Hot loads

[icanthitabarn]

I list a lot of loads in a notebook and skip writing a tag to ID. Yesterday I am sighting a red dot on my 9mm and think 'this stuff is warm'. I just looked it up thinking it was a heavy PP load that I like, but nooo it was a start load of Unique, at normal seating depth . I checked a round and everything was good, It looked like Unique and weighed 5.6 gr, just as marked. I then noticed the load was with a mag primer. Wow, no problem and the cases were ok, yesterday but it sure seemed hot even with a starting load. Anyone do this? The load got squirreled away a few yrs back.

 

[Walkalong]

skip writing a tag to ID.........................load got squirreled away a few yrs back.

That will get you every time. Always label them with at least a load number, if not the details.

 

[icanthitabarn]

That will get you every time. Always label them with at least a load number, if not the details.

The box has a number which is listed in the notebook. Between the color/size of box, the headstamp and the oal, plus the bullet, I just pick any # when writing in book and can quickly find the load. So did you try mag primers in 9mm?

 

[Sunray]

You cannot tell anything about a powder other than its colour and grain shape by just looking at it. Don't think there's any powder used with 9mm that requires a magnum primer either.

 

[Jack B.]

I list a lot of loads in a notebook and skip writing a tag to ID. Yesterday I am sighting a red dot on my 9mm and think 'this stuff is warm'. I just looked it up thinking it was a heavy PP load that I like, but nooo it was a start load of Unique, at normal seating depth . I checked a round and everything was good, It looked like Unique and weighed 5.6 gr, just as marked. I then noticed the load was with a mag primer. Wow, no problem and the cases were ok, yesterday but it sure seemed hot even with a starting load. Anyone do this? The load got squirreled away a few yrs back.

I don't shoot 9mm but what bullet are you using? I was going to look up 9mm Unique loads for whatever bullet you are using. 5.6 grains of Unique doesn't sound like a starting load for Unique and are you sure it's Unique . Looking at it is not a good way to tell.

 

[LiveLife]

I list a lot of loads in a notebook and skip writing a tag to ID ... The load got squirreled away a few yrs back.

this stuff is warm ... Anyone do this?

Yup, guilty here.

During early year of reloading, in a rush to reload, I used the wrong powder load data even though my notes were correct (with wrong powder data!).

After firing the first round and slowly bringing the pistol down from above my head, I started checking my head and body for injury while my hands were still recovering from the jarring shock pulse of very heavy recoil flip.

Even without checking my notes with load data, I realized the critical mistake I had made and was glad I did not need to change my underwear or replace my pistol.

Since then, I double and triple check my load data with my notes and keep only one powder container on the bench at a time.

"Funny thing happened at the range" is never a good thing for reloading.

 

[hdwhit]

bds wrote:
"Funny thing happened at the range" is never a good thing for reloading.

You mean it wouldn't be "Comedy Tonight"?

 

[Walkalong]

I just pick any # when writing in book and can quickly find the load

I must have misunderstood, it sounded as if you didn't know the load.

So did you try mag primers in 9mm?

Nope, never have.

 

[icanthitabarn]

This was a 125gr Penn RN. There is no confusion or mistake in the components used except maybe the mag primers

 

[reddog81]

What makes you think 5.6 grains Unique is a starting load for a 125 grain bullet? Maybe a starting load for 9mm+P because that load is hotter than any of Alliants data with a bullet that heavy.

 

[icanthitabarn]

What makes you think 5.6 grains Unique is a starting load for a 125 grain bullet? Maybe a starting load for 9mm+P because that load is hotter than any of Alliants data with a bullet that heavy.

It is on a online site that seems pretty good. I just rechecked and got a screen shot and its there and listed as an Alliant load. They also list loads from anyone but this says Alliant.

 

[Jack B.]

This was a 125gr Penn RN. There is no confusion or mistake in the components used except maybe the mag primers

The Lyman Pistol & Revolver Handbook 3rd Edition List 4.5gr as Max. charge Of Unique for a 125gr lead bullet with CCI 500 non magnum primer for 9mm . 5.0 gr.as Max charge with 125gr. Jacketed HP. Speer Reloading Manual #14 list 5.8gr Unique as Max.charge for a 124 gr. jacketed bullet in 9mm. Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading 9th Edition doesn't show any Unique loads for any bullets at that weight. Where did you get your start load of Unique of 5.6gr.from? I'd like to know.
Thanks
Jack

 

[Jack B.]

I forgot to add Alliants 2017 Reloader's Guide data for 9mm. 5.8grs Unique as Max charge for 124gr GDHP. Sounds like 5.8grs of Unique is as hot as you should go with a jacketed bullet.

