need some advice on a hot load

[banthony]

First, let me say that this is my first post although I am a regular reader of what other's post.
I have found a wealth of information and a lot of first class knowledge regarding loading and for that I would like to say "thank you" to all.
I have recently retired and have started shooting again after a long lay off. I have several "sporter" rifles in assorted calibers (222, 22-250, 257Roberts, 257 Weatherby, 270, 7mm08, 308, 30-06, 7mag). I am a life long shooter and reloader but have not shot much and have not done any loading in over 20 years. Well, there you have my story.
I have begun shooting and loading for the 308. I have loaded numerous different recipes for it and have enjoyed the effort of looking for the consistent "one hole" group. I wish I could say that I have been successful but a consistent clover leaf has been my best success to date as long as I do my part.
I recently purchased some BLC2 and was trying to load 168SMK with 45.4 grains as a starting load with this powder. Somehow I managed to set my balance scale at 49.0 grains instead of the 45.4. ( I still can't believe I did this!) This is 2.5 grains above what Nosler manual #6 says is a "max" load. My question is what should I do with these rounds(only 25 of them). Has anyone shot this powder at this weight or is it unsafe to do so? In my younger years I would have just shot it and believed it would be ok, but today I am hoping someone on here will give me good advice on these "hot" loads.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Bob

 

[Coyboy]

Bob welcome to LRH, acording to my math that is 3.6 grains over book max, I would definatly pull them. Peace of Mind.

 

[banthony]

Jim,
Thanks for the reply.
I should have been more clear. The max load according to Nosler is 46.5 grains. This makes the load 2.5 g too hot.
I would still think this may be too much and tend to agree with you that I should pull the bullets but was curious if anyone else had experience with this powder.
Thanks,
Bob

 

[AJ Peacock]

Quickload shows that load as 10% higher pressure than max (66k psi vs 60k psi). The only way I would ever shoot them is if I worked up to that load slowly over a chronograph. Since it's only 25 rounds, I'd pull them and pretend it never happened.

ps: welcome to the site.

AJ

 

[banthony]

Thanks AJ,
I appreciate the info.
Maybe there is a win in this... at least it wasn't a hundred rounds and I bet next time I am more careful.
Thanks again,
Bob

 

[J E Custom]

Jim,
Thanks for the reply.
I should have been more clear. The max load according to Nosler is 46.5 grains. This makes the load 2.5 g too hot.
I would still think this may be too much and tend to agree with you that I should pull the bullets but was curious if anyone else had experience with this powder.
Thanks,
Bob

Bob .

Pull 3 or 4 and work up in 1/2 gr increments and if you make it to your load without over
pressure signs then you will be all right.

I once had an electronic scale mess up so I drug out the old 1010 balance scale and found I
was 3 grains over the listed, ( I had loaded 70 out of a 100) and so I loaded up from the
listed load in 1/2 gr increments until I reached the "Over load" and found it to be OK in my
rifle and I didn't have to pull the bullets.

If it had only been 20 I might have pulled all of them.

It happens to all re loaders at one time or another but when in doubt take it out.

If you don't pull all 20 of them be sure and mark the "Over loads" so they wont get
them mixed in with your other ammo.

Good luck and be safe.
J E CUSTOM
rifle

 

[trueblue]

banthony,
I would definitely pull them, since you have not worked up to this load.
Only talking about 25 rounds. Won't take you much time at all, not worth the risk to try and shoot one.I would unload them before doing anything else, as if you leave them around, they might end up getting mixed in with your other reloads.

 

[banthony]

Thanks to all for the help.
I will pull at least a few of these and work towards this load in small increments, watching for pressure signs.
For sure, I will be more mindful of my settings as I load in the future.
Thanks again for the sound advice.
Bob