Reducing a load below listed data?

[John Wayne]

Hello,

A minimum load I am currently using for 9mm Luger in an XDM cycles fine and produces acceptable accuracy, but creates a tremendous amount of lead dust and fouling. The load in question is 5.9 gr. of HS-6 with a 125 gr. LRN bullet (max load is 6.6 gr., for comparison).

Is there a procedure to safely reduce this load below listed data? I know this can be dangerous with large cases and slow-burning powders (.44 and H-110 comes to mind), but in the relatively small (9x19) case with the powder (HS-6) I am using, can it be done safely?

Is there any procedure for doing so? (i.e., reduce by 10%, check for excess pressure?)

*edit* I know I could use different bullet weight/powder combinations, or perhaps harder bullets, but for the time being, and using the components I have, I would like to know if it's possible to reduce the load.

 

[justashooter in pa]

no worries in reducing loads with this powder. you can back it down as far as 3.5 or 4 and still get reliable ignition and pressure curves. much lower and you might stick a bullet in the bore. at some point it will begin to short stroke and not complete the cycling, especially if you limp wrist the gun.

this powder is single base. detonation problems occur with double base rifle powders, if ever.

 

[jcwit]

but creates a tremendous amount of lead dust and fouling

Lead dust? Just how are you getting dust partically lead dust? Leading more likely but dust?

This is a new one.

 

[John Wayne]

I shoot indoors, and there is a large, visible, black cloud after firing. This is not present when I shoot jacketed factory ammo, or when I shoot cast bullets through my .38 spl. (at much lower velocities).

I am assuming this is either lead dust from the combustion of the powder charge vaporizing part of the cast lead bullet, or that HS-6 is just really, really dirty. It also smells slightly sweet (not that I try and breathe it in!), not like gunpowder smells that I am used to.

 

[USSR]

I shoot indoors, and there is a large, visible, black cloud after firing. This is not present when I shoot jacketed factory ammo, or when I shoot cast bullets through my .38 spl. (at much lower velocities).

Lube.

Don

 

[jcwit]

Yup, thats the lube you see and smell, not lead. Smells sweet? more than likely the lube has bees wax in it.

 

[Walkalong]

HS-6 does not burn well when downloaded. It needs the higher pressure to burn clean.

Try some W-231, N320, or 700X for a light load.

 

[schmeky]

John Wayne . . .

I thought you were dead

I know this is not the answer you're looking for, but for around $20.00 you can fix your smoking problem. Get a pound of WW231 and load 3.8-4.0 gns behind that 125gn lead bullet. Very accurate out of my 9mm to boot.

 

[bluetopper]

Use Bullseye and download all you want to.

 

[John Wayne]

Nope, not dead...seeking info to avoid blowing up my gun and ending up that way

I know I can use other powders or other bullets, and I appreciate the input for future reference...but I would like to know if I can reduce the load in this specific cartridge.

Otherwise, I have a pound or so of HS-6, and dumping it in a pile and tossing a match on it is a rather inefficient method of using it up. Regardless of what the dust cloud is comprised of, I'd like to avoid breathing it in and having it get in the way of my target in poor, dim lighting conditions.

FWIW, these bullets come lubed (with blue stuff), but I do not add anything and I am unsure of the composition of the lube that is present. They are Beanie's hard cast at a hardness of 18-20, IIRC.

 

[LightningMan]

you can give this a try;
http://www.handloads.com/calc/reduced.asp