adjusting charges? +/-

[Axis II]

Got a question..

I'm shooting 4.1gr of HP-38 in 9mm with 124gr extreme RN in a 4.5'' barrel auto. The gun seems to get really dirty and the brass has sooty marks on it. Would going up to 4.2,4.3 gr fix this? I'm a little leery of going that high cause 4.4 is max.

Now another one...

I am trying to develop the best load possible for my 223rem bolt gun and using h335, h322 and Benchmark with cci magnum primers and wanted to try standard primers and bench rest primers now that i can find them but don't really have the powder and bullet to do full workups for 2 rifles and several bullet types so what do you guys think of adjusting the charge if say 24gr of benchmark shot well could i got 23.5 with a different primer and if all is well go to my 24gr?

 

[Walkalong]

Try 4.3 in the 9MM.

Assuming you are not at max, try the different primers with the same charge that is shooting well.

 

[Reeferman]

I'd be interested in what you find with H322 as I was given 8 lbs of it by my BIL and going to start loading 223.

 

[Blue68f100]

With limited supplies I would pick the one that give you the best group and work it up first. Then as you get more supplies finish work the loads up for the other powders. With 223R I normally make 0.3gr increments. Then once I find the best grouping I try to find the outer limits of the nodes to know how much wiggle room I have.

 

[Axis II]

Try 4.3 in the 9MM.

Assuming you are not at max, try the different primers with the same charge that is shooting well.

away from max about a grain for each powder in the 223. How about changing brass from LC to Hornady to see if it will help with accuracy? back off a bit or leave it alone?

 

[drband]

As long as you work up testing up to the max should not be a problem at all.

 

[2bfree]

4.4 is max for lead, 4.8 is max for jacketed. I shoot Xtreme 124 RN at 4.4 OAL of 1.135 and consider it a light load.

 

[Axis II]

I'd be interested in what you find with H322 as I was given 8 lbs of it by my BIL and going to start loading 223.[/QUOTE

I'd be interested in what you find with H322 as I was given 8 lbs of it by my BIL and going to start loading 223.

I will let you know. I tried h335 and Benchmark and benchmark gave me the best out of the two powders and then i began trying different stuff incase i couldn't find one or the other and tried h322 from 21gr-22gr in .3gr increments and each load shot very well. where i only hit 2 good accuracy nodes with benchmark and h335 cant hold a candle to the other two. I'm going to change over primers and see if i can get the all 5 i can cover with a dime or nickel.

 

[Axis II]

4.4 is max for lead, 4.8 is max for jacketed. I shoot Xtreme 124 RN at 4.4 OAL of 1.135 and consider it a light load.

i was using hodgdons data that uses a berrys bullet so tried to keep it in the FPS range to not cause issues with the plated.

 

[Zendude]

I have used 4.2 gr of HP38 with the 124 grain Xtreme plated bullets. It's a light load but enough to reliably cycle the slide. HP38 is not exactly the cleanest burning powder out there, so the residue you are seeing might be the normal amount. I get a cleaner burn from 4.3 grains of Universal.

 

[2bfree]

i was using hodgdons data that uses a berrys bullet so tried to keep it in the FPS range to not cause issues with the plated.

Xtreme states you can load the regular plated to 1200 fps. At 4.8 Hodgdon states 1088 fps. Should be good to go.

 

[splattergun]

4.1 gn W231 is too light of a charge in my gun with 124 gn pills, I get the same result you get.. 4.3 gn works like a charm with both 124 gn Berry's plated and FMJRN. THis load gives me acceptable accuracy, easy recoil, flawless function, and the brass is ejected to a small area about 4 feet to my 4 o'clock. I do get better accuracy with a 4.5 gn charge, but the recoil is snappier and the brass goes everywhere.

 

[Axis II]

I have used 4.2 gr of HP38 with the 124 grain Xtreme plated bullets. It's a light load but enough to reliably cycle the slide. HP38 is not exactly the cleanest burning powder out there, so the residue you are seeing might be the normal amount. I get a cleaner burn from 4.3 grains of Universal.

I ran about 150rds of reloads through the gun with about 100rds of factory and when i took it apart to clean it i couldn't believe the soot i had on the slide, inside frame and mag well. I blackened an old t shirt cleaning it all out so figured it was a light load and possibly not being burned all the way if that makes sense.

Xtreme states you can load the regular plated to 1200 fps. At 4.8 Hodgdon states 1088 fps. Should be good to go.

Thanks guys i will up it a bit and see what happens. I've only got 100 handgun reload under my belt so trying to keep it safe.

 

[LiveLife]

Try 4.3 in the 9MM

+1. I use 4.3 gr W231/HP-38 with 124 gr bullets.

 

[egd]

Everybody keeps saying how many grains of powder they use and it's only very little difference. But it means almost nothing unless you give the oal (assuming the same style bullet) .There is a big difference between 4.2 with 1.110 and 1.140 for example.

