When you look back at the older reloading editions of the bullet manufactures, I see that their loads are generally hotter in the earlier editions than they are now.

Is the data still safe to use?

I have to wonder if this isn't erroring on the side of litigations and nothing to do with responsible use of the published data.

Which is it?

Thanks,

Sam
eclemmons@hotmail.com

There is NO WAY anyone can say for sure....the burning speed and pressure of SOME powders has changed and old data can be dangerous in SOME gun/cartridge/chambers......BUT you can use the starting data for most all the combos and work up for your current powder and its paticular speed/pressure in your brass/chamber and gun......I often think that some of it is worry over lawsuits BUT also the new equipment and testing seems more reliable than the older copper crusher and similar type pressure test and gives more consistant readings for different loading density and temperatures and the industry makes the data for the "worse case" and ;careful reloaders can taylor the load for their chamber/brass combo using the data for guideance.......imo....good luck and good shooting-safe loading!!!

"There is a tremendous difference in the way different rifles handle
pressure and it is entirely possible that a riffle used in one test was
different in this respect than another one we used. We do not have a
pressure gun in our laboratory, because it is my opinion, backed up by
quite a few years of experience, as well as firing data from various
laboratories using pressure guns, that data received from this is
exceedingly unreliable. For a company such as Remington or Winchester
having same gun and operator comparable results to chick on the
production problems are no doubt sufficiently accurate for the purposes
for which they are used.
We use the head expansion method in determining the pressure at which
cartridge case was fired It is our belief that cartridge case is the
weakest link in the modern bolt action rifle. If the pressure at which
these cartridges cases are fired do not exceed the elastic limit of the
unsupported rim of the cartridge case, then we consider that the
pressure are entirely usable, regardless of what they might be. We fire
increased loads, increasing the charge by about a grain at a time,
checking the rim diameter of the cartridge case with sensitive measuring
instruments, before and an after firing. If any measurement increase in
the diameter of the rim of the case is noted, we consider that pressure
excessive and reduce the charge about 6% and list it a the maximum load
in our loading table. These is no reason why handloader cannot use this
dame procedure himself and determine whether or not the loads he is
using are safe and practical for use in his rifle."

-Vernon D. Speer February 6, 1958 as printed in "Handbook for shooters
and reloaders vol. 1" P.O. Ackley 1962

My work up in 2001 gave nearly identical max loads per this system as was written in ["Speer 8"] load books in the early 60's.

"Speer 12" and "Speer 13" loads are jokes.