I posted this in the reloading section as well. Wanted to get some more feedback:

I'm been working up some loads for my Mauser M03. Basically tried combos of 180 gr Sciroccos and 180 gr TTSX with 7828 SSC, MRP, and RL-25. Only the TTSX and MRP worked well. In fact, seating depths from 3.50 to 3.615' with varying loads all produced about the same size groups - roughly 1". My best load is .75" group at 3.56" COL and 83.5 gr MRP at 3,255 fps.

My question is around the pressure. Quickload says this is a 70K+ PSI load, yet:

1. The case, primer, and bolt handle lift showed no signs of pressures. Trust me, my 84.5 gr of 7828SSC with the Sciroccos at 3.629" was high pressure with hard bolt lift, brass flow, flattened primers, and shots everywhere.

2. It's the most accurate load

3. It's in the 83-84 gr range that Norma lists for a variety of 180 gr bullets as max load.

4. I've been doing these loads in 95 degree heat and direct sunlight

5. Quickload is way off on 375 H&H pressure loads from my experience

Any reason I shouldn't trust this load?

Anyone loading in this range?

It appears to be OK in your rifle with your brass. If you tested it under the hottest conditions you'll use it in I'd say you're good to go. I've had maximum loads work well in the cold and gotten the pressure signs you mentioned on a hot summer day. Had to back down.

I'm thinking about backing down 1/2 grain for some margin.

Quickload is a model, not a pressure gun. A model is a just a good guess its not the gospel.

If you didn't have Quickload and were just loading out of the book and watching velocity and pressure signs would you give it a second thought?

Quickload is a safe starting place for reloading, the same as the Reloading books, start with their minimum loads and work up one to one/half grain at a time..Each gun has its own max load..but it never hurts too back off a grain or two once you reach a max load..Contrary to what some snowflakes accuse me off...

quote:

Originally posted by Dogleg:
Quickload is a model, not a pressure gun. A model is a just a good guess its not the gospel.

If you didn't have Quickload and were just loading out of the book and watching velocity and pressure signs would you give it a second thought?

I guess without QL I wouldn't be questioning myself.

If you are not getting any sign of high pressure, I'd say you are good to go.

The Barnes TSX and TTSX have the bands on them, which reduces the bearing surface, which should reduce the friction/pressure somewhat.

An outdoor writer named John Barness once wrote that the guy who pressure proofs his loads for an article mentioned that Barnes TSX and TTSX have the lowest average pressures of any bullets he's tested.

That explains pressure signs on the Sciroccos - no bands!

Sciroccos, are very soft jacketed bullets and they do build pressure, I usually cut a grain or two over my standard max or near max loads with them, I do the same with Rem brass but you still get about the same velocity in both cases as since they create a little more pressure thus they getcha a little more velocity..

I cut the load down to 82 gr for a test and blah - lost accuracy. The 82.5 gr load was pretty good, but not as good as the 83.5 gr load. Sticking there. Loaded up some for my elk hunt. Will try some other powder later.

How many times can you reload the cases before the primer pockets loosen up ?

quote:

Originally posted by leemar28:
How many times can you reload the cases before the primer pockets loosen up ?

These are all virgin brass and Norma at that, so they are tight. But good point, will watch that.

How many reloads have you seen from high pressure Weatherby cartridges on average?

I try to avoid "Hi pressure" loads. I shoot a lot of 300 win mag. Shooting a load now that I started working up with new brass. 10 of them to be exact. They have all been reloaded and fired 4x. Primer pockets are still snug. Whats a "Hi pressure" load in your rifle may not be in mine.
As long as the bolt lift is easy, and primer pockets stay snug I don't think I'm stepping in to deep water.

Austin Hunter, may I ask what you need the 180 gr tax bullet for.

Try the 168 gr with 86 gr of 7828 -half grain over max in the Barnes reloading data. load'm long and load'm hot is what I was told about the 300 Weatherby caliber. Others have suggested the 168's also.

My Weatherby is fickle and when I came upon this recipe on the internet and it turned into confidence building tight groups every time. I loaded 20 rounds two seasons ago. probably a life time supply at it's current accuracy rate.

Just trying to be helpful.

Oh, and it make the recoil seem like a 243 compared to shooting those 180's- well maybe an 06

Get yourself a copy of an old Weatherby Guide. Last printing was in 85, but they are out there. In the back all the calibers are listed including "factory equivalent" loads. Mind you these are older loads, before IMR-7828 and the like were around, but MRP (RL-22) is there. It lists 81.5gr of MRP as the factory equivalent load and it's pretty darned close. I attained right at 3200 fos with 80.5 and sub MOA accuracy. I've used it with the 180 TTSX with great results, in fact leaving for an elk hunt his week and that is what I'll be using.

quote:

Originally posted by slim buttes:
Austin Hunter, may I ask what you need the 180 gr tax bullet for.

Try the 168 gr with 86 gr of 7828 -half grain over max in the Barnes reloading data. load'm long and load'm hot is what I was told about the 300 Weatherby caliber. Others have suggested the 168's also.

My Weatherby is fickle and when I came upon this recipe on the internet and it turned into confidence building tight groups every time. I loaded 20 rounds two seasons ago. probably a life time supply at it's current accuracy rate.

