I think I have all the correct components following my reloading manuals. 200gr RNFP cast .452 diameter bullets, Winchester WLP large pistol primers, and Unique powder. Brass is once fired Remington that I shot so I know it's history. So far so good (I think)!
What I'd like to do is to be able to load for both my 1911 pistol and 1917 revolver, and I will use the dreaded moon clips for the revolver. Sure, I could load each differently and mark them so I know which is which, but if possible I'd like to make up a batch of my own reloads with these cast boolits and use them in either.
What I am planning is to start at the low end of the data in the manuals. This is for plinking and to use the classic handguns, so enough to cycle the action and hit a target is all I'm looking for out of the load.
The Hornady manual for a 200gr cast boolit starts at 5.8gr of Unique. Would it be OK to start even 10% below that level or is the published amount a minimum to cycle a 1911?
Second question is that I see the .45 Auto Rim recipe in the same manual lists a 185 gr bullet with 6.3gr of Unique as a starting point. Would it loose so much in a revolver that more powder is necessary?
And finally, from what I've read in some posts pushing a cast boolit to fast will cause leading, I'm not going to maximum speed. Anything else to watch out for, like a squib or something because I'm looking at the low end of the manuals?
Thanks in advance, the advice here has been super!