Alliant Unique 115gr Cast Bullet Load Data

[peeplwtchr]

Hi All-

I just got a couple hundred 9mm Blue Bullets to test, and am wondering if anyone has a reference resource for the range of powder charge for them. I normally shoot plated bullets (Berry's, Xtreme), so anything in the 5.1-6.0 gr. range works. But these bullets are the softest I've ever seen. In fact I ran 4 dummies to adjust my seating die for the ogive, then I couldn't even pull them unless I cranked my puller die down to the point of wrecking them. The other 2 brands I mentioned never had that hapen, because they are much harder. Maybe a combination of softness, ogive, pulling die, coating, whatever.

Of course I can always start low and move up, as usual, but the softness is the only thing that makes me want to try to get a known max load for these things. Anyone have data?

Thanks!

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Lymans 3rd and 4th cast books.

 

[peeplwtchr]

Lymans 3rd and 4th cast books.

Never heard if these, let me check em out, thanks. Which one is better?

Edit: Just looked at it, I will never cast a bullet, so it would likely just sit on the shelf, but thanks!

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

The 3rd has data the 4th does not, And the 4th has data the 3rd does not have. So they both are good. You can get a reprint of the 3rd here. I have one from them as a back up. My orgional copy is well worn.
Cornell Publications -Lyman 1980 Cast Bullet Handbook 3rd Edition (cornellpubs.com)

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Hi All-

I just got a couple hundred 9mm Blue Bullets to test, and am wondering if anyone has a reference resource for the range of powder charge for them. I normally shoot plated bullets (Berry's, Xtreme), so anything in the 5.1-6.0 gr. range works. But these bullets are the softest I've ever seen. In fact I ran 4 dummies to adjust my seating die for the ogive, then I couldn't even pull them unless I cranked my puller die down to the point of wrecking them. The other 2 brands I mentioned never had that hapen, because they are much harder. Maybe a combination of softness, ogive, pulling die, coating, whatever.

Of course I can always start low and move up, as usual, but the softness is the only thing that makes me want to try to get a known max load for these things. Anyone have data?

Thanks!

Have you checked the Blue Bullet website?
https://thebluebullets.com/load/

 

[peeplwtchr]

Have you checked the Blue Bullet website?
https://thebluebullets.com/load/
View attachment 1089159

Yep, no mention of Unique, thanks rhough.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Yep, no mention of Unique, thanks rhough.

Which reloading manuals do you have? If none of them have both Universal and Unique in the same chart for 115gr. LRN, get one that does, like the Lee 2nd Edition or Lyman's 50th/51st Ed. About the only really good thing about the Lee is it lists every possible combination of powders (derived from multiple sources).

 

[peeplwtchr]

I ordered the manual, but it's going to take 2 weeks to get it. Can anyone who has this manual please post a pic of the 9mm Unique/115gr cast bullet data?

 

[Frulk]

Pic with header info so you can reference the columns



Data you wanted but after posting the pic I noticed there was no Unique info : (



From Lyman's 49th Edition on Cast Bullets...this should get you close...

 

[peeplwtchr]

Pic with header info so you can reference the columns

View attachment 1089225

Data you wanted but after posting the pic I noticed there was no Unique info : (

View attachment 1089226

From Lyman's 49th Edition on Cast Bullets...this should get you close...

View attachment 1089228

YES!!!!! Thank you so much! Today is reloading day, and I was bummed I wasn't going to be able to test my new bullets.

 

[peeplwtchr]

Have you checked the Blue Bullet website?
https://thebluebullets.com/load/
View attachment 1089159

Yep thx, Unique isn't there.

 

[Frulk]

Did that Lyman’s info help?

BTW I actually reference that Lee manual quite a bit. It’s a great centralized source for a TON of various reloading data for many calibers.

 

[peeplwtchr]

Did that Lyman’s info help?

BTW I actually reference that Lee manual quite a bit. It’s a great centralized source for a TON of various reloading data for many calibers.

It did! See my post above.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

The Lyman books are my preferd data sources.

 

[peeplwtchr]

Goin with 4.5 first.

 

[Y-T71]

I never thought about it before but, I think 9mm is the only cartridge that I haven't used Unique in

And, no, not in any of my data either.

 

[peeplwtchr]

Thanks everybody! Off to the 114 degree range to test them..

 

[Frulk]

Pics or it didn’t happen!!!

 

[Y-T71]

Thanks everybody! Off to the 114 degree range to test them..

Christ, be careful!

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Please stay hydrated.

 

[peeplwtchr]

Thanks for the concern about the heat, I definetely use desert survival techniques. I was out there for 7 hours yesterday.

So anyway, the 4.5gr load worked great. At least at 7 yds, I got 10 through an MOA hole. That was after cranking out 120 others in 8 minutes. I could have fried an egg on the barrel. Thanks again for the help everybody! Today worked out exactly right because of it.

 

[GooseGestapo]

WOW!
MOA at 10yds is about 0.03”

Didn’t you mean 1” ?

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Sounds like you enjoyed the cast loads. Coated cast is cheaper than jacketed and copper plated. Summers enterprises has good prices on coated cast. And his quality is good. Most of my coated cast comes from him. And when you order in bulk. The savings are better. Great guy to talk to as well. He gave me some good tips.
Summers Enterprises – Summers Enterprises (summersenterprisesllc.com)

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Thanks for the concern about the heat, I definetely use desert survival techniques. I was out there for 7 hours yesterday.

So anyway, the 4.5gr load worked great. At least at 7 yds, I got 10 through an MOA hole. That was after cranking out 120 others in 8 minutes. I could have fried an egg on the barrel. Thanks again for the help everybody! Today worked out exactly right because of it.

Great! I never noticed the Lee data for 115gr lead didn’t include Unique. I guess I just from habit used Universal data for Unique. (don’t ever do that, by the way).

 

[peeplwtchr]

WOW!
MOA at 10yds is about 0.03”

Didn’t you mean 1” ?

Ha, yep.