I have been asked about my post about light loads enough to make this a priority and to repost the thoughts under a separate category, then I'll include some additional data, here goes..
Quote:
15APR10
Hoot-Man and everybody else, if you're going to duplicate the factory loads, I assume that's going to be with 296, cause the 297 that Hornady uses, is more difficult to obtain. What ever you do, keep the pressures up with WW296/H110. I just surveyed the results of an induced Detonation, from a light charge of 296. The detonated round was a 25% undercharge round. This is a well known happenstance with light loads, especially with 269/110. Don't worry about 296/110 it is a great powder and I recommend them and love them, just don't experiment with light loads, unless you know what you're doing. We'll talk later about what you can and cannot do with reduced loads later. I just wanted to get this warning out.
Here's the problem, I maintain that the factory loads are mild at best, if you try to start out much under the factory loading, you're setting yourself up for an Ops. If your loads have progressed enough to stop ejection or are trying to rip off the rims, that's not usually because the load is hot, it's more of a function, that the bolt is trying to open to soon, well before the case has released from the chamber and this because of the Dissipater Gas Block position. So, start out with the factory loading and don't reduce much at all.
For more info, Google, "under loaded ammunition and detonation" or something like this.
..t
End Quote:
Hoot knew all about this malady, but many do not, so for more reading I did Google "light load detonation" and hit a ton of Data pertinent to your knowledge and is a good starting point. I particularly thought this would be good reading, http://www.charm.net/~kmarsh/burn.html . But much can be learned by studying this Phenomenon.
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Now, because many are wanting to develop "Plinking Loads", lets start a dialog about "Detonation and Light Loads".
What do you know about them and and this effect.
How do we prevent them.
Experiences with them.
Experiences with the aftermath of a Detonation.
etc.
There are many thoughts that ought to be explored here and we should.
..t