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Posted: 3/7/2013 1:45:08 PM EDT
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I think I'm starting to get the hang of things. I've reloaded a few hundred rounds of .357mag, and I'm just getting started on .45acp. .44mag and .30carbine are in my future.
In .357mag, I'm loading for a Dan Wesson revolver, a Marlin 1894c, and a LCR. I am using primarily lead bullets of 140gr or 180gr. I might switch to jacketed bullets for the 1894c because I get the feeling I'm not getting much velocity. I say this because I had to adjust my scope up quite a bit at 50yds, even at just under max loads. The tricky bit is that I would like the ability to load light .357s (not .38spc) for the LCR and a range of stuff for the other two. In .45acp, I'll be feeding a 625 and 1911s using 230gr LRN. I don't plan on doing anything crazy with them, so all I want is consistency. In .44mag, I'll be feeding a 629, probably using 240gr LSWC. I doubt I'll want anything more than a light load and a hotter load, unless I score a 1894 later down the road. It will probably be a little while before I tool up for .30carbine, but I will probably just make plinking ammo when I do. I'm guessing that .30carbine is small enough that people load it with pistol powders, but I haven't looked at data yet. I am currently using True Blue for the .357mag and 231 for the .45acp. Given that I can't actually measure velocity, my only complaint about the True Blue is that it is fine cut stuff that seems to be a bit messy. I have yet to formulate an opinion on the W231. Ideally, what I would want is the ability to address all of the above applications, from the .357mag puffs to the .44mag, with one or two powders to ease stocking and storage requirements. I am, perhaps mistakenly, thinking that I would like a slightly more coarse powder that doesn't slip through easily and is easy to measure consistently. Yes, I know powder is hard to find, but I'd like to have a short list of powders to look for if the opportunity presents itself. |
| That's the first time I've heard a complaint of a powder metering too easily. I use True Blue and find it measuring very consistent. What kind of PM are you using? I've become a big fan of the Ramshot powders and would recommend the TB if you were trying hard to stick to one powder. However the beauty of reloading is being able to make use of so many options. Experiment with a lb at a time and determine what works best for your guns and reloading set up. |
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Quoted:
That's the first time I've heard a complaint of a powder metering too easily. I use True Blue and find it measuring very consistent. What kind of PM are you using? I've become a big fan of the Ramshot powders and would recommend the TB if you were trying hard to stick to one powder. However the beauty of reloading is being able to make use of so many options. Experiment with a lb at a time and determine what works best for your guns and reloading set up. I'm not saying it meters too easily. I'm saying that the stuff is so small that it somehow seems to escape the powder die little by little. I don't know if that's the norm or not, but I'm guessing a powder that's a bit more coarse won't do that. I don't have a powder measure yet. I have been measuring and weighing each load by hand. I have been asking for suggestions in a minor thread hijack here in the reloading forum as well as a cross post in General Dysfunction. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
That's the first time I've heard a complaint of a powder metering too easily. I use True Blue and find it measuring very consistent. What kind of PM are you using? I've become a big fan of the Ramshot powders and would recommend the TB if you were trying hard to stick to one powder. However the beauty of reloading is being able to make use of so many options. Experiment with a lb at a time and determine what works best for your guns and reloading set up. I'm not saying it meters too easily. I'm saying that the stuff is so small that it somehow seems to escape the powder die little by little. I don't know if that's the norm or not, but I'm guessing a powder that's a bit more coarse won't do that. I don't have a powder measure yet. I have been measuring and weighing each load by hand. I have been asking for suggestions in a minor thread hijack here in the reloading forum as well as a cross post in General Dysfunction. Post up a picture of your set up so we can get a better idea. |
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You might look at H110 for jacketed loads in .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum and .30 Carbine.
I've used it for all three with decent results. Should be easy to find data on. It meters nicely, although, with your comments on a too fine a grain, I'm not sure you'd like it. :-) For lead plinking loads, I use some of the old powders, Unique and red dot; mostly because I still have a lot of them and have gotten good results. I use them both in .45 ACP, .357 Magnum, and .44 Magnum. I find Unique dirty and smokey, though. I think there are better powders out there, but I still have a bunch. Best of luck |
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True Blue is a ball powder that is actually shaped like a ball. Unlike W-231 that says it's a ball powder, but is flattened ball. I get no spillage with my Redding PM. No other powder I've used measures as good as True Blue. 357, True Blue for light to medium loads, H-110 for full power loads. 45 ACP, W-231, True Blue. Might try WST, Bullseye, Unique, and Universal. 44 mag, any of the above powders, full power H-110. 30 carbine, H-110.
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I've been digging around some of the data online as well as in books I have. H110, as suggested, definitely made the list.
I think I'm looking at one powder for the faster jacketed stuff and some magnum loads and another powder for lighter loads. For the jacketed stuff and lead loads: IMR/H4227 (Same stuff?) H110 For the lighter stuff: Titegroup 231 True Blue (There are a lot of options, it seems, but this seems like a good short list) One of the problems I have is that there isn't much load data for the .357mag bullets I use (Missouri Bullet Company 140gr and 180gr). My Lee manual had data for 180 and True Blue (why I chose the powder in the first place), but I had to email Ramshot for data for the 140gr. Does Hogdgon/IMR/Winchester provide data on request, or no? |
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Blur Dot Warning.
"ATK Commercial Products 900 Ehlen Drive Anoka, MN 55303 www.atk.com July 25, 2008 Dear Functional Wholesaler: Please distribute this letter to all of your customers immediately with instructions for them to do the following: • Post this letter in a highly visible area of their establishment • Distribute to their customers as soon as possible Alliant Powder Blue Dot® Product Safety Notice Alliant Powder® periodically reviews and tests their published reloading data to verify that recommended recipes have not changed over time. During the latest review Alliant Powder discovered that Alliant Powder’s Blue Dot® should not be used in the following applications: • Blue Dot® should NOT be used in the 357 Magnum load using the 125 grain projectile (Blue Dot® recipes with heavier bullet weights as specified in Alliant Powders Reloading Guide are acceptable for use). • Blue Dot® should NOT be used in the 41 Magnum cartridge (all bullet weights). Use of Blue Dot® in the above cases may cause a high pressure situation that could cause property damage and serious personal injury. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause and appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter. Thank you for your cooperation and if you have any questions or concerns please contact me at [email protected] or call me at 540-639-8503. Dick Quesenberry Alliant Powder Product Line Manager" |
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