building up loads

[ModificationVt]

So I got my hands on the Lyman #49 reloading book, and it has been a great read. I did my second batch of loads (actually it is 6 batches) and all of them seem to be good to go (they all chamber smoothly in my GI 1911)

This time around I am working up a load for Missouri Bullet Company 200gr LRNFP. I am using Unique powder. I have 5 rounds with 6gr, 5 with 6.2, 6.4, 6.6, 6.8, and 7gr

My OAL is 1.22 and my case OD is .472

according to the lyman for a cast 200gr bullet 5.5-7.5 is a safe load (7.5 being max) with Unique, but before I run these threw my 1911 I just wanted to double check that I didn't do anything dangerous.

now if the weather could just get above 0 here I could get out shooting some more...

 

[ModificationVt]

no news is good news?

 

[dwave]

I believe that you will be just fine. I see that #49 has two 200gr LSWCs listed, one @ 1.161 and 1.235 with both having a max charge of 7.5grs. unique. I believe that the Missouri bullet is closest to the 1.235 bullet but I think you will be fine especially since you are using a max charge of 7.

 

[Dean Williams]

By the info you give, (case dia, bullet weight, 1911) I imagine you are loading 45 ACP.

These loads are what Lyman is telling you were safe in their test gun. I don't know if any of these will be over pressure. Every gun is a law unto itself.

Just FYI, Alliant gives only one load in their manual for Unique in with a 200 gr lead bullet. 5.1 grains. That's it. They are like that though.

All other manuals I have give a different opinion on what a max load is for a lead bullet of this weight.
Hornady (3rd) says 6.9 is max.
Speer (12) says 5.5 is max.
Speer (9) says 5.8 is max.
RCBS Cast Bullet Manual says 5.6 is max.
Lee parrots Alliant, 'cause that's where they got their data.

I don't distrust Lyman, but I would really rather err on the low side, when it comes to chamber pressures.
All reloading manuals I've ever read say to start with the lowest load, and work up carefully. This is good advice, especially for anyone just getting into the reloading game. Did you start with the minimum load in the Lyman manual? In small cases like 45 ACP the transition from mild to hot loads can involve a very small powder increase.

 

[Shoney]

Dean Williams wrote
Just FYI, Alliant gives only one load in their manual for Unique in with a 200 gr lead bullet. 5.1 grains. That's it. They are like that though.

Dean: To set the reocrd straight, if you read the forward of the book, here is what is says:

Alliant Reloader's Guide

WARNING! --- BE SURE TO

The powder charge weights listed in our data tables are maximum. For rifle and poistol loads, the maximum powder charge should be reduced by 10% to establish a starting or minimum charge.

.

 

[Sunray]

Alliant does give 5.8 as a max load for a 200 grain cast bullets using Unique. Mind you, my old Lyman book gives 7.2 as the max for a 200 grain cast bullet with Unique and I've never once had an issue with Lyman data. Don't shoot 200 grain cast bullets either though. Cast 230 grain RN's or FP's only.
Your technique is great, but work up from the starting load.

 

[ModificationVt]

my lyman #49 has two sets of data for 200gr and unique, one OAL 1.235 starts at 6gr and max's at 7.5gr. the other OAL 1.161 starts at 5gr and max's at 7.5. My speer manual says 200gr 1.19 OAL start at 4.9 max 5.4. my issue with the speer manual is that my first batch of loads with 230gr jacketed bullets were barely cycling the slide at the max load listed the speer book (it would be a good load for me to use when I have a 10yr old kid who wants to shoot my 1911). so I am also in the market for a third loading manual if anyone has suggestions on a book that would compliment the lyman manual.

 

[rfwobbly]

Alliant does give 5.8 as a max load for a 200 grain cast bullets using Unique. Mind you, my old Lyman book gives 7.2 as the max for a 200 grain cast bullet with Unique and I've never once had an issue with Lyman data.

TROUBLE !!

You've got to be REALLY careful when using older books becasue several powders have changed! As I remember, Unique use to be a Hercules product, now that it's an Alliant product it's been reformulated and the grain size worked over. It now burns differently. And the loads have changed.

You really need the latest load books, or at least some Alliant handouts.

 

[ModificationVt]

so my Lyman #49 (copyright 2008) is going to be more accurate than my Speer #14 (copyright 2007)

 

[rfwobbly]

So my Lyman #49 (copyright 2008) is going to be more accurate than my Speer #14 (copyright 2007)

No, that should be OK and is a separate issue. I was responding to user Sunray and his comment about "my old Lyman book". There are lots of reloading books still floating around from the early 90's and these are the ones that are suspect.

There are numerous other powders in the same boat as Unique, I don't want to single that one out. Example: all DuPont powders became IMR.

Maybe someone here remembers a more accurate date when Hercules gave up Unique.

 

[Dean Williams]

Dean Williams wrote
Just FYI, Alliant gives only one load in their manual for Unique in with a 200 gr lead bullet. 5.1 grains. That's it. They are like that though.

(Shoney) Dean: To set the reocrd straight, if you read the forward of the book, here is what is says:

I don't know what record you are setting straight. I simply quoted the Alliant pamphlet for their single load of Unique with the 200 gr lead bullet. If you want it to be complete, you need to quote the entire book.
I wasn't offering up loads nor telling the OP to use any of them. Just letting the OP know of various sources, and the loads they note.

 

[Dean Williams]

my lyman #49 has two sets of data for 200gr and unique, one OAL 1.235 starts at 6gr and max's at 7.5gr. the other OAL 1.161 starts at 5gr and max's at 7.5. My speer manual says 200gr 1.19 OAL start at 4.9 max 5.4. my issue with the speer manual is that my first batch of loads with 230gr jacketed bullets were barely cycling the slide at the max load listed the speer book...

You can't start load development with the 200 gr lead bullet based on experiences with the 230 gr jacketed bullet. They are totally different in their construction, not to mention weight.

How will you decide when you have reached a max load for your gun? It looks like you have the right idea for working up a load. Most people do it in a similar fashion, but what will be your indicator that you have reached a hot enough load? I would start lower, simply because there are so many other sources that list your own starting load as near or at max already. That's just the way I would do it.

 

[ModificationVt]

I am not saying that I started my 200gr lead loads based on my experience with my reloading 230gr jacketed loads...I was more saying the two books I have are vastly different in their suggested starting and max loads...and in my (admittedly minimal) experience the speer loads seem to be WAY low...and the loads in the lyman book seem to be more on par with what I have been able to find online...that's why with this batch I followed the lyman manual and basically disregarded the speer (since its max load for 200gr lead is less than the beginning for one of the 200gr lead in the lyman #49) also the lyman test gun was a 5"brl and the speer was a 4.4", and I am shooting out a 5"

and how am I going to decide when I found the max for my gun? I am hoping to not find the max, but find a load that replicates factory ammo as far as recoil is concerned...I am going to inspect each case after firing for pressure signs...as soon as I see signs of high pressure I will know I found the max, and discard the rest of the rounds of that load...at this point I am not looking for bulsey accuracy...so as long as it cycles the gun in a similar fashion to my self defense round I am happy at this point.