New member, been reading for a couple years. Relatively new (5 years) handloader.
I developed a load for my 35 Whelen for Moose here in ME in summer of 2018 and used it successfully! I used a Barnes TSX 200g and 8208XBR. I could not find a recipe for this bullet with this powder but I was able to find loads for other bullets. While I know that can be dangerous, particularly with the monolithics generating higher pressures, I did start low, worked up and watched for pressure signs. I ended up below the max load and had comparable velocity and great accuracy. I ended up using this load again to zero the rifle after I had the stock shortened and had a sticky bolt. First was minor second a little more and I quit.
I am trying to figure out why a load that was previously OK would be over pressure now. I have considered temp - cooler now for sure when I worked up the load. Change in OAL - remeasured and no change. I loaded fairly far off the lands too as the TSX's seem to shoot more accurately that way. I also measure case length to be sure they weren't too long and that was OK.
I am about to break them down and remeasure but I did load all of them at the same time and weighed each charge individually (25 cartridges).
Wondering if any of those here with way more experience than me have ideas why this may have happened. It certainly got my attention. I have never loaded a round above a recipe or at a velocity above what recipes state in the manuals, even taking into consideration my often shorter barrels.
Appreciate the wisdom of the Group.
Rifle is a Forbes 24B
Goose
I developed a load for my 35 Whelen for Moose here in ME in summer of 2018 and used it successfully! I used a Barnes TSX 200g and 8208XBR. I could not find a recipe for this bullet with this powder but I was able to find loads for other bullets. While I know that can be dangerous, particularly with the monolithics generating higher pressures, I did start low, worked up and watched for pressure signs. I ended up below the max load and had comparable velocity and great accuracy. I ended up using this load again to zero the rifle after I had the stock shortened and had a sticky bolt. First was minor second a little more and I quit.
I am trying to figure out why a load that was previously OK would be over pressure now. I have considered temp - cooler now for sure when I worked up the load. Change in OAL - remeasured and no change. I loaded fairly far off the lands too as the TSX's seem to shoot more accurately that way. I also measure case length to be sure they weren't too long and that was OK.
I am about to break them down and remeasure but I did load all of them at the same time and weighed each charge individually (25 cartridges).
Wondering if any of those here with way more experience than me have ideas why this may have happened. It certainly got my attention. I have never loaded a round above a recipe or at a velocity above what recipes state in the manuals, even taking into consideration my often shorter barrels.
Appreciate the wisdom of the Group.
Rifle is a Forbes 24B
Goose