Projectile weight and powder weight correlation

[Strazznah]

Looking to reload .50 BMG for "plinking" Can get a good deal on some mil surp components locally. the projectiles that I am looking to use are 800+ gn as compared to 690 gn for usual ball rounds. I cannot find any load data for a round this heavy. Should amount of powder decrease with the increase of bullet weight? If so, is there an equation or rule of thumb?

 

[steve4102]

There is no such thing as a rule of thumb when it comes to powder charge. What manuals do you have? Hodgdon, VV, Barnes, Reloaders Nest all have data for the 50BMG 800gr.
If you don't have any good manuals may I suggest you purchase or borrow some and read them. Loading by "rule of thumb" is a good way to get hurt.

 

[Bullet]

Strazznah
Looking to reload .50 BMG for "plinking"

I never thought of a .50 BMG as a plinker.

Should amount of powder decrease with the increase of bullet weight?

I’ve never loaded for a .50 BMG but in regular (smaller ) cartridges I believe this is true. Maybe someone else will be of more help.


Here’s a link to Hodgdon -

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp


.

 

[RecoilRob]

Are these surplus 800grn projos Spotter-Tracers? If so, around 165-175grns of surplus 5010 is all you want to use. They weren't designed to fly any faster and trying to drive them too hard will increase the chance of barrel bursts. Hard on muzzle brakes and anyone standing around on the firing line!

If they AREN'T Spotters.....I've not seen military surplus any heavier than 710 AP. 220-225 5010 is about right for them. Amax 750's shoot well in my AR-50 over 220grns. Lighter API and ball use 225, while the old military load was 235...but I've not felt the need to push them that hard.

 

[Strazznah]

Steve4102 - rest assured that I do not load by rule of thumb. I was looking to spark conversation with anyone who has loaded .50 BMG.

RecoilRob - I am talking about the Spotter-Tracers. Can you recommend loads using the WC-860 powder? I have the Military loading data and it shows WC-860 for most .50 loads. I have not bought powder yet, but I do have the option of going with either (5010 or WC-860)

 

[RecoilRob]

Well, the WC-860 is ball powder and a bit slower than the 5010 so you will get less shots per pound with it.

And, it has a reputation of not being able to light the tracers as well as 5010.

If it is the only surplus you can find, you can surely make it work for you but I haven't seen or heard of anyone using it with S-T loads. Everyone I know uses 5010, but you could probably use 10% more 860 due to the slower speed. So, 181-192 should work fine.

If you can find the 5010, I CAN recommend the 165 load. Shoot really well and light the tracer reliably...especially if you pierce the base cup with a sharpened pin before loading. Nearly 100% burn then.

 

[Strazznah]

Thanks. I am more interested in the Flash/Bang at the point of impact than the tracer effect, but I will keep that in mind. Thanks!

Another Q; is it imperitive to resize surplus projectiles before reloading?

 

[RecoilRob]

Resizing surplus..

That depends on the projos and the method of demilling. I have some API that were pulled by chopping the case neck with two length-wise cuts that imprinted the bullet a bit. They aren't grossly out of round, but the cuts DO stand proud of the rest of the bullet. When I size them the majority of the effort seems to be pushing them back down.

I tried sizing a few S-T and found it unnecessary. They will either be virgin surplus or collet pulled as the violent methods used on the others is NOT recommended for the volatile stuff inside might cause discomfort should it detonate.

Would recommend loading and chambering a few without sizing to see if they chamber OK. If they do....you are good to go and they'll shoot just fine. Only if you encounter them bulging the necks so much that they won't easily chamber would I bother resizing them.

Oh, I LOVE the S-T's! My favoritest round for sure. Next is the Blue-Tip Incindiary's which make a nice Flash-Bang too. Good shooting!