Harrier
Member
Hot Loads in the Magazine
This is a letter I wrote but never sent…. Didn’t think it would do any good but maybe someone reading this can benefit from the experience…
A few weeks ago, I was at my range testing 50gr Nosler Ballistic tips for my DPMS AR 223 16” heavy Varmint barrel. As usual when working up loads, I consult several manuals from the early 70’s up to current OEM data. In the past I have sometimes used magazine articles I considered reliable info, if published in reputable magazines by well known authors. I do not use data found on the internet unless it comes directly from a manufacturer’s website such as Hodgdon, Alliant, Nosler etc
There isn’t a nice way to put what happened… at the very least; shooting loads published in a Guns & Ammo article I almost blew up my rifle. See attached photos of two case heads…
Before your brain goes numb and you close your ears thinking I made a common newbie reloading mistake, let me indicate that I have been reloading since the 1960’s, I have experience loading at least 25 calibers and have worked up test loads when there was no data available for the powder I was using. This isn’t my first Rodeo.
As often is the case, some sources have starting loads in excess of other’s max loads. I typically note that and based on a judgment call, start somewhere in the lower middle range and work up in small increments, while maintaining awareness for various well known pressure signs. This practice has worked just fine so far.
One powder I wanted to try with the 50gr Nosler BallisticTip, was Reloader-7. However I couldn’t find OEM data for that particular bullet, but I did find some close to it.
• My Sierra datasheet lists a 50gr Spitzer at 23.0gr Max @3200fps for the 20” AR …or 24.0 gr @3400fps in a 24” bolt gun.
• The 1967 Speer manual shows a 50gr at 23.0 max, @3376 fps from a 24” Sako.
• Lyman #44 lists 22.5 max @3154 in a 20” AR for their 50gr listing.
• My 1994 Nosler Manual #4 doesn’t list Re-7 for the 50gr.
• In their 1995 & 1996 data guides, Alliant lists a 50gr Hornady JSP @3195fps with a max charge of 21.5gr for 53000 PSI. I noticed that they also list a max charge for Reloader-12 of 27.0gr @3335 fps at 52300psi.
However, the1996 Guns & Ammo article “The 223 Remington” by Bob Forker, he includes a chart of load data that lists a 50gr Nosler with a starting charge of 23.0 gr and a Max load of 26.5 gr @3325fps.
I’ve been reading Bob Forker for many, many years… His name is right up there with Taffin, O’Conner and Skelton among others, so his name holds some weight. And, since the article shows a picture of an AR-15, it implies that even if they are over manual listings, these loads are safe in this type of rifle in particular (assuming its likely due to the higher pressure 5.56 operates at). Knowing that there is a wide margin between standard loads of the past (where there weren’t a rash of kabooms) and the docile loads of today, I should have known better but figured this to be credible data considering the source and worth of at least one test string.
Getting back to load testing… I loaded up five rounds with 23.5, 23.8 25.5 and 26.0 gr of Re-7.
All test loads are hand dribbled into a calibrated RCBS 10-10 scale. Notice that the first two are at approximately10% lower than the G&A listed max of 26.5 and that the 25.5gr load is1 full grain lower than the 26.5gr the article lists as max.
At the range I shot the first two loads without incident (23.5 & 23.8).
Shot #1 of the 25.5gr load blew the primer completely out, ripped the rim off the case leaving it in the chamber, covered the front of the bolt with burnt powder residue and jammed the next cartridge into the head of the case stuck in the chamber. I used a cleaning rod to easily dislodge the case but found a piece of brass stuck under the extractor. The blown primer was nowhere to be found inside or outside the rifle. My chrono registered 3441 fps and it was obvious something wasn’t right.
I disassembled, cleaned and inspected the bolt and didn’t see any obvious damage.
I know I should have stopped right there but after a moment considering that I might have made an error, maybe over-charging that one load, I decided to try one more shot. This time the result was exactly the same and the chrono showed 3433fps – so I knew it wasn’t a mistake and I was deep in dangerous territory. Of course, I immediately stopped shooting this load, and pulled all down when I got home. I checked each one and they were all at the designated powder weight with an OAL of 2.255”, so the load recommendation in the magazine had to be questionably overpressure – not just for this gun but in general.
I believe it is rare to have such an overcharge recommended in a mainstream magazine and in retrospect, comparing the recommendation to load manuals I can only think it had to be a typo. Perhaps Mr Forker was looking at Reloader-12 data instead of RE-7.
I understand how I let this happen but now I suspect any and all load data recommended by G&A. I don’t think I can trust info from any magazine again. I also wonder if there is microscopic metallurgical damage to my bolt and question if I should replace it, just to be safe.
I realize this article was published 20 years ago but that only underscores the longevity of your magazine. Since then, I can only hope G&A has instituted additional checks for published load data.
