Any experience with Lyman WSF 147gr lead load?

[rdtompki]

I'm loading 9mm exclusively with WSF. Lyman shows WSF (3.4 - 3.9gr) and a 1.058" OAL for a cast bullet, #356637. Hodgdon, OTOH, has a WSF (3.7 - 4.1gr) and a 1.169" OAL for a lead CFP bullet. I'm shooting 147gr Bayou Bullets
I've tested 3.6, 3.7 and 3.8gr at both 1.15" and 1.169+- inches. In addtion I've tested 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6 gr @ 1.13" OAL. A few combinations didn't cycle and the lower ends are obviously softer than the higher loads. The 1.13" OAL loads seem to be a bit cleaner, but at these lower loads WSF probably isn't the cleanest powder.

Without knowing the characteristics of the bullets reference in Lyman and Hodgdon and absend a chrono how would folks typically approach developing a load (assuming no issue with chamber dimension)? (My first loads were at 1.16x" and after finding the Lyman load data I thought I would shorten a bit to see if that might clean things up a bit).

 

[Blue68f100]

Bullet size is king when it comes to shooting lead. My 229 slugs at .357" so I would need 38/spl bullets for proper fit, or have some custom sized.

I use the WSF as my main powder for the 9mm. But I have not loaded any 147gr bullets. I work my loads up like I do all of my guns. I start low and workup testing gun function first. Once I fine the OAL that works in all my guns I then start working on accuracy. Doing the 0.1gr steps you are unlikely to jump over the sweet spot. Since I have a set of scales that can measure 0.02gr, I make a 1/2 grain jump around the found sweet spot to confirm. Then at times I have to adjust the OAL for the group to improve. Some guns it does not matter some are picky just depends on how the leads are cut. I always use a rest when testing for accuracy. I find that most loads are accurate at close range but as the target moves out you start seeing the bigger picture. If your eyes are good enough for 50yrds it's a good final distance test. When testing loads I shoot at 10-15 yrds first them move to 25yrds to determine which of the loads are better.

But recently I have found that fast powders (WST, BE) work best for high accurate BE target loads (reduced).

 

[rdtompki]

I'm most concerned with safety although I am working at/near the bottom of either load range. All the loads we've shot have been accurate enough for action pistol shooting (SC and IDPA) although I wouldn't want to give up an inch on some of the longer shots (for me, anyway).

I guess I'm wondering how the original testers came up with such a sort load for the cast bullet although we're talking about a 0.1" difference I assume that can make a bit difference all things being equal in the burn characteristics (pressure) of the powder.

I think at this point I'm going to make some test loads at 3.7gr/1.15" which will give a bit of margin and do a comparison between that and 3.5-3.6gr at the 1.13" OAL.

 

[Blue68f100]

I have had a OAL change in 9mm bring a group form 3.5" to 1.5" just by shortening 0.020". This only worked on one of my guns. The other shot the same with no change.