Thread: Handloading for Placid and Challenging Cartridges

Greetings All,
Was having a bit of a search on the interweb today for load data for the 129 grain LRAB in the 6.5-06 that I will be developing a load shortly. Found plenty of data, much of it conflicting. I have been here before. It struck me that most cartridges can be divided into two main groups. Those that are placid to load for and those that are challenging.

Placid Cartridges.
These are mostly cartridges that have been developed by the industry for sporting or military use. The best examples in my cupboard are the .223 and the .308. There are many others. Load data is plentiful and broadly similar. Fancy powders are not needed to get decent performance, chamber tolerances are tight and they are easy to load for. Hence my tag of "Placid Cartridges".

Challenging Cartridges.
These have usually but not always developed outside the US of A and can be old military or sporting rounds. Some started life as a wildcat and some still are. As well as the 6.5-06 mentioned above examples include most obsolete military cartridges such as 6.5x55, 8x57, .303 and others. Load data is scarce and often conflicting. Wide ranges of loads for the same projectiles are often listed and chamber tolerances can be loose and the dies mis matched. These cartridges can be hard work.

I have examples of both but it is the later type that gives the most joy to load for.

How about you?

Regards Grandpamac.