SmallCaliberCentral

What are the issues if any involving loading to 1 grain less than the listed starting or minimum charge per Barnes recommendations? how far can I drop this without it being an issue

looking at 204 DPMS Panther, 26 grain Varmint Grenade. COAL 2.26 RL10x

I would be very careful in downloading from posted start loads. You can get into a condition they call "Detonation" which makes your loaded cartridge into a mini bomb, which will cause a explosion, rather than a slow burn/build up of pressure in a fired round. Even tho you have a lighter charge, it becomes a bomb, due to the flash of the primer over the top of the powder lying to loose in the round. I would not really go below start loads. If you are after a light load, then check out other powders, made for such. i.e. Trailboss. Get some manuals and read further on the subject and of light loads for plinking, gallery shooting, etc. Better to be safe than sorry. BIll K

+ One for what Bill said.

Saw a guy destroy a beautiful custom M98 Mauser years ago using a "reduced load" of H4831. He only got to try that once........

Stick to published loads....unless you have your own ballistics laboratory.

thanks. Email sent to Barnes on this issue.

Response From Barnes for THIS PARTICULAR LOAD...

With RL10 x you could go 1 to 1.5 grains below the min charge and be ok.


Thanks,

Ryan Farr | Consumer Services
Barnes Bullets, LLC

I wonder if they'd give a similar response on how much OVER you can safely go - not likely