 

[icanthitabarn]

Well it looks like the internet was wrong, I will use a book anymore. lol They are, not at all, consistent but it looks like a start load would be more around 4.5 gr. This site depicted above doesn't state a starting charge it lists a suggested start, maybe because Unique does like a warmer charge and less powder usually doesn't work like a smaller charge of Bullseye probably would. Here's a funny one, My Speer book #7 skips 9mm altogether. So my load appears to be, near max, or over and not a start load after all.

 

[rfwobbly]

The box has a number which is listed in the notebook.

Why not simply write the info on a piece of masking or painter's tape which you can then transfer from the ammo container to the paper target, if the target is surprisingly notable for any reason you deem ?

 

[Jack B.]

Well it looks like the internet was wrong, I will use a book anymore. lol They are, not at all, consistent but it looks like a start load would be more around 4.5 gr. This site depicted above doesn't state a starting charge it lists a suggested start, maybe because Unique does like a warmer charge and less powder usually doesn't work like a smaller charge of Bullseye probably would. Here's a funny one, My Speer book #7 skips 9mm altogether. So my load appears to be, near max, or over and not a start load after all.

Be careful about what you read online. I very much like THR and have gotten some solid info here, but I've read some posts in here that are off the wall.

 

[reddog81]

I think 4.0 Unique is closer to a starting charge. It cycles most of my 9's

 

[Jack B.]

I think 4.0 Unique is closer to a starting charge. It cycles most of my 9's

I like to keep semi auto pistols loaded near start also. Have found the they have better accuracy and are more shooter friendly and are not wearing out you gun as quick.

 

[Captcurt]

New Lyman book list Unique starting load at 4gr and max 4.5. Hornady 8th edition shows start at 4gr and max at 5gr. Didn't check my Speer or Nosler books. I had some hot loads of Unique in a 40 S&W that I couldn't keep on paper at 25 yards. Switched to Universal and things worked out swell.

 

[Jack B.]

New Lyman book list Unique starting load at 4gr and max 4.5. Hornady 8th edition shows start at 4gr and max at 5gr. Didn't check my Speer or Nosler books. I had some hot loads of Unique in a 40 S&W that I couldn't keep on paper at 25 yards. Switched to Universal and things worked out swell.

Don't like hot loads in pistol, revolver or semi auto. Seems best accuracy comes with reduced loads.

 

[Walkalong]

I always write the basics on a sticky note and put it in with the ammo.

 

[Slamfire]

The load got squirreled away a few yrs back.

How old is the Unique? One of the unfortunate problems with gunpowder, is that towards the end of its shelf life, pressures go up.

Gunwriters are totally clueless about this. In the April-May 2016 issue of Handloader, page 10, a reloader using 25 year old Unique reported over pressure problems in a 9mm. However he was not having problems (yet) in 38 Special or 45 ACP. The clueless gun writer assumed because the gunpowder had been stored in cool and dry conditions it must be good, and because the reloader was not as of yet having problems with cartridges that are normally half the pressure of a 9mm, then it had to be something else. Pressure is never our friend, when things go bad, they go bad faster with increased pressures. If the pressure curve had shifted due to age, higher pressure cartridges are going to be a lot higher pressure with old gunpowder. Lower pressure cartridges will increase too, but it won't be noticeable until more gunpowder deterioration occurs. The 9mm Lugar is close to 40,000 psia and things will go bad quickly in that cartridge.

 

[RecoilRob]

If this happened to be the first time using that particular bullet....it could factor in as well. I normally run 147's and a while back tried a different brand which had a slightly different shape. All fired normally in every gun in the cabinet...except for the High Power, which went about 10 shots then started 'click-no-bang'ing. Looked at the first couple 'duds' and found NO firing pin indent! Then I picked up some of the cases that had fired successfully and was shocked to find no dents in them either! But they did have a brass colored dot where the dent should have been...and what was happening was they were extruding into the firing pin hole, then being sheared off when it unlocked. The firing pin channel was stuffed with enough of these little brass dots that it finally couldn't get the pin to the cartridge and it stopped firing.

Examination ended up showing this particular P-35 had a very short leade and this bullet was right up against it when chambering...where the other guns let the bullet move a bit before encountering any restrictions this gun drove the pressure up something fierce. Those bullets worked fine with no pressure in all the other guns, so your issue might just be the bullet itself is not compatible with your particular chamber and the powder charge could well be fine...in other guns or with a different bullet. All of this is why everyone always cautions us to start low and work up... you never know when something weird is going to pop up.

 

[Jack B.]

I always write the basics on a sticky note and put it in with the ammo.

I like your way of marking your loads I use a similar method plus I keep a log book with every load. I bought a whole array of Sharpie Markers in different colors and use them to color code every round by coloring the primer and load sheets.

 

[Walkalong]

I use Avery 6460 removable labels for the outside. (You can see the sticky note on the inside of the lid.) I also have a log book in Excel with detailed info. Some loads more detailed than others. Match .308 gets much more documentation than a 9MM load.