Got my new savage stevens 300 win mag to the range yesterday. (24" factory barrel) I had a lot of recipes to try out and some shot pretty good even though I found late in the session that the anchoring screw ahead of the trigger guard was loose.

Most of the recipes shot true to what quickload predicted except I think I have a pretty hot lot of RE22. Here's the load. 77.5 grains RE22 under 168tsx's. That load was chronoing at 3330....wow. Here's the strange thing....no heavy bolt lift, no ejector marks, and despite using federal brass which usually expands primer pockets real ez...the next batch of primers felt real normal to seat. Absolutely no signs of pressure except the chrono reading.
I can't give credit to the tsx as I was using the 168 tsx and 165 interbond with identical loads in my '06 the same day and they chrono'd within 10fps of each other so I really don't think they are a "magically" fast bullet. And my chrono seemed to read everything else sensibly they whole day.

I know I should have worked up but data is pretty consistant regarding RE22--unfortunately
RE22 doesn't have the rep of being consistant. According to quickload to get 3330 I would have to add 5 grains of powder to that load and it would be running 72,500 psi....yet no signs of pressure from the load that day.
I guess it's one of those interesting things and I better believe the chrono and QC.
I'm going to back down and work with that lot of RE22 with some more bullets and see what I get for readings next time out. Just thought I'd relate my experience as I'm always one of the guys that "jumps on someone" who claims great velocity and no pressure posts!!!

Consider yourself lucky. Just don't feel too lucky. With those loads and velocities, when you go to seeing pressure signs it will probably be in a big way.

with all due respect friend.....velocity IS a pressure sign. The fact that other signs evade us is not to say there are NO signs.....as there definitely is. Now what we do about it is another thing.

If the primer pocks haven't expanded, the primers don't appear flat, no marks from the chamber and bolt, and no sticky bolt lift.....I'd be tempted to up the charge a half grain.....but then is there a need for more than you already have?

Vapodog--you have me confused...you tell me that velocity is a sign....which I agree and wanted to let others know that I found the "unusual" which is velocity (and most certainly pressure..without seeing signs. I'm just warning people about 2 things...watch out for RE22 as a powder and don't count on pressure signs without a chrono. I certainly won't be going forward but will be backing off. From what I can see in my "studies" is that the following is near max for the 300 win mag with 24" barrel.......3310fps for 150s......3200 for 165's....and 3100 for 180's. That's where I'll do my "fishing" as I keep working with this gun.

Kraky, I read it that way, that you were surprised by that speed, and interpreted that as a high pressure load and thusly a 'hot' batch of RE22. Also you stated how you were ruling out other possibilities for achieving that speed.

I should be more diligent about chronographing my rounds, I am surprised by how good of groups I can get with significant (to me 50-80 fps) variances in speed between rounds loaded as close as I can load em. I haven't had any surprise me with high speed that I have chrono'd though--sometimes surprisingly slow though....

I have had experience with a lot of Reloader powders varying quite a bit, especially 22 and 15, and know many others who have seen the same.

Thanks for your info---Don

Maybe you have a "slow" lot of Rel 22, and it acts more like Rel 25, thus no pressure problems?

Without going to get them.. but I have several load manuals that list a velocity of 3300 fps with a 165 grain bullet and within the pressure levels of the 300 Win Mag.....

A guy locally I met at the range a couple of years ago, calls me ever deer season, and wants me to load up some bullets for him ( at no charge... but no problem, he is a retired 70 yr old marine veteran.... things like that are free at my house for retired vets...)

The first year it was 165 grain partitions he wanted loaded... this last year it was the 168 grain TSX Barnes.... With the load data that Barnes had available, we chronographed them at 3350 fps...

Personally, I wouldn't freak out about it...

Smile and use it....

I still have the remains of a factory round from Remington that exploded the stock on a 30/06 of mine several years ago now.... gunsmith repair was $250.00 to the rifle... and Winchester just replaced the stock with no questions....

That was done with a factory round!

When I handload it, I have no one else to blame.. plus... I at least know what is going into what I shoot!

too many people who don't know what they are doing try to get that extra 100 fps out of a load......thinking longer range and more energy...

Well the energy difference is negligible....
And two click up on the scope will take care of compensation for the 100 fps less of velocity if they are that all fired concerned....

cheers
seafire

My 300 win mag right now is itching over 78gr. of RL 22 with a 180 TSX, after I used the Final Finish System. I'm getting absolutely no pressure signs and I have no idea what they are chronographing at....but I know how you feel Kraky.

If you're using a chrony, I'd make sure it isn't folded up slightly, this can make velocities show higher than reality. Your load according to most data doesn't look like it should be that fast, although I have no personal experience with a .300 Win.

Going back the range tommorrow with book maxes of I7828, H4350, and H1000 and shooting at 300 yds for groups and speed. I really think it's a "hot" lot of re22 but should know more tommorrow if these fly slower. This chrony doesn't fold up....it's straight like a shoe box.