do you load to max?

[bulletpusher]

hofts,

I've loaded my rifle cartridges to the max listed loads a couple of times, and I've loaded my Ruger Blackhawk .45 Colt to the max. just cause I could. The loads in both applications fuctioned as advertised.

But accuracy was way better at a little below max. in the rifle and at about midrange in the .45 Colt.

I then thought about something that I had read from Dick Casull and John Linebaugh. If you had a Porche that would go 180 mph would you drive it at that speed all the time.

The rifle is a .25-06 pushing 100 grn Ballistic Tips at about 3200 fps., thats not max. but it is close. I change to a bit faster power in the rifle and can load about 10 grns less to get those magic velocities. The .45 Colt is pushing 260 grn Kieth bullets at about 1050 to 1100 fps. I changed to a bit faster powder and am using about 5 or 6 grns less powder to get the velocity range I want and accuracy it getting better as I play with the load a little.

One thing about loading below max. is the loads don't suffer all that much and I'm burning less powder. Makes for more ecconomical loading on my part and a pound of powder last a little longer and I get more rounds per pound.

Just something to think about.

Bulletpusher "BBRSSC #1"