30 Nosler Handloading
AFTER noting considerable differences in loading data for the 30 Nosler between its originator and Hodgdon, I decided to enlist the aid of the QuickLOAD program, MagnetoSpeed chronograph and Kolbe P-Max to develop my own load data. The Kolbe P-Max measures maximum chamber pressure via an accelerometer with a sensitivity of 3.7/Vg.
I wanted was to find a good load with two or three good hunting bullets, namely the 168gn Solid Base, 180gn Norma SBT, and the 184gn and 200gn Lapua Mega.
To start, I entered each bullet, one at a time, into the QuickLOAD program. Next, I entered 63,000 psi as the maximum average pressure I wanted to load to (SAAMI specifies a MAP of 65,000 psi) with a loading density of 87 to 104 percent after the bullet is seated to an overall length of 3.100 to 3.340 inches, depending on the bullet. Obviously you can't seat lighter bullets to the standard maximum overall cartridge length of 3.340 inches. A barrel length of 25 inches was also specified. Then I printed out a sheet of loads for the 30 Nosler listing them from the highest to lowest velocity.
QuickLOAD provides information