This also underscores the value of starting low and working up.
This is a letter I wrote but never sent…. Didn’t think it would do any good but maybe someone reading this can benefit from the experience…
A few weeks ago, I was at my range testing 50gr Nosler Ballistic tips for my DPMS AR 223 16” heavy Varmint barrel. As usual when working up loads, I consult several manuals from the early 70’s up to current OEM data. In the past I have sometimes used magazine articles I considered reliable info, if published in reputable magazines by well known authors. I do not use data found on the internet unless it comes directly from a manufacturer’s website such as Hodgdon, Alliant, Nosler etc
There isn’t a nice way to put what happened… at the very least; shooting loads published in a Guns & Ammo article I almost blew up my rifle. See attached photos of two case heads…
Before your brain goes numb and you close your ears thinking I made a common newbie reloading mistake, let me indicate that I have been reloading since the 1960’s, I have experience loading at least 25 calibers and have worked up test loads when there was no data available for the powder I was using. This isn’t my first Rodeo.
As often is the case, some sources have starting loads in excess of other’s max loads. I typically note that and based on a judgment call, start somewhere in the lower middle range and work up in small increments, while maintaining awareness for various well known pressure signs. This practice has worked just fine so far.
One powder I wanted to try with the 50gr Nosler BallisticTip, was Reloader-7. However I couldn’t find OEM data for that particular bullet, but I did find some close to it.
• My Sierra datasheet lists a 50gr Spitzer at 23.0gr Max @3200fps for the 20” AR …or 24.0 gr @3400fps in a 24” bolt gun.
• The 1967 Speer manual shows a 50gr at 23.0 max, @3376 fps from a 24” Sako.
• Lyman #44 lists 22.5 max @3154 in a 20” AR for their 50gr listing.
• My 1994 Nosler Manual #4 doesn’t list Re-7 for the 50gr.
• In their 1995 & 1996 data guides, Alliant lists a 50gr Hornady JSP @3195fps with a max charge of 21.5gr for 53000 PSI. I noticed that they also list a max charge for Reloader-12 of 27.0gr @3335 fps at 52300psi.
However, the1996 Guns & Ammo article “The 223 Remington” by Bob Forker, he includes a chart of load data that lists a 50gr Nosler with a starting charge of 23.0 gr and a Max load of 26.5 gr @3325fps.
I’ve been reading Bob Forker for many, many years… His name is right up there with Taffin, O’Conner and Skelton among others, so his name holds some weight. And, since the article shows a picture of an AR-15, it implies that even if they are over manual listings, these loads are safe in this type of rifle in particular (assuming its likely due to the higher pressure 5.56 operates at). Knowing that there is a wide margin between standard loads of the past (where there weren’t a rash of kabooms) and the docile loads of today, I should have known better but figured this to be credible data considering the source and worth of at least one test string.
Getting back to load testing… I loaded up five rounds with 23.5, 23.8 25.5 and 26.0 gr of Re-7.
All test loads are hand dribbled into a calibrated RCBS 10-10 scale. Notice that the first two are at approximately10% lower than the G&A listed max of 26.5 and that the 25.5gr load is1 full grain lower than the 26.5gr the article lists as max.
At the range I shot the first two loads without incident (23.5 & 23.8).
Shot #1 of the 25.5gr load blew the primer completely out, ripped the rim off the case leaving it in the chamber, covered the front of the bolt with burnt powder residue and jammed the next cartridge into the head of the case stuck in the chamber. I used a cleaning rod to easily dislodge the case but found a piece of brass stuck under the extractor. The blown primer was nowhere to be found inside or outside the rifle. My chrono registered 3441 fps and it was obvious something wasn’t right.
I disassembled, cleaned and inspected the bolt and didn’t see any obvious damage.
I know I should have stopped right there but after a moment considering that I might have made an error, maybe over-charging that one load, I decided to try one more shot. This time the result was exactly the same and the chrono showed 3433fps – so I knew it wasn’t a mistake and I was deep in dangerous territory. Of course, I immediately stopped shooting this load, and pulled all down when I got home. I checked each one and they were all at the designated powder weight with an OAL of 2.255”, so the load recommendation in the magazine had to be questionably overpressure – not just for this gun but in general.
I believe it is rare to have such an overcharge recommended in a mainstream magazine and in retrospect, comparing the recommendation to load manuals I can only think it had to be a typo. Perhaps Mr Forker was looking at Reloader-12 data instead of RE-7.
I understand how I let this happen but now I suspect any and all load data recommended by G&A. I don’t think I can trust info from any magazine again. I also wonder if there is microscopic metallurgical damage to my bolt and question if I should replace it, just to be safe.
I realize this article was published 20 years ago but that only underscores the longevity of your magazine. Since then, I can only hope G&A has instituted additional checks for published load data.
This also underscores the value of starting low and working up.
