fourdollarbill
Member
Could one shoot a straight WW 158gr lswc as slow as the Speer (softer) 158gr lswc load of 5.5 gr of Unique? I'm just wondering if that load would "bump up" the harder bullet well enough to seal the bore to avoid leading.
Unique lite load. How low can you go?
- Thread starter fourdollarbill
- Start date
- Status
Sport45
Member
If the bullet is large enough you really don't need to bump it up with pressure. Powder fouling may be a bigger issue. Unique burns cleaner at higher pressures.
Jesse Heywood
Member
Missouri Bullet has an excellent page on leading and bullet hardness.
www.missouribullet.com/technical.php
To calculate the optimal BHN for a bullet, use the formula
Optimum BHN = CUP / (1422 x .90)
The lowest pressure I have listed for a 158 gr lead bullet with Unique is in Lyman #49.
4.0 gr, 791 fps, 13,100 CUP.
Thus Optimum BHN = 13100 / (1422 x .9)
The result is a BHN of 10, which should be close enough for your wheel weight bullet.
www.missouribullet.com/technical.php
To calculate the optimal BHN for a bullet, use the formula
Optimum BHN = CUP / (1422 x .90)
The lowest pressure I have listed for a 158 gr lead bullet with Unique is in Lyman #49.
4.0 gr, 791 fps, 13,100 CUP.
Thus Optimum BHN = 13100 / (1422 x .9)
The result is a BHN of 10, which should be close enough for your wheel weight bullet.
Jim Watson
Member
Are you talking about .357 Magnum? 5.5 grains Unique is Speer's starting load for their 158 grain swaged bullets. That is less than pressure limits would allow but as fast as they think the swaged bullet will stand. Been a barge load of 158 grain hardcast .38 Specials loaded with 5 grains of Unique, even though the books top out at 4.7 in these more cautious days.
Give it a try, what have you got to lose except time spent deleading the barrel if it doesn't work?
Assuming you really do have a .357 Magnum.
Give it a try, what have you got to lose except time spent deleading the barrel if it doesn't work?
Assuming you really do have a .357 Magnum.
fourdollarbill
Member
Well it would help to mention the caliber wouldn't it? 
Its a 357mag.
I hate to load 38spl cases in 357mag cylinders because of the lead ring left behind. That leaves a question - Can you load 38spl recipes of Unique in the taller 357mag case with more space? It almost sounds like a no brain'er BUT this hobby proves to be tricky.
Its a 357mag. I hate to load 38spl cases in 357mag cylinders because of the lead ring left behind. That leaves a question - Can you load 38spl recipes of Unique in the taller 357mag case with more space? It almost sounds like a no brain'er BUT this hobby proves to be tricky.
Jesse Heywood
Member
Yes.
mbopp
Member
I'm shooting "hard" 148gr wadcutters cast from 92-6-2 alloy. I don't have a chronograph but 4.5 gr of Unique in 357 cases or 4.3 gr in 38 cases are accurate loads. My 158 gr cast load is 6.0gr of Unique in 357 cases, I haven't tried lighter loads with that weight bullet.
I have loaded Unique down to 1.5gn. A real blooper, but it hit the target.
The only concern about loading down is getting a bullet stuck, which if quite possible with a revolver as the bullet has to come to a virtual stop at the forcing cone.
If you want to load way down, you would be much better off with Bullseye or Red Dot.
The only concern about loading down is getting a bullet stuck, which if quite possible with a revolver as the bullet has to come to a virtual stop at the forcing cone.
If you want to load way down, you would be much better off with Bullseye or Red Dot.
- Status
Similar threads
