Reloading question - The Firearms Forum

DennisA · 10-06-2011, 06:49 AM

Using 27 grains of H322 in a 6.8 spc cartridge. Why does the powder shake around inside the casing. Does not do so with factory loads. Scale was checked and is working correctly. Was suggested to put in "dacron", has anyone else tried this? BTW first time here... Hello.

Alpo · 10-06-2011, 06:59 AM

First, don't use dacron. This used to be a common reloading technique for light powder loads. You use a little wad of something light - I've heard of cotton balls, dacron, kapok from an old life jacket, little wads of toilet paper - to keep the small powder charge to the back of the cartridge nearer the primer. Modern reloading manuals say not to do this. That the practice has been tested and proven to be dangerous.

Very few powder charges are going to fill the case completely to the bottom of the bullet, so shaking the case you will normally hear the powder moving around. It is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about.

Actually, I like it. If I can hear the powder moving around, I know I did not miss putting a charge in that one.

steve4102 · 10-06-2011, 07:01 AM

More details of your load, please.

carver · 10-06-2011, 07:06 AM

18" 2.290" 110gr VMAX H322 28.0grs, 2546fps, 47378fp pressure, starting load. I've got questions about your load???!!!!

DennisA · 10-06-2011, 07:08 AM

SSA brass: BR-2 SR primer: 115gr. nosler: 27gr. H322.

DennisA · 10-06-2011, 07:09 AM

Thanks Alpo.

carver · 10-06-2011, 07:10 AM

Denni-sA, First Welcome to the forum! Now, where did you find this load? The information I have says that you are below the starting load for the round you are re-loading.

Alpo · 10-06-2011, 07:54 AM

Carver, Hodgdon's website does not list the Nosler, but their starting load for a 115 Sierra is 26.0.

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

Handy little site.

carver · 10-06-2011, 08:00 AM

Thanks!

Bindernut · 10-06-2011, 08:03 AM

The Hornady 7th manual lists 25.4gr of H322 as the starting load and 28.1gr max with 110gr. They specify dropping the charges 10% for the 115gr that they have listed.

I don't have a Nosler manual so I don't know if they've got any data for the 6.8SPC and I don't reload for that cartridge either. Just sharing data from the Hornady manual that supports his charge weight for the bullet weight.

That out of the way...
It's common for a powder charge to not completely fill a case. A full case up to the base of the bullet is called 100% load density. A smaller charge and yes you'll hear the powder shaking around. Any more powder and it will be a compressed load.
A slower burning powder will typically be bulkier and give you closer to 100% load density, where a faster powder usually has a smaller volume and you'll have more airspace inside the case.
Personally, I tend to prefer a load that is as close to 100% load density as possible for more consistent powder placement in the case. I honestly don't know exactly how much this affects velocity but it's just one more variable I like to trim out of the shooting equation.
If you're shooting downhill, a low density charge might sit near the the case mouth with the air space back by the flash hole. Uphill, the powder charge will be by the flash hole.
In an autoloader, all bets are off on consistent powder placement anyway as the cases get chambered pretty forcefully...so (like in a carried hunting rifle) who knows where the charge will end up inside the case when you actually pull the trigger.

You might check into some slower burning powders to get closer to a 100% load density if this is a concern.

DennisA · 10-06-2011, 10:36 AM

Carver: Load came from Hornady 115 otm similar to nossler 115 otm. Correction:BR-4 primer not BR-2
Bindernut: I will try slower burn powder.

Thanks guys!
Nice to have a place to mull stuff over.

gdmoody · 10-06-2011, 10:38 AM

I don't have a 6.8 so I don't have any answers for you, I just wanted to take a second to welcome you to The forum!

DennisA · 10-06-2011, 10:43 AM

TY gd

steve4102 · 10-06-2011, 04:55 PM

How much shooka-shooka are you experiencing, how much extra room in the case?
27gr of 322 should just about be 100% load density. 28.2 is compressed.

Are you sure your scale is correct?

