Danderdude
07-21-2013, 09:35 PM
I am new to loading for the .45 but not to loading or casting in general. I recently purchased a very nice handcannon but am hitting some walls I didn't expect to. I am limited by what powder I have on hand, which happens to be around 10 lbs of Unique I've had since before the crunch on supplies began last winter.
For the generic term "225-230 gr boolit with Unique," there's not much agreement between the several manuals out there.
Lyman hasn't changed (or probably even checked) their recipe since 33 years ago. It's still the #452374 (225 gr RN) starting at 5.5 gr Unique and topping out at 7.3gr max. The Cast Bullet Handbooks #3 and #4, and the 48th, all have the same figures.
Lee's Modern Reloading #2, however, lists 5.0 to start and 5.0 max, at only 11800 PSI for a 230 gr. boolit.
The Lyman 4th CB book lists the Lee 230gr TC tumble-lube at 5.2 to start and 5.7 max.
In my experiments thus far, using the Lee 228gr RN lubed with White Label BAC, sized to .452 (bore slugged at .4508), seated .01 under max OAL, 5gr Unique didn't generate enough pressure to seal the chamber and I was getting gas blow-by. At 6 grains, all of a sudden I started getting tiny hairs of leading right in front of the chamber, on the rifling between the lands, but blow-by problems were solved. Alloy is water-dropped 10:1 pure lead:monotype.
Before I jump any deeper into the experimentation phase, please, if you have any suggestions, advise me now. I am quite disconcerted by the variables in the load data right now.
For the generic term "225-230 gr boolit with Unique," there's not much agreement between the several manuals out there.
Lyman hasn't changed (or probably even checked) their recipe since 33 years ago. It's still the #452374 (225 gr RN) starting at 5.5 gr Unique and topping out at 7.3gr max. The Cast Bullet Handbooks #3 and #4, and the 48th, all have the same figures.
Lee's Modern Reloading #2, however, lists 5.0 to start and 5.0 max, at only 11800 PSI for a 230 gr. boolit.
The Lyman 4th CB book lists the Lee 230gr TC tumble-lube at 5.2 to start and 5.7 max.
In my experiments thus far, using the Lee 228gr RN lubed with White Label BAC, sized to .452 (bore slugged at .4508), seated .01 under max OAL, 5gr Unique didn't generate enough pressure to seal the chamber and I was getting gas blow-by. At 6 grains, all of a sudden I started getting tiny hairs of leading right in front of the chamber, on the rifling between the lands, but blow-by problems were solved. Alloy is water-dropped 10:1 pure lead:monotype.
Before I jump any deeper into the experimentation phase, please, if you have any suggestions, advise me now. I am quite disconcerted by the variables in the load data right now.