridge, one specific bullet and one specific powder, because changing any of the three changes pressure — sometimes dramatically.

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How to read a load table

Each row of a load table is one charge weight. The start load is the conservative charge you begin with, the maximum load is the highest charge for that combination, and the rows in between are the working-up steps. Velocity tells you what the load should deliver from a reference barrel, fill rate shows how much of the case volume the powder occupies, and the pressure figure shows how close the load sits to the cartridge's pressure limit. Loads with a very low fill rate or a pressure close to the limit deserve extra caution.

Working up a load safely

Always start at the published start load and work upwards in small steps, checking the primer, the case head and the bolt lift after every string. Published data comes from a reference barrel and reference brass — your rifle, your brass and your lot of powder will differ, so chronograph each step instead of assuming the tabulated velocity. Never transfer a charge weight to a different bullet, powder lot or case brand without recalculating it.

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