Hot load?

[Dcav]

Im new to reloading (and this board), been cranking out reloads for a meet/shoot/BBQ here in San Antonio this weekend, and I have had several people warn me about this load (on page 535 if modern reloading by Richard Lee), telling me it was pretty hot and to cut back the powder. Advice?

125gr lead bullet
5.3 gr Unique
1106 fps
Min OAL 1.150

 

[gilly6993]

what caliber?

 

[rcmodel]

Well page 535 is for 9mm Luger.

And your 5.3 load is listed as a starting load with a 125 Lead bullet.
Max is listed as 5.5 grains.
And that Lee data is copied directly from the older Alliant powder guide.

Seems pretty safe to me.

Cutting back the charge below a recommended starting load would be what is unsafe.

As for my advice?
I'd test them yourself before taking my word and "cranking out reloads" you haven't tested yourself.

rc

 

[noylj]

Bullseye and Unique and such are not sensitive to low charge weights and do not constitute a danger (in fact, has any powder company ever been able to duplicate in the lab that supposed over-pressure caused by powder at the front and rear of the case chamber igniting simultaneously and the flame fronts coming together or is it really just an overload that no one will admit to?). I also like these powders because they do not show rapid increases in pressure with a small change in charge weight.
My compilation of various manuals shows the lowest starting load as 4.0gn Unique and the first max load at 4.5gn. The heaviest starting load was 5.4 gn and the heaviest max load was 6.0gn. I compile all the data I can so I always start at the low end and work up.
All reloading manuals show is what that lot of bullets and that lot of powder and that lot of primers in that lot of cases produced in that test barrel with that SAAMI chamber. YMMV and almost certainly will.
I would never take one reloading manuals as gospel and never assume that my gun is the same as whatever the reloading manual used. However, Lee compiled data and went with the conservative loads so that data should be safe for all guns in good condition and properly chambered.

 

[rcmodel]

Bullseye and Unique and such are not sensitive to low charge weights and do not constitute a danger

Except that if you reduce much below some published starting loads, the chance of a squib or bullet stuck in the bore is very likely.
Especially with revolvers & and especially with jacketed bullets.

Yes, I realize that was not what the OP was asking about.
But still, if you have to ask if a starting load is too hot, then don't do it!

rc

 

[Dcav]

Sorry it is 9mm and using hardcast lead bullets. And will be testing them today.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you're not happy with the results you get with Unique you might want to give W231/HP-38 a try. I use W231 for my son's 9mm ammo when loading lead bullets and he likes it. For the more serious stuff I usually use Longshot.

Don't forget the range report and welcome to the forum and reloading...

 

[mcdonl]

Wow, I have been loading 125 LRN using Unique (9mm) but the Lyman manual shows 4.6 as the starting charge for 125g jacketed.... no LRN data for 125....

Quite a difference.

 

[rcmodel]

Look at the Lyman 9mm 120 grain lead bullet data.

All Lyman's bullet weights are as cast, without grease in the lube grooves.
Filling the grooves with grease will add 5 grains or so.


The 120 grain RN data is what you want to use.
5.0 grains differance in a lead bullets weight is meaningless anyway.
Changing the lead alloy can change it even more.

rc

 

[mcdonl]

What do you think about the 4.6 of unique with the 125 LRN from lee? I will check when I get home, just wondering...

 

[rcmodel]

It would be perfectly safe, if it has enough poop to function your pistol.

rc

 

[ralph2]

I found a max load of 5.5gr of unique for a 125 lead in the lee reloading manual but from my
experience that seems high to me. I use about 4.3-4.4 with a 115 plated bullet above which
accuracy drops off for me. Are you sure of the accuracy of your scales ? What size group are
you shooting with that load ? If accuracy is OK then the load is most likely OK.

 

[Dcav]

Agreed with some of the above, it was fine in the Uzi(the 5.3 gr), but unburned powder could be felt when using it in the pistols. Pretty impressed with the accuracy too. The 4.6 gr loads functioned fine in both.