I'm using 180 grain Nosler accubonds with RL-19. Alliant powders only provides a velocity for the maximum load (60 grains). My rifle really seems to like 55.5 grains. Is there a way to get some gouge as to the velocity of this recipe? I don't have a chrono. Groups are small but I want to use this set-up for elk and would like to be reasonably sure of atleast 2600 fps.
Thanks K

at 55.5 you're short of the goal. You need about 57 to reach 2600

Carolina72,

Without a Chronograph you are only guessing at the velocity. Yes, you can reference reloading manuals and then exprapolate to your load to give an estimated velocity.

IMO, a chronograph is essential to proper reloading. Let me relate a story of my experience this past weekend. In my 243 Win, I've been slowly working up a load with IMR 4350, I am now 0.5 grains over the book maximum and I am only 2780 fps, when the book says I should be over 3100 fps. All rifles are different in the way they react to a specific load.

Another example, in my 7mm RM, I can never reach maximum loads as recorded by many reloading books, normally about 2 grains shy of book max, but my velocity is right where it should be for max loads.

BigBullet

I was loading some swift scirroco's for a guys BAR in 30-06 and got scared by all the people saying this bullet really makes pressure. We dropped the load to 56.0 grains and finally got around to chrono'ing it. The darn thing was only doing 2480 fps. I realize the BAR with a loose chamber and 22" barrel might have made it a little doggy but I'm thinking Vapodog has it right.....you'd need at least 57.0 to be clocking 2600. BUT powder lots can vary so it sure would be best to get it chrono'd.

Thanks Guys , ordered the chrono from Midway today and hopefully by early next week I'll have some numbers. This is the first load that has given tight groups in this rifle so I hate give it up and begin the search again. I've burned a lot of powder trying to get this rifle to shoot and just as I was about to wrap around the nearest tree it started printing these 3/4 in groups with the starting charge and the 180 accubonds, Partitions shoot to the same point.

K

quote:

ordered the chrono from Midway today

Good!!!! It's an excellent tool for reloading.

This reloading to get max speed thing is great.. however - when I started to reload in the 60's, one of my mentors would load the 06 with 180 gr to about 23 or 2,400 fps .. he hunted with an old 03-A3 Springfield and could place all his shots in one ragged hole at about 150 yrds .. then, when I asked about speed, his comment was; "accuracy beats power every time" .. he got his deer every year with a neck shot.. ...you've got to hit'em right.. mpb

Before I could afford a chronograph, I shot to 300, and sometimes 400 yards. When zeroed at 100 yards the drop, when compared to ballistic tables, will give you a rough estimate of the velocity. If you can shoot down a 3" pipe to 275/300 yards, your in there, conversely if it falls like a rock, it ain't goin' very fast.