do you load to max?

[Rocky Raab]

Paul has a valid point. The loading manuals are developed strictly to SAAMI standards precisely because there are people out there loading for what might be a century-old rifle. That's why the SAAMI limits go down on a regular basis: the oldest guns chambered for those rounds aren't getting any stronger or less worn.

But if you've just bought a brand new 30-06, it's almost certain that the gun can handle higher pressures than SAAMI now allows. The problem comes with determining what pressures you're loading to. If you have a system that reads those pressures (like denton does) then you may be on firmer ground than the rest of us. But if not, you're just guessing.

Personally, I'd take that extra gun strength as insurance, not as an excuse to see how far I can go before the strength limit is exceeded.