Just trying to be helpful.

Oh, and it make the recoil seem like a 243 compared to shooting those 180's- well maybe an 06

I would have normally used a 200 gr bullet for SD, but Barnes tend to shoot overweight. However, I know the factory test ammo on this barrel were 168 gr SP and they show well. I have some 165 gr Aframes and Sciroccos I could try.

quote:

Originally posted by jorge:
Get yourself a copy of an old Weatherby Guide. Last printing was in 85, but they are out there. In the back all the calibers are listed including "factory equivalent" loads. Mind you these are older loads, before IMR-7828 and the like were around, but MRP (RL-22) is there. It lists 81.5gr of MRP as the factory equivalent load and it's pretty darned close. I attained right at 3200 fos with 80.5 and sub MOA accuracy. I've used it with the 180 TTSX with great results, in fact leaving for an elk hunt his week and that is what I'll be using.

That sounds about right. I got 3,160 with 82 gr at 3.56" And that's a 25" barrel (what Mauser claims, but think it really measures 24"). So yeah, a 24" barrel at 3,255 is pretty hot, but no issues with bolt handle lift or brass flow. I got bolt lift issues with 7828 & the Barnes & Sciroccos; I got bolt lift issues and brass flow with 7828 and the Sciroccos. My accuracy was better with shorter COL. My lands are out at 3.70" if I remember, might have been higher. Magazine limits to around 6.45" or so.

One thing to consider is that powder can vary between lots. I have seen this with RL15 and it is frustrating. If you have a powder lot that is working great for your chosen bullet and rifle treat it like gold and do not mix it with different lot numbers. I have powder set aside just for my 416 Rigby because of this. There is no way QL can accurately determine powder lot variation. That's why it's best to work loads up from 85%. Since you have worked from lesser powder weights then you would have noticed pressure signs. Cheers to finding your rifles happy place.

I just checked your load against the Barnes Manual. They list 11 loads. They didn't use MRP so I don't have a direct comparison. Out of 11 loads listed, only one bests 3200 fps. There are several in the high 3100 ft. range. I think I would err on the side of caution as long as it doesn't hurt your accuracy and reduce by a grain. A half grain may work but for me I would go a grain if it didn't hurt my accuracy.

quote:

They didn't use MRP

MRP= RL22

Normally that little flat primer, perhaps createred a tad and the little square shiny spot made by the ejector tells me its time to back off a grain or two as Im in the 65000 PSI category, give or take a litte..There are other signs and one of them isn't necessarily meaningful, but combined with one or two other is certainly time to back off...Most of these guns today are shot with pressure loads that would blow your mind...Most reloading books and internet loads are copied from other books, and most are about 2 grs. under real max in most guns and by design to avert frivouslous law suits..They will tell you in person that their book is a general guide to starting loads..A new to reloading shooter tends to shoot very mild loads, and that's a good thing, it takes some time to be able to load max loads with confidence..I know many old time reloaders that stretch the string to its ultimate and a few that do not..I tend to load max and even max plus a little, and am condemned for that by some here, that's fine it worries me not, and that said I only recall blowing one primer, and a couple of sticky bolts in over 65 years, actually more years than that as I put the "tops" in for my day at about 4 years old, as did my sons and grandsons....I have never damaged a gun or myself other than one time I shot a starting load from a book with a misprint and got a little hot gas in the forehead..wasn't my fault. that was one hot load. If you handload as many years as I have I would bet dollars to donuts that something less than desirable will take place, fortunately these events only concerned me temporarily!

Back down half a grain.

Get a Lee Factory Crimp for better accuracy in the hot range :

http://www.midwayusa.com/produ...300-weatherby-magnum

(Read the reviews)

quote:

Originally posted by ar corey:
Back down half a grain.

Get a Lee Factory Crimp for better accuracy in the hot range :

http://www.midwayusa.com/produ...300-weatherby-magnum

(Read the reviews)

I have a Lee crimper. I crimped into the pressure groove at 3.50", but not onto the .308 diameter at 3.56". I don't know if it's the brass or bullets, but they are the tightest seated bullets I've ever loaded. don't think a crimp will make that much of a difference.

quote:

Originally posted by jorge:
Get yourself a copy of an old Weatherby Guide. Last printing was in 85, but they are out there. In the back all the calibers are listed including "factory equivalent" loads. Mind you these are older loads, before IMR-7828 and the like were around, but MRP (RL-22) is there. It lists 81.5gr of MRP as the factory equivalent load and it's pretty darned close. I attained right at 3200 fos with 80.5 and sub MOA accuracy. I've used it with the 180 TTSX with great results, in fact leaving for an elk hunt his week and that is what I'll be using.

Thank you for that. I saw one of those guides and bought it to look at some load data. I didn't remember this from when I owned Weatherby's in the 1980s. Off course I didn't have as nice of reload set up nor the experience yet either. In one of my 300 Wby threads I had received the same inputs about using the 168s although my 300 Wby usage was either 180s or 200s until now.

This has been a really good thread as I am going to load up some 168s and some 180s as well when my Model 70 300 Weatherby returns from some work.

In the Weatherby's I had just shot the factory loads but I want to give the TTSX a go as well. I will be using MRP and the 7828.

Thanks again guys.