Author: britrifles
Subject: Flight of the Bumble Bee
Posted: September 30 2020 at 12:38pm
I suspect that many of the published loads in reloading manuals are indeed conservative where no pressures are given. I don’t think all the published loads are pressure tested (where no pressure is given). The NRA Reloading manual specifically stated the loads were pressure tested in a .303 British Government pressure test barrel.
Subject: Flight of the Bumble Bee
Posted: September 30 2020 at 12:38pm
I suspect that many of the published loads in reloading manuals are indeed conservative where no pressures are given. I don’t think all the published loads are pressure tested (where no pressure is given). The NRA Reloading manual specifically stated the loads were pressure tested in a .303 British Government pressure test barrel.
I challenged one company (won’t say who) on some load data in their manual and they admitted to me that the pressures were derived by computer program and not pressure tested.
Now, please don’t take this as a reason to exceed published data, if you do, you better know what your basis is to determine chamber pressures.
I tend to stay well away from max loads, not for safety reasons (although that is a valid reason), but for long term durability of the action and barrel life. Increasing pressures erodes the rifling leade much faster. These rifles are not getting any newer and original barrels are hard to find.