Quickload vs Hornady Vo.9 30-06 Question

[MajorSpittle]

I am new to reloading and worked up my first batch of 30-06 rounds to try out.

To come up with a recipe I used Quickload.

So my first set of rounds I loaded was with 178 Amax, FC brass, CCI 200 primers and Reloader 17 powder. Brass is from factory ammo I fired (1st reloading) and sized with a Full Length die.

The bullet seating is CBTO = 2.672 (.012" off lands) with the COAL = 3.298ish

Since I can't reload at the range and it is a 2hr trip I loaded up various loads to try.

I entered the COAL in Quickload, 3.298, Barrel Length 22.5, PMax to 65,000 (new Tikka Rifle), and decided to start my fist load at 56gr and worked up in .5gr increments all the way to 59.5 (which I know is high and most likely will end up not firing rounds 58.5gr and up so I only loaded 3 of each)

here is my QL data:
Cartridge : .30-06 Spring. (SAAMI)
Bullet : .308, 178, Hornady A-MAX 30712
Useable Case Capaci: 60.362 grain H2O = 3.919 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.298 inch = 83.77 mm
Barrel Length : 22.5 inch = 571.5 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-17

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 77 44.80 2223 1953 28456 8506 93.4 1.529
-18.0 79 45.92 2279 2053 30322 8766 94.6 1.488
-16.0 81 47.04 2335 2154 32316 9013 95.7 1.449
-14.0 83 48.16 2390 2258 34442 9246 96.7 1.411
-12.0 84 49.28 2446 2365 36713 9462 97.5 1.374
-10.0 86 50.40 2501 2473 39123 9662 98.2 1.333
-08.0 88 51.52 2557 2583 41728 9844 98.8 1.293
-06.0 90 52.64 2612 2696 44496 10006 99.3 1.255
-04.0 92 53.76 2666 2810 47464 10148 99.7 1.218
-02.0 94 54.88 2720 2925 50641 10269 99.9 1.182
+00.0 96 56.00 2774 3042 54048 10369 100.0 1.148
+02.0 98 57.12 2827 3160 57704 10450 100.0 1.115 ! Near Maximum !
+04.0 100 58.24 2880 3278 61630 10528 100.0 1.083 ! Near Maximum !
+06.0 102 59.36 2932 3398 65854 10603 100.0 1.053 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 104 60.48 2984 3520 70401 10675 100.0 1.023 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 106 61.60 3036 3642 75305 10742 100.0 0.994 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Anyway, I was looking on my box of Hornady Precision Hunter 178 ELD-X rounds and it shows a Muzzle Velocity of 2750fps (barrel length ???), and has a COAL of 3.252". Which would correspond to roughly 55gr of RL17 with that COAL to create that velocity.

This led me to question if I am starting low enough so I looked in my Hornady Vo.9 manual and it doesn't list Reloader 17 for use with 178 amax but it does list it for 168 Amax with a max load of only 54.1 !!!!!!!! ***??????

So I plug in Hornady's COAL for 168 Amax (3.22") and 54.1gr RL17 to get this from QL: 54.10gr 2756fps 49254 psi

So for a sanity check I also plugged in Hornady's Max load recipe Listed for H414 and got this from QL: 58.30gr 2924fps 64060psi<------15,000 psi higher then RL17 Max????

I am new to this, I do have a chrono so if it gives reliable readings I should be able to see if my loads are inline with the QL data to some degree. It is just loading up that first round at 56gr and pulling the trigger. If I was reloading using the Hornady Book, it would have me starting about 47gr and that is a HUGE difference. lightbulb

I guess my thoughts right now is to load 1 round each at 50,51,52,53,54,55gr and run up in the hills close to home and shoot them through the chrono into a hillside just to verify velocity/safety to find the actual point where I should have started loading my 5 round test groups for the range.

Has anyone here loaded using this powder/bullet? Where would you start?

 

[bigedp51]

If you want semi-accurate Quickload output you adjust the burn rate in Quickload until the Quickload velocity matches your chronograph.

Bottom line you tweak/adjust Quickload to match your chronograph velocity. On top of this you need to check the case capacity of a fired case in H2O. Quickload defaults to the lowest case capacity.

Example, on the .223 Quickload defaults to a case capacity of 28.0 grains of H2O and my Lake City cases hold 30.6. This difference in capacity causes 6,000 psi chamber pressure difference between cases.

The larger the case the less capacity effects chamber pressure, BUT Quickload must be adjusted to actual capacity and velocity to get ball park estimates.

Just remember Quickload's output depends on you, so remember the computer saying "Garbage in garbage out".

 

[Trnelson]

I would start a good bit lower than 56.0g. I ran into pressure with R-17 and the 150SST in my .30/06 at 57.0g. The previous poster is correct in his summation of Quickload data. It is only as good as the data points that you enter.
I would first try Hornady's starting load for the 178 over your chronograph to verify what that runs in your rig and go from there.
Just remember that it is not ever socially acceptable, or fashionable, to wear any part of your rifle on your face.

 

[Wachsmann]

I would think you may have started a little on the higher end of things. Its been along time since I reloaded for a 30-06 and I was mainly using 4350 and I think 57 grains with a 180 class bullet was about close to max. Not sure how RL17 and 4350 compare but at the 57.5 weight charge I would really be paying attention to bolt lift and ejector marking. Hitting the 2800fps on a 180 grain bullet for an 06 is a nice, little faster but comfortable range for speed out of a 22 inch barrel. I know some have said with RL 26 in the 06 they are getting about 100+ fps faster on most given bullets but RL26 is much slower than RL17. Good luck..