Another reloading newb question

[JDArms1240]

I'm early in the learning stage so I have a question for folks that know more than me.

I have been loading 162gr hornady ELD-X's on top of 70 grains of retumbo.  I like these rounds quite a bit but I've noticed every time I shoot something, I find a mushroomed (if you could call it that) slug which I'm guessing is ~50% of the bullet and then a million little fragments, after a ton of research I found this is pretty typical with the ELD-X's.  Which brings me to the 165gr Norma Bondstrike, a bonded bullet.  I have found very limited published info about hand loading these bullets.  I'm going to try to buy their powder that they have listed in their manuals. That was a long explanation that brings the question if I cant find their powder or if its super hard to find:

Since the projectiles are only 3 grains different and very similar BC's, can I use my same recipe or very close, say 69.8 grains of retumbo instead of 70?  Or is this an irresponsible thing to do?

[JDArms1240]

BC info

[Wolfdog2314]

Sounds like finding your dead animal, the bullet had done its job  I’ve really liked the performance of the eld-X. But everyone has their own opinion on bullets of course, as with anything.

Switching to a new bullet, restart your load development with the new bullet. Typically lighter bullets will accept more grains of powder. So u may not necessarily have a reduction in powder weight as you stated.

At any rate, switching bullet, powder, case, I’d recommend starting somewhere in the middle or the reccomended charge for your 162 ELD-X and working up until you find signs of pressure.

[JDArms1240]

Sounds like finding your dead animal, the bullet had done its job  I’ve really liked the performance of the eld-X. But everyone has their own opinion on bullets of course, as with anything.

Switching to a new bullet, restart your load development with the new bullet. Typically lighter bullets will accept more grains of powder. So u may not necessarily have a reduction in powder weight as you stated.

At any rate, switching bullet, powder, case, I’d recommend starting somewhere in the middle or the reccomended charge for your 162 ELD-X and working up until you find signs of pressure.

Aw gotchya, Thanks for the info.  Just to say it though, I wasn’t unhappy with the ELD-X, I fact I was super happy with it.  This is more of a “I wanna mess around” experiment.

[Wolfdog2314]

Sounds like finding your dead animal, the bullet had done its job  I’ve really liked the performance of the eld-X. But everyone has their own opinion on bullets of course, as with anything.

Switching to a new bullet, restart your load development with the new bullet. Typically lighter bullets will accept more grains of powder. So u may not necessarily have a reduction in powder weight as you stated.

At any rate, switching bullet, powder, case, I’d recommend starting somewhere in the middle or the reccomended charge for your 162 ELD-X and working up until you find signs of pressure.

Aw gotchya, Thanks for the info.  Just to say it though, I wasn’t unhappy with the ELD-X, I fact I was super happy with it.  This is more of a “I wanna mess around” experiment.

Ahhh yes and that’s the beauty of hand loading, the never ending pursuit of finding something better/different/faster/higher performance haha.

[JDArms1240]

Sounds like finding your dead animal, the bullet had done its job  I’ve really liked the performance of the eld-X. But everyone has their own opinion on bullets of course, as with anything.

Switching to a new bullet, restart your load development with the new bullet. Typically lighter bullets will accept more grains of powder. So u may not necessarily have a reduction in powder weight as you stated.

At any rate, switching bullet, powder, case, I’d recommend starting somewhere in the middle or the reccomended charge for your 162 ELD-X and working up until you find signs of pressure.

Aw gotchya, Thanks for the info.  Just to say it though, I wasn’t unhappy with the ELD-X, I fact I was super happy with it.  This is more of a “I wanna mess around” experiment.

Ahhh yes and that’s the beauty of hand loading, the never ending pursuit of finding something better/different/faster/higher performance haha.

Yup, I have discovered this, last year I was only a little excited to get all the equipment and hand/re-load.  I loaded up 50 ELD-X’s and hit the field.  I stretched out the range on my rifle (as well as mine) and that was all I needed, after that I was hooked!  I stretched out my tikka’s legs until I found the limit of my scope, 925 yards and hearing metal ring! Now, I’m REAL excited about hand loading!

[jrebel]

Always work up a new load when switching bullets.  Don’t get fixed on any one powder but rather consider powders with similar burn rates as a recommended powder.   Lighter bullets may require a faster burn rates than heavies in the same chambering.  Always good to use multiple reloading resources / manuals to find a good safe staring point. 

Also….no dumb questions when it comes to reloading.  Lots of folks with great information to share. I’m personally not a fan of the HORNADY ELD-x or -m.   I’ll keep lead out of my meat now that monolithic bullets are available and performance is so good. 

[GWP]

Reloading is an addiction. Or can be. At one point between my personal loads and friends I was willing to load for, I was loading 19 different calibers. I only load for me now but that is still 12.
On my Hornet, which I have some great loads for, in the last two weeks, I tested three different bullets in four different powders.
See what you are in for?