FAQ Reloading
Q. Where can I find a dealer in my area that carries your products?
Q. I am loading the 223 Remington. Why doesn't anyone make any 0.223" bullets except for the light weight bullets?
A. The designation "223 Remington" is a cartridge name and does not relate to the exact bullet diameter required. The proper bullet diameter for the 223 Remington is 0.224".
Q. I have a light bullet (e.g. 125 grain) and the only load data I can locate is for a heavier bullet (e.g. 158 grain). I need a safe starting point to develop a load for this lighter bullet.
A. The physics of loading cartridges indicates that a heavier bullet will build pressures faster than a lighter bullet owing to its mass. The greater mass of the heavier bullet resists change (acceleration) more than a lighter mass so the powder charges for the heavier bullet will nearly always be lower than those for the lighter bullet of the same construction. This indicates that, without other data to follow, the heavier bullet data can be used as a starting point for the lighter bullet.
Q. Why are the recommended loads shown in your loading manual so much different than those shown in my older Speer manual or in other manuals.
A. The differences in load data reflect changes in the way pressures are measured and changes in components over time. The loads developed in the past reflected the current state of pressure measurement and the components available then. Things change, so always use the latest data. Not all bullets are built alike either, so data for a "Brand-X" bullet will produce different pressures than a Speer bullet. The best action is to use data from the company that made your bullet.
Q. I know all loading manuals have reduced maximum loads for liability reasons. How far can I safely go beyond the maximum loads shown?
A. You can’t go beyond safely. Speer load data at the maximum levels reaches the pressure limits established by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute (SAAMI). Do not exceed these maximum loads. And NEVER start with the maximum load. We provide start loads so you can work up incrementally to see if, for some reason, the maximum loads are not appropriate for your particular firearm.
Q. A friend gave me a paper bag with about half a pound of powder. The powder is shiny black and looks like small pieces of pencil lead. How much of this stuff do I load with a 180 grain bullet?
A. Unlabeled powder cannot be reliably identified and should be treated as scrap. Its non-approved container is also a safety hazard. Discard the powder in a manner consistent with your local disposal regulations.
Q. I just bought a 300 WSM rifle and there is no data in my latest SPEER Manual. What gives?
A. That cartridge and several others were not standardized when the last SPEER Manual went to press. However, you can find supplemental data sheets for this and other new cartridges and bullets by visiting the "Supplemental Loading Data" page on this web site.
Q. I need oversized primers. After firing cases with a pet load that my brother-in-law figured out, new primers are too small for my primer pockets. They fall out.
A. You are on thin ice! You have produced a handload with so much pressure that you've deformed the case head. Pressures have to be at least 20 percent over safe levels for this to happen. Stop, scrap any remaining ammo, and use published data from now on.
Q. When did SPEER publish its first reloading manual?
A. 1954. Ray Speer, Vernon's son, developed the first one.
Q. How many different SPEER bullet boards have been built?
A. Look under "Specialty Reloading Products" for "Bullet Boards." there, you can download a chronology of the entire series of SPEER bullet boards, complete with approximate production numbers.
Q. I reload thousands of rounds every year. Can I buy bullets in bulk instead of 100-count boxes?
A. Yes, several popular rifle and handgun bullets are sold in Speer Value Packs. Visit the Bullet Selector and look for "Value Pack" in the product description. Value Packs contain between 300 and 1000 bullets, depending on caliber.
Q. The rifle bullet I'm loading has a crimp groove, but the cartridge length recommended puts the groove out of the case. Should I change the seating length to make the crimp groove line up.
A. No. Not all rifle cartridges require crimping. The groove on the bullet is positioned for those that need the crimp. If the recommended seating length puts the crimp groove above or below the case mouth, we determined that crimping was not needed. Having the crimp groove above or below the case mouth has no adverse effects on accuracy or performance.
Q. I'm reloading 30-30 ammo for my lever-action rifle. Do I need to crimp the bullets.
A. Yes, crimping is mandatory for ammo to be used in any rifle with a tubular magazine. The pressure of the magazine spring and the vibration of recoil can cause the bullet to "telescope" into the case, resulting in poor feeding and increased pressure. When loading for a tubular magazine rifle, always select a bullet with a crimp groove, and one that has a flat point to prevent in-magazine firing.
Q. I bought a reloading die set and there’s a note with the dies that says something like, “Speer does not recommend using their bullets with these dies.” What’s the deal?
A. Speer never made such a broad recommendation. Speer’s recommendation is: Do not apply a crimp to any bullet that does not have a crimp groove. The die company in question markets a die to produce a “factory crimp” and recommends it be used on any bullet. Speer’s tests, and those by another bullet maker and an independent gun writer, show that crimping a bullet that doesn’t have a crimp groove degrades group size by an average of 40 percent. Other than the crimp die, we have no problem with our bullets in that firm’s dies, although our preference is for RCBS® products.
We express ours thanks to the die maker for allowing us to make contact with so many new SPEER customers.
Q. Where can I find new Speer Reloading Data?
.A. The latest reloading data for cartridges and Speer® bullets developed after the release of the Speer Reloading Manual #14 can be found on our website. They're free to download.
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