anyone know of a site or link to a page that offers reproductions of factory loads?

I haven't personally seen a site that offers such info.

I think the main problem you'll run into is that Factorys tend to use more than one powder for a given load. For example they may buy a huge lot of powder that will work for many different carts and give their published velcocities at safe pressures yet, the next lot they load may be with a different powder that achieves the same velocity. That's one reason it is important to buy several boxes of the same lot # when buying factory ammo.

I personally feel the best way to replicate factory loads is to fire a few over your chrono and find the average velocity produced. Then, use a popular powder for the cartridge at hand along with the same bullets, primers, and brass and try to achieve the same velocity average as well as equal or better accuracy in the rifle at hand.

Good Luck

Reloader

The older (47th) Lyman manuals used to show these loads.

How to reproduce a factory load: Just full-length size to ensure excessive headspace, meter in an approximate amount of faster-than-optimum powder, seat a cannelured bullet overly deep so that the cannelure matches the lip of the neck, and crimp it mercilessly into the case so that it has no chance of being close to concentric.

But why would you want to when you can build a cartridge that actually fits your chamber and shoots accurately?

i like the idea of being able to practice with a load that i hunt with and then buy ammo that matches it if i'm in need.

Stonecreek,

I used to possess your mentality about factory loads and kinda still do with the exception of hornady. Been trying for some time now to reproduce the accuracy of their 223 rem 55 gr v-max loads. Have not been successful so far. I sure wished I knew what kind of powder they are using.

Most factories that load factory ammo use powders not available to the normal handloader.

quote:

Originally posted by KSTEPHENS:
i like the idea of being able to practice with a load that i hunt with and then buy ammo that matches it if i'm in need.

Buy a chronograph and the same type of bullet that the factory loads and you should be able to get similar performance. The burn rate may not be correct and so that will create some issues. But if you just go to the store and buy a box of factory loads there is no guaranty that it will perform anything like the box you bought last time.

Not the biggest ammo manufacturer, but Sako posts a lot of loads:

http://www.sako.fi/pdf/cart_datatable_2006.pdf?m=4

And here you can see what bullets really are in their cartridges. Powerhead=BarnesX, Twinhead=NP, Racehead=Sierra MK, Arrowhead=NoslerBT, ArrowheadII=SciroccioII, plus some of their own manufacture.

All cases are headstamped Sako. Don't know who makes them. Powders are Vihtacouri.

I have a repro of the #8098 hornady using 41.5 gr of H4895 and the same hornady bullet.
that factory load has always been very consistant over the 6 or so years i have shot it.
i did just that, shot it over a chro and then loaded up till i got the same average MV.

quote:

Originally posted by molar1:
Stonecreek,

I used to possess your mentality about factory loads and kinda still do with the exception of hornady. Been trying for some time now to reproduce the accuracy of their 223 rem 55 gr v-max loads. Have not been successful so far. I sure wished I knew what kind of powder they are using.

I will admit that my description of factory loads is a bit harsh, perhaps even hyperbolic. And I have been amazed at the velocity and accuracy of an occasional few factory loads, like your Hornady V-Max load, that perform inexplicably well. But they are few and far between.

However, as Fjold points out, factories produce their loads from whatever components are available at the time of production that meet their basic specs. As a result, the "same" box of 150 grain Remchesters you buy next fall may be loaded with a different powder and may not act exactly like the box you bought two years ago.

quote:

How to reproduce a factory load: Just full-length size to ensure excessive headspace, meter in an approximate amount of faster-than-optimum powder, seat a cannelured bullet overly deep so that the cannelure matches the lip of the neck, and crimp it mercilessly into the case so that it has no chance of being close to concentric.

But why would you want to when you can build a cartridge that actually fits your chamber and shoots accurately?

YES YES YES!!!

As others have pointed out, factory ammo is a one size must fit all proposition made with bulk purchased components to function in a reasonably broad but mostly acceptable range.

We can do so much better for so much less money. Besides, if you have to buy factory ammo because, for example, the airline shipped yours to the wrong continent or "misplaced" it, you'd be well advised to fire a few rounds before actually hunting with it. In which case, you could make any necessary sighting corrections.

LWD

quote:

Originally posted by KSTEPHENS:
i like the idea of being able to practice with a load that i hunt with and then buy ammo that matches it if i'm in need.

Makes sense.

quote:

Originally posted by molar1:
Stonecreek,

I used to possess your mentality about factory loads and kinda still do with the exception of hornady. Been trying for some time now to reproduce the accuracy of their 223 rem 55 gr v-max loads. Have not been successful so far. I sure wished I knew what kind of powder they are using.

Yes. Once in awhile, you will come across factory ammo that really shoots well in your gun. I've found more match pistol factory ammo that does this than rifle ammo......

Let me be generous, but let me be clear; factory ammo from the big three is shit in a shiny wrapper.

Please excuse my ignorance, but which are the big 3 of the following?:

1 Remmy
2 Win
3 Federal
4 Hornday

I've actually had good luck with quite a few of the Fed in terms of accuracy, but never killed any game with factory ammo, ever.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
How to reproduce a factory load: Just full-length size to ensure excessive headspace, meter in an approximate amount of faster-than-optimum powder, seat a cannelured bullet overly deep so that the cannelure matches the lip of the neck, and crimp it mercilessly into the case so that it has no chance of being close to concentric.

But why would you want to when you can build a cartridge that actually fits your chamber and shoots accurately?

You forgot to mention
"and overstate the velocity by 8 to 12%, stating that your test barrel is "longer than standard"...

oh, yeah, and only use seconds for bullets

jeffe

quote:

Originally posted by Pegleg:
Most factories that load factory ammo use powders not available to the normal handloader.

other than winchester, i woiuld agree.

winnie's reloading manual USED to tell you what their bullet/load combo was for factory.

now it's all online, as hodgedon moved them into the last centrury

http://www.wwpowder.com/data/rifle/index.php

Just work up your best reload, then try various factory ammo till you find one with the same POI, or at least close enough you can move 4 clicks to the left or something. This should be easy and you'll have a good handload and a backup plan if you are forced into buying ammo.

That's like factory food....I like homemade better!

Isn't it a damned shame that factory ammo users are even allowed to post on a forum by the name of ACCURATE RELOADING?

quote:

Originally posted by onefunzr2:
Isn't it a damned shame that factory ammo users are even allowed to post on a forum by the name of ACCURATE RELOADING?