I have a question for you all. I have loaded many diffrent rounds in my 300 win. I want to try some hotter than published loads. I go to the max charge in the books and they shoot fine I never ever have seen any pressure signs, or problems. Ok now my other friends that reload shoot hot loads and they shoot good in their guns. They tell me that the books are loaded light to keep their liability . One even told me load up half a 1/4 to 1/2 grain until I see signs of excess pressure. stiffer than normal bolt,flatted primers for example. I have seen this practice numerous times. Is this a normal procedure?? should I try it to see if i can improve my groups??

I don't think this is an advisable path. Load data is developed using testing techniques not available to the average reloader. As these techniques have become better, some load data has been revised to better reflect what is actually going.

The liability concerns are, I think, overblown. If that were really the case, then we'd have seen lots of lawsuits when the load data was hotter and we hadn't had tort reform.

LWD

LWD makes a good point...no question about it

another good point is that the gains aren't of value to anyone....and this too is dead nuts true..

However for those of us (and I'm occasionally that person but not often) that like to push the envelope you can certainly go beyond the max loads in the manuals and beware of pressure signs and then back off a couple or three grains when they appear.....

If you do this with the 30-06 or the 7mm Mauser or the 8mm Mauser or other underloaded (for good reasons) rounds chambered in strong modern guns you will get excellent results with reasonable pressures.....if you do this with a .300 Magnum, you'll wind up with about the max load listed in the books.....
Have at it folks

PS

If you do this with any cartridge and then don't back off the 2-3 grains from pressure signs you effectively have an "ackley Improved" cartridge without the geometry change.

Loadin manuals are a guide. Every rifle is diff. What works in your frineds rifle may be over max. in yours. I use three manuals when working w/ a new powder. Average the middle data & start there, working up in 1/2gr increments for 08-06 size rounds. When you reach an acceptabel accuracy level w/o pressure signs, you can stay right there. Many of my rifles shoot their best running the edge of max. loads, but again, every rifle is diff.

Reloading guides are just that, guides. Every rifle is different, I've loaded for several rifles that shot slighlty better groups at just over published max loads. I also have used older data and noticed when newer data came out that some of my loads were slightly over max. You'll also notice that out of three loading manuals, you may have 3 different maxes listed. Like I said, they are guides. Start lower than listed maxes, build up until you have the accuracy and repeatability you desire with no common pressure signs and be happy. I've seen rifles max before listed loads and I've seen rifles go slightly over with no obvious signs of pressure and good case life as well.

Good Luck

Reloader

In almost every rifle I've owned and loaded for, I was able to get more powder than what is published. Not b/c that was what I wanted, but instead, I wanted to know what was the TRUE max in MY rifle.

As one example, Berger recommends 70.4 gr Retumbo with their 168 VLD in 7mag. My rifle easily shoots 74 gr with no signs of pressure. The most accurate loads happen to be 72.5 and 73 gr as of this past week.

Now, if I followed the guide to the letter, then my best groups would have never been realized, and they were quite crappy until I got to 72 gr.

I don't advise you use my method, it is my choice. But for me, a guide is nothing more than a place to start, and I do start at the published minimum or a grain over it. The published max is a meaningless number for me more often than not.