10-06-2011, 06:49 AM	#1
DennisA Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 5	Reloading question Using 27 grains of H322 in a 6.8 spc cartridge. Why does the powder shake around inside the casing. Does not do so with factory loads. Scale was checked and is working correctly. Was suggested to put in "dacron", has anyone else tried this? BTW first time here... Hello. -->

10-06-2011, 06:59 AM	#2
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,662	Re: Reloading question First, don't use dacron. This used to be a common reloading technique for light powder loads. You use a little wad of something light - I've heard of cotton balls, dacron, kapok from an old life jacket, little wads of toilet paper - to keep the small powder charge to the back of the cartridge nearer the primer. Modern reloading manuals say not to do this. That the practice has been tested and proven to be dangerous. Very few powder charges are going to fill the case completely to the bottom of the bullet, so shaking the case you will normally hear the powder moving around. It is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about. Actually, I like it. If I can hear the powder moving around, I know I did not miss putting a charge in that one. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

10-06-2011, 07:01 AM	#3
steve4102 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Minnesota Contributor Posts: 2,760	Re: Reloading question More details of your load, please.

10-06-2011, 07:06 AM	#4
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,271	Re: Reloading question 18" 2.290" 110gr VMAX H322 28.0grs, 2546fps, 47378fp pressure, starting load. I've got questions about your load???!!!! __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

10-06-2011, 07:08 AM	#5
DennisA Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 5	Re: Reloading question SSA brass: BR-2 SR primer: 115gr. nosler: 27gr. H322.

10-06-2011, 07:09 AM	#6
DennisA Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 5	Re: Reloading question Thanks Alpo.

10-06-2011, 07:10 AM	#7
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,271	Re: Reloading question Denni-sA, First Welcome to the forum! Now, where did you find this load? The information I have says that you are below the starting load for the round you are re-loading. __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

10-06-2011, 07:54 AM	#8
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,662	Re: Reloading question Carver, Hodgdon's website does not list the Nosler, but their starting load for a 115 Sierra is 26.0. http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp Handy little site. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

10-06-2011, 08:00 AM	#9
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,271	Re: Reloading question Thanks! __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

10-06-2011, 08:03 AM	#10
Bindernut Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ND, USA Posts: 2,450	Re: Reloading question The Hornady 7th manual lists 25.4gr of H322 as the starting load and 28.1gr max with 110gr. They specify dropping the charges 10% for the 115gr that they have listed. I don't have a Nosler manual so I don't know if they've got any data for the 6.8SPC and I don't reload for that cartridge either. Just sharing data from the Hornady manual that supports his charge weight for the bullet weight. That out of the way... It's common for a powder charge to not completely fill a case. A full case up to the base of the bullet is called 100% load density. A smaller charge and yes you'll hear the powder shaking around. Any more powder and it will be a compressed load. A slower burning powder will typically be bulkier and give you closer to 100% load density, where a faster powder usually has a smaller volume and you'll have more airspace inside the case. Personally, I tend to prefer a load that is as close to 100% load density as possible for more consistent powder placement in the case. I honestly don't know exactly how much this affects velocity but it's just one more variable I like to trim out of the shooting equation. If you're shooting downhill, a low density charge might sit near the the case mouth with the air space back by the flash hole. Uphill, the powder charge will be by the flash hole. In an autoloader, all bets are off on consistent powder placement anyway as the cases get chambered pretty forcefully...so (like in a carried hunting rifle) who knows where the charge will end up inside the case when you actually pull the trigger. You might check into some slower burning powders to get closer to a 100% load density if this is a concern.

10-06-2011, 10:36 AM	#11
DennisA Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 5	Re: Reloading question Carver: Load came from Hornady 115 otm similar to nossler 115 otm. Correction:BR-4 primer not BR-2 Bindernut: I will try slower burn powder. Thanks guys! Nice to have a place to mull stuff over.

10-06-2011, 10:38 AM	#12
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,338	Re: Reloading question I don't have a 6.8 so I don't have any answers for you, I just wanted to take a second to welcome you to The forum! __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

10-06-2011, 10:43 AM	#13
DennisA Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 5	Re: Reloading question TY gd

10-06-2011, 04:55 PM	#14
steve4102 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Minnesota Contributor Posts: 2,760	Re: Reloading question How much shooka-shooka are you experiencing, how much extra room in the case? 27gr of 322 should just about be 100% load density. 28.2 is compressed. Are you sure your scale is correct?