Gordons Reloading tool, COAL issues

[neolithicman996]

Been lurking here for a while and finally got into reloading. Read thru a ton of stuff on and have been trying to use GRT instead of paying for a million different books that dont give all the info I want (like seating depths for cases cut to not maximum! or when using a 12.5 inch barrel instead of a 24 inch one..so i dont waste powder...this stuff is pricey!). 

GRT keeps changing all the stuff i put in. If i change the seating depth, it messes with case length and coal (i get coal will change). If i change case length or coal it messes with seating depth. It just seems like im doing something wrong or its more trouble than its worth. Right now Im only loading 30hate for my 12.5 sbr and 300 blkout for plinking with suppressor. Is there a better tutorial out there that what im looking thru on the program, maybe a recommended youtube? They way my stuff is coming out sometimes on thsi thing, im within a grain of blowing myself up depending on seating depth.

example: cut cases for 300blkout to 1.360. it keeps pushing COAL to max at 2.598 and telling me my seating depth for 220 grain berrys is to short at .35, but when i load it with 125gr fmjs, its okay with .149 seating depth? Ive noticed that some of the stored data is wrong (150 grain hornday fmjbt 308 bullets are not 1.09, everone ive ever measured is 1.15 or slightly more). I feel like im chasing my tail here trying to find good loads, correct seating depths (really only with the non canneuver ones) and good powder charges to safely get where i wanna be. Using n110, h4598 and lil gun right now (little gun dirty as all get out in subload for the 300, n110 is great. hoping the little gun is better with fuller case loads) but vit stuff is pricey so im trying to get the most out of it. is there a better pay program that doesnt have similar issues, or do i just need to go back to the paper stuff and ignore the giant clouds of unburnt powder existing my barrel? 

[98Z5V]

I've used Accurate 1680, Hodgdon H110, IMR 3030, and LilGun for 300BLK loads, all with Hornady 150 FMJ-BTs.  Never used N110 or H4598, though.  

[neolithicman996]

On 9/28/2026 at 11:17 PM, 98Z5V said:

I've used Accurate 1680, Hodgdon H110, IMR 3030, and LilGun for 300BLK loads, all with Hornady 150 FMJ-BTs.  Never used N110 or H4598, though.  

N110 is the cleanest, quietest I've shot so far. Indoor range, everybody comes over and asks why it's so quiet. Was gonna try IMR 4227, but got some n110 instead. 

Been thinking I might need a good chronograph before I'm trying to use Gordon's effectively. Hard to really know what's going on without one. I think the primer pockets on this group here kind of inconsistent because it looks like some of them were flattening out, and some where fine. Ordered a primer pocket gauge, hope that helps. I'm kinda done on ordering expensive tools until the next overtime push so a chrono is out for the next few months. 

[98Z5V]

1 hour ago, neolithicman996 said:

Was gonna try IMR 4227

I use that, too, for my  .30 Carbine loads.  Works great for 100 SJs and 110s in that rifle.

In a nutshell, if you ever see a powder that works for .30 Carbine, it works in .300BLK. Check reloading references, and you'll see that's a true statement.  

[neolithicman996]

Will do. 

Wanted to also say thank you. The posts you and others have written and contributed here saved me a ton of time and swearing when building my first LR308( the shorty) and all that info applied directly to helping with the shorty 300. Almost as much fun building them as shooting them now. Fireball was before the huxwrks suppressor went on. Your posts make it's so people are really surprised by how easy it shoots. The right buffer and gas tube/ gas block goes along way to solving excessive recoil and timing issues.