Originally Posted by 405wcf

As Partagas points out, the powders in Hornady's Light Magnum loads and RCM cartriges produce higher velocities than those currently available to handloaders. At some point in time they may become available to us.


Available or not, you're not going to be stuff enough into the case to replicate the load.

For example, last time I checked, a 180 30-06 Federal Fusion load uses 56 grains of a ball powder for ~2740. A 180 308 Win Federal HE uses 56 grains of a ball powder for ~2740. Essentially, Federal is stuffing a 30-06 size load in a 308 case. I doubt the powder is terribly special (there is certainly nothing magical about the energy density), but the loading technique is pretty damn tough to duplicate.

Edited to add: At least for the 308 Win, there are commonly available powders that will more or less duplicate the velocity of the HE loads with pressures around 60K (the HE loads are about 54K).

Last edited by Thegman; 01/03/09.