jandbn
10-18-2009, 01:50 PM
Just finished up the first 40 rounds in my new Bisley .45 Colt SS 5 1/2” using Cast Performance 325 LFNPB, H110 which I have not used before, and WLPs. I am getting powder residue on the chamber walls and wondering what I am doing wrong. 20+ years ago I used to load for .41 and .44 Mags and never had this problem.
Brass is new Starline trimmed to 1.275 and COL of 1.665. I’m using an RCBS carbide sizer and the case is “neck sized” just far enough down from the mouth of the case to allow the boolit’s full base to be gripped by the “neck”. The grease grooves can be seen on the exterior of the case and roll crimp did not allow the boolit to move forward on recoil. Boolit OAL is .825 and crimp groove to nose is .360.
The LFNPB boolit’s base measured .4520. The front driving band above the crimp groove is .4525. Slugged throats on all chambers are .4522-.4523. Barrel to cylinder gap is just shy of .006. Barrel groove is .4509 as it’s smallest. I haven’t slugged each end of the barrel as of yet, just ran a slug all the way through to measure the minimum.
OD of the loaded case at the base and just below the crimp groove of the boolit is .4754. All the chambers measured with a caliper instead of a micrometer were .470. But a new case that is not full length resized, measures .4752 at the extraction groove with a micrometer. That should tell all to use pin gauges to measure ID instead of a caliper! Unfortunately, I don’t have pin gauges. I ‘spose I should slug the chambers too, but I don’t have any lead sinkers at the moment that are large enough.
The 3 loads of H110 I used were 21.0, 21.7, and 22.4. The dies were not changed during the reloading process so COL and crimp are the same for all 3 loads. Recoil on the 21.0 was OK (similar to what I recall years ago of factory 240 grainers in the .44 Mag), but the 21.7 and 22.4 loads were almost uncomfortable. To me, the muzzle blast on the 21.0 load did not sound quite the same as the 21.7 or 22.4 loads. Group sizes were about the same for all 3 loads. It has been way too long since I have shot on a regular basis, so I know the revolver is way more capable than I currently am. 3-shot and 5-shot groups @ 25 yds ranged from 2” to 2 3/4”. I had vertical stringing to start with, but after paying closer attention to grip and barrel rest pressure, groups went more horizontal. So I know I have a lot of shooting to do to shrink groups. Sure wish I could afford a scope and mount for load development.
What I really need to do first is figure out why I am getting powder residue in the chambers. I experienced similar residue using Trail Boss with the same boolit, COL, and primer, but it way worse with the TB. Bullet recovery is all but impossible as I have to shoot at a public range. So checking for gas cutting isn’t possible. There is also a small amount of leading at the end of the barrel, but not in or close to the forcing cone. I would assume factory lube may be the cause at that end as it will wipe out with little effort. There is also a small amount of yellowish burned powder flakes left in the barrel that is reminiscent of 2400 I used to use in the .41.
Brass is new Starline trimmed to 1.275 and COL of 1.665. I’m using an RCBS carbide sizer and the case is “neck sized” just far enough down from the mouth of the case to allow the boolit’s full base to be gripped by the “neck”. The grease grooves can be seen on the exterior of the case and roll crimp did not allow the boolit to move forward on recoil. Boolit OAL is .825 and crimp groove to nose is .360.
The LFNPB boolit’s base measured .4520. The front driving band above the crimp groove is .4525. Slugged throats on all chambers are .4522-.4523. Barrel to cylinder gap is just shy of .006. Barrel groove is .4509 as it’s smallest. I haven’t slugged each end of the barrel as of yet, just ran a slug all the way through to measure the minimum.
OD of the loaded case at the base and just below the crimp groove of the boolit is .4754. All the chambers measured with a caliper instead of a micrometer were .470. But a new case that is not full length resized, measures .4752 at the extraction groove with a micrometer. That should tell all to use pin gauges to measure ID instead of a caliper! Unfortunately, I don’t have pin gauges. I ‘spose I should slug the chambers too, but I don’t have any lead sinkers at the moment that are large enough.
The 3 loads of H110 I used were 21.0, 21.7, and 22.4. The dies were not changed during the reloading process so COL and crimp are the same for all 3 loads. Recoil on the 21.0 was OK (similar to what I recall years ago of factory 240 grainers in the .44 Mag), but the 21.7 and 22.4 loads were almost uncomfortable. To me, the muzzle blast on the 21.0 load did not sound quite the same as the 21.7 or 22.4 loads. Group sizes were about the same for all 3 loads. It has been way too long since I have shot on a regular basis, so I know the revolver is way more capable than I currently am. 3-shot and 5-shot groups @ 25 yds ranged from 2” to 2 3/4”. I had vertical stringing to start with, but after paying closer attention to grip and barrel rest pressure, groups went more horizontal. So I know I have a lot of shooting to do to shrink groups. Sure wish I could afford a scope and mount for load development.
What I really need to do first is figure out why I am getting powder residue in the chambers. I experienced similar residue using Trail Boss with the same boolit, COL, and primer, but it way worse with the TB. Bullet recovery is all but impossible as I have to shoot at a public range. So checking for gas cutting isn’t possible. There is also a small amount of leading at the end of the barrel, but not in or close to the forcing cone. I would assume factory lube may be the cause at that end as it will wipe out with little effort. There is also a small amount of yellowish burned powder flakes left in the barrel that is reminiscent of 2400 I used to use in the .41.