Load for 30-40 Krag Nosler 180 Spitzer

I decided that today would be a good day to start reloading for my Krag. The bolt looks good and the bore is great. My problem is the different load data listed in different books.
For my first try I am using Nosler Ballistic Tip 180gr .308 Spitzer over IMR 4064. I have about 10 or 11 lbs of IMR 4064.

Hornady 7th Ed lists for 178-180gr start at 32.6gr to max 37.4gr

Lee 180gr Jacketed 36.1 start to 41.0gr max

Lyman 45th to 50th Ed 38.0 start to 42.0 max. the 47th to 50th ED say "not for KRAG" but for single shot Rugers. The 45th and 46th Ed say to have the bolt inspected by a gunsmith.

I loaded my first one with the Lee data since it was listed in the instructions with the dies.

What sort of opinions do you all have on the differences with the load data.
Thank you

I really like 200 grain cast in the Krag but have loaded with IMR 4064 32.6 grains 180 grain Nosler Ballistic tip 1835 FPS
at that speed shooting any thing jacketed is maybe not worth it and my Krag likes the cast bullets below 1850 FPS .

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Originally Posted by bimus

I really like 200 grain cast in the Krag but have loaded with IMR 4064 32.6 grains 180 grain Nosler Ballistic tip 1835 FPS
at that speed shooting any thing jacketed is maybe not worth it and my Krag likes the cast bullets below 1850 FPS .

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With that in mind I will lower the loads in the rest to 32 gr and see how it goes. I do have a 180gr mold that looks promising I will try that next.

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Originally Posted by wyofool

My problem is the different load data listed in different books.

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Different load data in different source reloading manuals is pretty much the rule, not the exception.

As you're presumably going to start towards the low end of the recommended powder charge weights and then work you way up looking for an accuracy node (or a sweet spot or whatever you want to think of it as), you'll be good to go within all your data sources. If you have a chronograph to do your testing with, then you can amuse yourself seeing which sources predicted velocities come closest to your actual velocities per published charge weight.

If I decided to default to one source to start with, I'd be using the bullet manufacturer's published load data. Or alternately, the powder manufacturer's load data. Nosler published data for the 30/40 in their 2nd edition (before that bullet), and have dropped the caliber by their more recent edition - I don't have their manuals between the two. Hogdon's online data merely says 41.0 gr MAX for a velocity of 2,435 fps.

I think the usual applies here: prudent, rational load development starting at the low end of published data and working your way up looking for a sweet spot load is the way to go.

i shoot a 165gr ranch dog(173gr act) with h4198 that goes 1930fps. i use a lyman reloading book.

I’m thinking that a .308 diameter jacketed bullet will not shoot well in your Krag as lead ammo runs .311 but give it a try. I’ve been using Hunter Supply 193 gr .311 lead fp bullets for our BAM matches with easy loads of VV Tin Star. Need to set up my chrony but I’m too lazy.

.308 dia Jacketed bullets shoot fine in Krags. I load 180's and 170FP's to about 2300 fs and they shoot great. For cast any 30 cal cast should work well sized to .311. I like Ken Waters pet load of 14.5 IMR 4227 with Lyman 311413. 311291 and 18.0 4198 does well also. 311299 or 311284 are more like the original bullet, and 30.0 3031 handles them well.

http://stevespages.com/308_10_180.html

Thanks JB don't think I've seen that page before.

The original speeds were circa 2000 fps for the 220 gr RN, then circa 2400 fps for the current 180gr factory load.
I'm staying below those speeds with mine out of respect to the 120 year old action.
IMR 4064 will be a good powder to use. I'm currently using IMR 4350 for 180 gr and 220 gr jacketed and IMR 3031 and Unique for cast bullets.

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Steve's pages are a compilation of different load data he found. A range, like the other data you found. Here's some good data developed out of a 30" barrel. No 4064 however. Because capacity is nearly the same, I take a look at .308 data on Hodgdon's website. Good example there. 40.7gr 4064 under a 180 gave them 2445fps@44,100psi. That's bit under what the Western powder guy once told me 40,000cup would equal in psi, about 47,000 he said. Noting that the velocity Hodgdon got is about the same as Krag factory ammo.https://load-data.nosler.com/load-data/30-40-krag/

My first Krag had a fine bore. It "sprayed" commercial ammo with no discernable group at 50 yards, litteraly hitting all over a 24 X 36 sheet. Enter a .312 219 grain boolit and at 100 yards it could shoot 1" groups. The moral? Don't assume that it will shoot normal jacketed ammo well.