I shot my new handloads over the Chronograph today and I am a bit surprised at the results.

I followed the data from Hornady's Reloading Guide for my 204 Ruger exactly but I got a much lower velocity reading than theirs.

I loaded 29.6gr of Vhita N-540 with a 32gr V-Max bullet and got these numbers for 5 shots:
3957, 3972, 3966, 3970, 3970 for average of 3967

The Guide is saying that the velocity for that load should be 4100fps. My 26" 1:12 barrel is same as their test barrel.

Is this unusual for my average to be 130fps slower than Hornady's??

3967fps is still DAMM fast and is shooting incredible groups from my rifle so I am not complaining...just wondering.

Whatdaya think!

You're in the ball park so don't worry about it. You could have bought the next rifle in the production line and it would be slightly over the book. Remember, the books are guides, not absolute data.
And, no insult intended, but from reading your post, you may be over thinking this thing. It's admirable that you want your rifle and your reloads to be all they can be but you still want to take it slow and enjoy the trip.

I seen many loads 1 to 2 hundred feet slower then book.

What temperature?
What Altitude?
How far away is the Chronie?
130 fps is no big deal

That sounds pretty normal to me....

Factory data is generally shot from the minimum spec chamber volume for obvious reasons. Your rifle may vary a little or even quite a lot from that.....I did not realize how much that was true in my own guns until (thanks to Quickload) I started measuring fired case volumes.

In addition, some bores are smoother and tighter than others....

Cheers,

Dan

That's reassuring to hear guys thanks. I was happy to see that my velocity is pretty consistent...the spread is only 15fps. I guess all that time spent weighing the charges paid off. I'm going to leave things alone and start loading. As Wasbeeman was saying, I could go 1/2 insane trying to make the perfect load!

Rob, I am in NYC so we are at sea level, 70 degree indoor range, muzzle 10 feet from muzzle

What the longest distance in the range are you shooting at.

What they claim and what goes out the end of your rifle barrel are never the same! You are doing just fine!
Quit worrying about loading "perfect" ammo and practice on your shooting skills. That will a much better result!

As long as the accuracy satisfies you, what's the problem? Don't be so anal. From what I see, most guys very seldom hit the published velocities.
Bear in Fairbanks

Yea I am going to leave it as is and start loading all the brass I have.

Since this is my first attempt at Handloading I just want to make sure that what I am getting is normal.

Thanks everyone!

quote:

Factory data is generally shot from the minimum spec chamber volume for obvious reasons...

Actually, Hornady's velocity data is shot from production barrels, not pressure barrels. Also, their data is not exact, but is graphically derived. They may shoot about three different charge weights then run a best fit line through the data. Their "maximum" data is not like max data from the power makers or some other bullet makers like Speer. Hornady "max" loads are usually below what they actually determined to be maximum. They may never have actually fired the charge they list as "maximum", they round it down to the next lower 100 fps.



.

Never expect the same results from reloading data manuals to be the same as from your own equipment. That is why all the manuals all differ.

quote:

I guess all that time spent weighing the charges paid off.

I'd wager that the variation wouldn't change much at all if you intentionally varied the charge plus and minus three tenths of a grain.....IMO the value of weighing every charge to a knats eyebrow is way over stated.....

Try it sometime and see how it causes the velocity variation to increase or decrease.....theoretically very precise weiging of charges should be beneficial.....but that's where reality departs.

Very true; weighing charges is usually a waste of time. Good for the anal to have something to do, but for most hand loaders, it is a useless exercise. Bench resters don't even do it. And I have done it; weighed charges to dead nuts on, and then thrown them with my measure. No difference in velocity spreads. Disclaimer; for very small charges of fast powder, plus or minus a half a grain will matter, but then, your measure will handle those powders better than stick powders anyway.

This is normal.

I have seen over 150 fps difference in velocity from factory ammo in 5 different rifles of the same make and model.

Some barrels are faster than others.

Thanks Saeed!

I am going to leave well enough alone and start loading.

Leopardtrack,

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
What the longest distance in the range are you shooting at.

I'm sure many are still wondering about an indoor rifle range in NYC.

Minkman,

There are NO big-bore rifle ranges in NYC. There is only one pistol range in Manhattan and it is very expensive to shoot there.

I shoot about an hour north of the city in Goshen, NY at a range called Davis Sports. Nice indoor range 100 yards.

I REALLY thought NYC had it all! Could you imagine the cost's to run a private indoor rifle range in NYC? Thanks and happy shooting

I heard that is something like 50 bucks per hour and that the shooters are corporate-type
A-Holes

Reshoot the same loads on a different day and you might get different results - just saying it is not cast in concrete..

quote:

Originally posted by Leopardtrack:
Yea I am going to leave it as is and start loading all the brass I have.

Since this is my first attempt at Handloading I just want to make sure that what I am getting is normal.

Thanks everyone!