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It's mentioned that 49gr of W748 under a 220gr Speer FN is a favored load. Speer #11-14 all show 49.5gr of W748 as max for this cartridge.
My curiosity is this: I'm not able to get more than 47gr of W748 into a case with a Speer 220gr FN (OAL 2.560") before I'm hearing "crunching". I'd guess that means I'm on the edge of compressing the powder, and ball powders aren't the compressing kind, true? I'm seating to the crimp groove and using a Lee FC.
So what am I not considering or missing entirely? What's the secret to getting 49gr of W748 into a 356Win case with a 220gr Speer FN?
Last edited by FWiedner on Fri Jul 15, 2011 6:06 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Government office attracts the power-mad, yet it's people who just want to be left alone to live life on their own terms who are considered dangerous.
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While I have never used 748 in my 356, maybe a longer drop tube will help. Sometimes if poured so it flows in a circular pattern down the funnel also helps. Another trick i have used to get a little more in is to place the round on a vibration source to help settle the powder. ie a vibrating sander plate (without the paper on). just some ideas.
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If you haven't already, try dumping the powder slowly through the funnel from about 4-5" above. That will settle the powder vs running the charge from a powder measure directly into the case.
In my experience, different lots of the same ball powder will have slightly different densities meaning the same charge weight of one lot can take up slightly less room than another lot.
As we know, different case lots from different manufacturers can have slightly different capacities as well.
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I've got one load that needs both the long drop tube and some vibration to get enough room to seat the bullet (I use an old electric shaver that has lots of vibration to it).
Another thing that can get you is that a can of powder that has been open a long time will not be as dense as it was when fresh. Only reason I know this is I have a Redding BR30 powder measure that has absolutely repeatable micrometer settings that I record when I get the load I like. The same can of powder I used 5 years ago (yeah, this kind of thing happens around this place) will invariable give me a lighter weight today than I recorded 5 years ago for the same powder measure setting. Sorry, I haven't been consistent enough with chronographing loads to tell you if the lighter weight but same volume gives the same velocity it gave before. I know I just assume it does and use the recorded micrometer setting rather than readjusting for weight.
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is he who heals the most gullies. Patrick Henry
I shoot 48.0 grains of Winchester 748 behind the 220-grain Speer bullet. In my Winchester I get 2,257 fps and this is an accurate but compressed load. Its about all I can put in the case and seat the bullet to my preferred COAL of 2.500”. I am certain with a COAL of 2.600” you can get 49.0 grains into a full length sized case. Ball powder does not compress much but it will “pack down hard.”
For maximum performance I prefer Hodgdon 4198 and Varget, both of which will push the 220-grain bullet above 2,360 fps.
FWiedner wrote:I noticed that O.S.O.K was the levergunner who favored the 49gr of Win748.
Hoping to get his input...
I've dropped him a line via another forum he and I play cat herder on so hopefully he'll be along shortly. I know he's in the middle of a pretty big transition (a good one) so it might take a little time.
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FWiedner wrote:I noticed that O.S.O.K was the levergunner who favored the 49gr of Win748.
Hoping to get his input...
I've dropped him a line via another forum he and I play cat herder on so hopefully he'll be along shortly. I know he's in the middle of a pretty big transition (a good one) so it might take a little time.
I pm'd him to ask the question and he was kind enough to respond.
Apparently from the several suggestions, what I need to do is "try harder."
Thanks to all for your help.
Government office attracts the power-mad, yet it's people who just want to be left alone to live life on their own terms who are considered dangerous.
History teaches that it's a small window in which people can fight back before it is too dangerous to fight back.
