newbie question

[223AI]

Scott, you are not wrong in anything you've said but as the chap is a newbie perhaps he's better off sticking to factory data until he's been around a bit?

If he doesn't have a chronograph, for example, how is meant to know where max is?

Sorry buddy, I've just seen this, 12-13 is published data for a 40gr soft point I was agreeing with what you pointed out...

In terms of knowing where the published max is then its 13, for his rifle he needs to be watching for the obvious pressure signs set out in any good reloading manual.