 

[LiveLife]

Good point.

4.3 gr of W231/HP-38 and 124 gr FMJ/RN bullets is with 1.135"-1.145" OAL.

Keep in mind Hodgdon published load data for 124 gr Berry's HBRN-TP bullet with .356" sizing lists 4.4 gr as max charge at 1.150" but 125 gr Sierra FMJ with .355" sizing lists 4.8 gr as max charge at much shorter 1.090" - http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol


- 124 gr BERB HBRN-TP W231/HP-38 Dia .356" COL 1.150" Start 3.9 gr (920 fps) 27,400 PSI - Max 4.4 gr (1,037 fps) 31,900 PSI

- 125 gr SIE FMJ W231/HP-38 Dia .355" COL 1.090" Start 4.4 gr (1,009 fps) 24,600 CUP - Max 4.8 gr (1,088 fps) 28,800 CUP

 

[egd]

I guess I should state mine too. I'm at 4.2 of 231 at 1.125-1.130 oal. RMR 124 fmj rn.

 

[Axis II]

Well I went up in charge for 9mm to 4.3-4.4gr hp38 and the brass doesn't seem as sooty but sure was scorching hot picking them up and the accuracy wasn't bad either at about 15ft I was able to put 10rds in a 5x5 card taking my time. I think I'm settled at an OAL also at 1.140 and 4.3 as the 4.4 seemed a little warm.

 

[Axis II]

Got a question..

I'm shooting 4.1gr of HP-38 in 9mm with 124gr extreme RN in a 4.5'' barrel auto. The gun seems to get really dirty and the brass has sooty marks on it. Would going up to 4.2,4.3 gr fix this? I'm a little leery of going that high cause 4.4 is max.

Now another one...

I am trying to develop the best load possible for my 223rem bolt gun and using h335, h322 and Benchmark with cci magnum primers and wanted to try standard primers and bench rest primers now that i can find them but don't really have the powder and bullet to do full workups for 2 rifles and several bullet types so what do you guys think of adjusting the charge if say 24gr of benchmark shot well could i got 23.5 with a different primer and if all is well go to my 24gr?

well standard primers shot about the same but maybe a hair more accurate than using cci450. going to test the loads again and see what happens.

 

[Load Master]

This question, "gun seems to get really dirty and the brass has sooty marks" seems to be a common one, not only for load but for given powders. I like and use TiteGroup. It seems to have the least amount of soot and dirt compared to other powders I've used. When I showed the photo below of my 45acp with it after being fired others commented that they find it dirty. At this point I'm not sure if it truly is powder load, primer, or something else that causes the dirt some seem to complain about. For me, I'll continue to use TiteGroup.

 

[Axis II]

This question, "gun seems to get really dirty and the brass has sooty marks" seems to be a common one, not only for load but for given powders. I like and use TiteGroup. It seems to have the least amount of soot and dirt compared to other powders I've used. When I showed the photo below of my 45acp with it after being fired others commented that they find it dirty. At this point I'm not sure if it truly is powder load, primer, or something else that causes the dirt some seem to complain about. For me, I'll continue to use TiteGroup.

looks like you have a cracked case also on top so be careful with that! I have a pound of hp-38 left and if it keeps being dirty ill try something else when its gone.

 

[Zendude]

This question, "gun seems to get really dirty and the brass has sooty marks" seems to be a common one, not only for load but for given powders. I like and use TiteGroup. It seems to have the least amount of soot and dirt compared to other powders I've used. When I showed the photo below of my 45acp with it after being fired others commented that they find it dirty. At this point I'm not sure if it truly is powder load, primer, or something else that causes the dirt some seem to complain about. For me, I'll continue to use TiteGroup.

The fired brass in the photo looks very clean to me. The gun might be dirty but based on the clean brass, your load is a good one.

 

[jmorris]

If clean s what you are after get some vitavouri N320, it will cost more but you'll use less and it's one of the cleanest powders for 9mm.

 

[Axis II]

If clean s what you are after get some vitavouri N320, it will cost more but you'll use less and it's one of the cleanest powders for 9mm.

I don't mind a little dirt but i took an old t shirt and wiped the inside frame, slide and mag well out and the thing turned black. I would imagine its not good for the inside firing mechanism of the slide. I upped the charge from 4.1 to 4.3-4.4 and will run about 100rds through it and see how clean it is now. my accuracy greatly improved going to a higher charge and shorter seat depth, now if its clean i will be very happy.

 

[jmorris]

When my Brother and I first started we used 4.5 grains of 231 for lots of stuff, just picked a bullet that worked with that charge.

9mm, 45, 357 (SWC for a plinker and if you wanted a "hot load" a wad cutter), 45 ACP and later 10mm. Set the measure once at 4.5 and load away.

I use so little 231 in the decades since I still have it in metal cans.