I would like to work-up a light load using Hornad'y 350 gr. FP bullet and RL 15 powder. In Graeme Wright's incredible book "Shooting the British Double Rifle," he lists a Nitro for Black load using 52 gr. of cordite and a 365 gr. bullet. Using his formula for converting cordite to RL 15: 52 X 1.19 = 61.88 (or about 62 gr). A very knowledgable person that I spoke with stated that this was a bit light, and recommended 65 gr. of RL 15 as a starting point. Does anyone have experience with this type of load?

Also, I will be working up the load using a chronograph and common sense reloading/testing techniques. Even though I am attempting to keep the load as light as possible, getting it to regulate may require addition powder/velocity. Does anyone have experience with a maximun load?

I realize that the exact loads with vary with each individual rifle, but I am looking for an educated place to start.

TT:
Graeme did a good bit of shooting for his book(s) at my home in Alaska. I can't remember if we shot a .450 bpe or not.

For my n-f-b loads I used IMR 4198 at 40% of the black powder charge or 44 grains for a 110-grain charge of black. The 350-grain Hornady bullets work just fine.

Keep within safe pressures and your guide will be how the bullets print on the target. When they group well, you are there. The above IMR load worked well for me and others I have known. I don't have any experience with the RL powders as IMR has worked so well for me I never bothered to experiment further.

Cheers,
Cal

In the second edition of his book on page 77 he list for the nitro for black in the .450 3 1/4,
350 gr bullet 70 gr of AR2208 (VARGET)with a foam wad for 1970 fps.
350 gr bullet 40 gr IMR 7459 1X1/2 felt wad plus 2X1/8 cork wad for 1700 fps.
350 gr bullet,60gr AR2206 (dacron wad)for 1860 fps.
300grbullet 97 gr of H4831 for 1450fps.
365gr bullet 55gr of AR2207 (H4198)(dacron wad)for 1950fps
hope this helps and welcom to the forums.
Bill

Tony,
My experience agrees with Cal. My friend has a Lang .450 3.25"BPE and I shoot a Harkom .450
3.25"BPE.
JJ at Champlins suggested 46gr IMR 4198 behind a 300gr hard cast lead bullet. My buddy shoots this load at 1800fps. My gun liked 42gr IMR4198 behind a 300gr Meister Hard Cast, with a 2" foam wad at 1778fps. Some say that BPE's won't penetrate, but this load went up the tail pipe of a 420 pound russian boar, and the taxidermist dug the slug out of the skull. This load in my gun prints 2" groups of 4 shots out to 200yds. I could not ask for better.
As Cal stated, you may need to bump up or down, to get regulation. Use a chrono and watch the velocity.
These guns are a blast, ND

My sincere thanks and appreciation for the inputs. I bought a container of IMR 4198 yesterday, will load some test cartridges this weekend, and head to the range sometime next week.

TT

Just be sure that your dacron filler is COMPRESSED between the bullet and the powder.

I would think @12 to 14 grains of Polyester would be about right.

I'm using 48 gr. of 4198 with a 325 gr. paper patched bullet in my 450 3 1/4 bpe.

Dave