straightshooter wrote:The reason the 2208 loads in your rifle are so dirty is the pressure is very low.
If you are working from ADI data keep in mind that it likely originates out of the Hodgdon lab and the Americans like to underload these German calibers out of deference to old M93's and some such combined with very old brass that has a thin web.
SAAMI also specifies a lower max chamber pressure of 51000 PSI compared to CIP 56565 PSI.
If you are using a M98 or a modern post war rifle you should be able to safely load your 160 grain projectiles with 36 grains of 2208 and with caution in 1/2 grain increments test 37 grains.
If you are already getting 1/2 inch groups what more are you hoping for?
i should've explained the circumstance relative to what i'm trying to achieve to you fellas . i'm using this rifle in classic calibre class at a big game comp . when i last did this comp i was using a 303 martin custom , and due to it's age kept loads very mild , but accurate . the coarse of fire is 20 shots over various distances offhand . there's not a lot of "cooling off" between shots, and at the end of the comp i found my martini barrel very warm , but not hot . it held it's accuracy consistently during the comp while others using 6.5 swede and 270win were cooking their barrels and having not good grouping cause of barrel heat . so i've built myself a ruger m77 "tang safety " in 7x57 and am trying for accurate mild loads . since last posting i've found 38.5gn of 2209 with a 160 boat tail speer in new norma brass gets me .6" at 100 . burns much cleaner than the 2208 load too . think i'll settle with that . load data is all over the place with minimum charge too . 160gn hornady is 37.5 , sierra is 39gn , speer is 42gn, adi is 40gn .
i'm also in the middle of developing a hotter load for a upcoming comp ssaa vs ADA deer comp shoot . found a node at 45.1gn 2209 , well over ADI's listed max of 42.5gn , uncle nick lists 47gn 2209 max . shoots .6-.8 @ 100, for a un-bedded timber stocked rifle with a sporter profile barrel this is quite good i think . . i should use the club chrono to verify speed as the supposed accuracy node for 7x57 with a 160gn bullet is 2600fps . no pressure signs at all with this load , i'm thinking about creeping up to around 46-46.5 gn of 2209 whilst using a chrono. the other thing i'd like to pick peoples brains on is bullet seating depth . with this load i'm using a hornady 162gn ELD-M bullet . hornady list seating depth at 3.0" . i've made a dummy round to find the lands and come up with 3.275" . i have a lot of freebore to play with so i'm looking at seating out to 3.1" , i've been seating these bullets out to 3.048" for initial load development , but am running out of powder room . will seating out mean giving the powder charges a slight tweak ? some of the questions i've asked might seem basic , but i'm not afraid to ask questions . i've been reloading various cals for years with good success , but there's always more you can learn . cheers
i do a comp in classic calibre in 7x57 with 160gn speer boat tails . been using 2208 cause i have a bit of it , good accuracy just of starting loads , 34gn with new brass 33.5gn with once fired, sub half inch groups at 100 but it burns dirty and the barrels worn in needing load tweaks as groups have opened up . i've also been developing a hotter hunting load with 2209 which is much cleaner burning and has great accuracy . my question is , to find the accuracy node with the mild 2208 powder charge with 2209, what's more important pressure or projectile speed ? hope i explained that properly . i know i should just ladder test with the 2209 , but being able to approach this using less powder and bullets going through ladder testing will help my wallet . look forward to your replies 
