Potentially dangerous situation

[dsdmmat]

When comparing load data across a couple of different load books I ran across a potentially disasterous difference in load data between the Lyman #49 and the western powders reloading guide #5

The Lyman data for 223 remington 69 grain hpbt bullet and AA 2015 on page 139, lists the minimum powder charge at 21.6 grains with a max of 24.0 grains
The western powder reloading guide #5 on page 22, lists the same bullet and powder at minimum 19.7 grains and maximum 21.8 grains.

Now the Lyman book uses a remington case and primer while the western powder guide uses a Winchester case and primer and that may account for the difference in data.

This is just a reminder to those who reload it is not a bad idea to have several different load books to cross check the load especially if you are planning to use a different case or primer than what the book you are using calls for in this time of loading with the components you can get.
Be careful.

[Chicken Shoot]

Thanks for the heads up!! Good catch. I've noticed kind of similar things between two different sources when loading skeet rounds for 12ga.

[EvilD]

Out of curiosity, how old is that Western book?

[dsdmmat]

Usually I see differences about one grain or so on the top and bottom side. I have not come across a load close to max in one book being listed as minimum in another, which is why I thought it appropriate to bring up. If you only have one load book you would never know.

[EvilD]

Also, is the COL the same for both?

[dsdmmat]

There is .015 difference in the two loads the longer one being the bigger load. Both loads use the 69 grain Sierra HPBT.

I downloaded the #5 today it is the most current edition.

[EvilD]

There is .015 difference in the two loads the longer one being the bigger load. Both loads use the 69 grain Sierra HPBT.

I downloaded the #5 today it is the most current edition.

Hmmm, I was thinking Speer #5 which is ancient, not WInchester. 0.015 is negliglible, I would ddefinatly start at the lower load and work up till I got the accuracy I wanted or high pressure signs.

[RandallOfLegend]

I have the Lyman 49th and the Lee 2nd. I have found that Lee generally just reproduces factory load data that you can get on any website. Which means velocities are all over the place. Even so I have found some major discrepancies as well. I am loading 357 magnum at 10% max in one manual, and over max in another. I have had sticky ejection with those rounds, and will be reducing the charge in the future. Even with the sticky ejection the primers look mint.

[dsdmmat]

Hmmm, I was thinking Speer #5 which is ancient, not WInchester. 0.015 is negliglible, I would ddefinatly start at the lower load and work up till I got the accuracy I wanted or high pressure signs.

western powders guide number 5, not Speer.

[BarfLamer]

Alliant's web data has scared me before compared to book data. More than once.

[Meketrefe]

I don't see anything too dangerous but one should question the validity of that data w/o more information like the precise bullet maker, barrel tested, rifling, COAL etc...
The manufacturer, AA, lists their loads with two variants 223R at 223R pressures and the 5.56 that can be loaded up to 62-63Kpsi using hard primers.
Here is the file. http://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-con...ec_1-23-14.pdf
So the best thing is to verify with at least to sources like the powders and bullets manufacturers. The brass they mention doesn't seem the kind one should use
for the 5.56 so both might be wrong but one thing is the common rule of wisdom, start low.
That data from manufacturers is maintained for current batches and updated powder formulas whereas the manuals get obsolete and include the writers input sometimes inaccurate.
The Lyman writters suck and their manual is full of inconsistencies so better save your money and verify with several manufacturers sources.