Alliant Unique Powder

[SleazyRider]

Great discussion. This thread has cleared up quite a few things for me as a wannabe reloader who's just about to crack open his wallet.

Would you permit me one "newbie" question? When you say start 10% lower and "work up a load," how are you determining satisfactory performance? Is it all done with a chronograph to get the optimal loading, or are there other criteria? How to you know when you loading is "right" for your circumstances?

 

[mikemyers]

.......Would you permit me one "newbie" question?.........

Please ask all the 'newbie' questions you've got. I could guess what the answer might be to your question, but it would be just that, a guess.

(My suggestion is that you start out with a single stage press, and learn all about reloading as you're doing it. When you're comfortable with everything, only then consider a "faster" press, if you need it. In the meantime, if you learn not only "what" to do, but "why", you'll have a much better foundation for getting something more complicated. Also, it's like riding a bicycle. You can read all you want, and discuss things all you want, but the real learning comes when you start doing it yourself.)

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Great discussion. This thread has cleared up quite a few things for me as a wannabe reloader who's just about to crack open his wallet.

Would you permit me one "newbie" question? When you say start 10% lower and "work up a load," how are you determining satisfactory performance? Is it all done with a chronograph to get the optimal loading, or are there other criteria? How to you know when you loading is "right" for your circumstances?

The reason why you start 10% below the MAX charge is every gun is different. Add in the other variables like bullets and pressures can be different from one load to another.

When we say "work up to find the best load" in most cases we are talking about the most accurate load, not the load with the highest velocity. Accuracy is what we are looking for and consistency. You are also looking for signs of excessively high pressures. Of course you don't want too much pressure.

Hope that answers your question. Ask away if you need more info SleazyRider...

 

[LiveLife]

When you say start 10% lower and "work up a load," how are you determining satisfactory performance?

When we say "work up to find the best load" in most cases we are talking about the most accurate load, not the load with the highest velocity. Accuracy is what we are looking for and consistency.

+1. Accuracy/small shot groups are usually the result of consistent muzzle velocities which are the result of consistent chamber pressures. Chronograph can help you detect consistent muzzle velocities and lower SD numbers but you can't always set up a chrono in an indoor range. I usually use accuracy trends as my guide when I conduct load development.

When I do my powder work up, I first look for reliable slide cycling and spent case extraction/ejection. Then I look at accuracy trends. My gauge for accuracy for semi-auto pistols is sub 1" at 7 yards and sub 2" shot groups at 15 yards. Really accurate loads will produce sub 2" shot groups at 25 yards.

With certain powders, if I see accuracy at start charge/10% reduction with reliable slide cycling and spent case extraction/ejection, I will test slightly below start charges in .1/.2 gr increments. I did that when I load tested BE-86 in 40S&W - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=761471&page=4

When I did load development in uncharted territories with Herco in 40S&W and no load data for lead/plated bullets, I took extra caution and dipped below 10% reduction for start charges and worked up the powder charges until I found an accurate load - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=743416

 

[Potatohead]

If the bullet rolls out of the barrel, and goes 'flop' onto the ground in front of us, will reconsider

I wasnt being sarcastic about making sure a hole appears in the target, if it sounded that way..

 

[mikemyers]

I wasn't sure what you meant, but you reminded me of a friend of mine who used to shoot black powder - and what I described is what happened to him. The gun made a quiet bang, and the bullet rolled out the front and dropped more or less at his feet.