griff383
Member
I recently picked up a Ruger PC4 and wanted something that has a little zip for small game applications, the lightest bullet that I could find that could be used for hunting / plinking was the Nosler 135gr JHP.
Longshot showed the greatest potential (highest velocity) so I went that route and used WSP primers.
Hodgdon lists 8.5 grains as min and 11.5 as max with this bullet. I loaded 5 of each 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, and 11.5 figuring I would find the most accurate load then break the load down to dial it in.
The attached pic shows the 8.5gr and 9.5gr load fired casings, the top two are 8.5 and the bottom are 9.5. Im not sure how well you can see but the 8.5 look normal while the 9.5 appear to be cratered but the primers still hold a radius on the edges. The recoil was greater with the 9.5 load but nothing that seemed over the top. I had my chronograph with but the range was busy so I didnt use it.
I spoke with several seasoned reloaders and they had mixed ideas, some thought that I was starting to enter high pressure / unsafe territory. Others said it might be that the WSP primers were soft and thats where I got the cratering from. It was suggested that I try a harder cup such as remington or cci and see if happens with those.
Input?
Longshot showed the greatest potential (highest velocity) so I went that route and used WSP primers.
Hodgdon lists 8.5 grains as min and 11.5 as max with this bullet. I loaded 5 of each 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, and 11.5 figuring I would find the most accurate load then break the load down to dial it in.
The attached pic shows the 8.5gr and 9.5gr load fired casings, the top two are 8.5 and the bottom are 9.5. Im not sure how well you can see but the 8.5 look normal while the 9.5 appear to be cratered but the primers still hold a radius on the edges. The recoil was greater with the 9.5 load but nothing that seemed over the top. I had my chronograph with but the range was busy so I didnt use it.
I spoke with several seasoned reloaders and they had mixed ideas, some thought that I was starting to enter high pressure / unsafe territory. Others said it might be that the WSP primers were soft and thats where I got the cratering from. It was suggested that I try a harder cup such as remington or cci and see if happens with those.
Input?
