223 reduced loads using Unique or Titegroup powder
- Thread starter saskgunowner101
- Start date
lineofsight
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Lower Mainland, BC
What gr bullets? (have 55, 62, 69, 75 thus if you have data for one of these will definitely try it). Found 3.1 Titetgroup with 55gr on the Hodgen site. Building 5R (24" 1:9) on B&C Varmint stock (also building identical big brother in .308 for the brass you sent is destined). Cheers.
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I have used Unique, following the cast bullet data from a Lyman loading manual.
I have never had an issue with loads of pistol powder in a rifle case; I am not sure what issues there might be. If you are following the cast bullet data, most pressures are well under normal operating pressures for the cartridge. When you are shooting them above 1000 fps there is no concern with sticking a bullet (I would worry if I tried shooting jacketed bullets well below 1000 fps in a rifle).
I have never had an issue with loads of pistol powder in a rifle case; I am not sure what issues there might be. If you are following the cast bullet data, most pressures are well under normal operating pressures for the cartridge. When you are shooting them above 1000 fps there is no concern with sticking a bullet (I would worry if I tried shooting jacketed bullets well below 1000 fps in a rifle).
It is called detonation.
Light load + empty case = kaboom
Just imagine the powder is laying down the case 1/4 full.
The flame ignite the powder all at once.
Normally, the powder burn from the primer end to the front.
Detonation was occurring using reduced loads of very slow powders (like 4831) in large capacity cases, not with pistol or shotgun powders. This is why most reloading manuals have warnings not to use charges less than the starting loads.
Really? And you of course have extensive experience with this kind of low velocity loading?
The load below was previously chono'd at near to 1000 fps. Wanna tell us again about how bullets won't get stuck in the bore at that velocity? It happened to me twice. Both times with unlubricated bullets.
Common sense isn't all that common and in many cases is downright wrong. Don't forget that you read buddy's postulating about bullets never sticking on the internet as well.
Then might I suggest you do some research. There is this cool feature on the internet called Google that can be used to find just about any information.
Detonation of small charges of powder in big cases can and does happen. The primary mechanism is though to be the incomplete ignition of nitroglycerin containing double base powders. The powder smolders, releasing the nitro as a vapour which then causes a high order detonation.
In the 25 years I have been around guns, I have personally seen three revolvers that ended up looking like this. Every one of them was a 44 Mag. Is that coincidence or is this the result of a detonation event due to a small powder charge in a large case? I don't know the answer but I am not a big believer in coincidence.
Dale Earnhart said exactly the same thing about basal skull fracture before he died of a basal skull fracture. That it has never gone wrong for you is completely irrelevant. It can happen and to ignor that fact is stupidity.
vagrantviking
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- High River, Alberta
1. Actually yes, I do some low velocity loading in other chamberings.
2. If a bullet is moving at 1000fps (or even 2fps for that matter) it is MOVING and hence not STUCK. If that ain't common sense I don't know what is....
3. There are factory pistol and rimfire loads out there that are meant to stay under 1000fps - Subsonics and such. Are they knowingly selling ammo that is going to occasionally get stuck in the bore? Somehow I doubt that their lawyers would approve.
Maybe there is room for improvement in your reloading system...
Note to self: Don't stand anywhere near vagrant viking when he is shooting his low vel loads .....
I don't even know how to respond to this tripe. In your world stuff that "IS MOVING" can never stop moving? Get real. The discussion is about low velocity loads in rifle cartridges and these kinds of loads can produce stuck bullets. Your argument is pedantic and silly.
The discussion is about loading low-vel ammo in RIFLE CARTRDIGES. Try and stay with the conversation. Not too many companies make such things an the ones that do go to lengths to ensure that bullets exit the bore reliably.
Yes, it is called lubricated bullets and specially prepared cases. I have developed and loaded subsonic rounds in four different rifle cases and fired hundreds upon hundreds of these kinds of rounds safely. The two that stuck were the result of my not following the rules and properly lubricating the bullets.
Are not the really fast pistol powders already burning as fast as they can and they are not subject to detonation owing to underfilling a case? You can fill a 45 or 38spl case with only a couple of grains of 231 or bullseye, and nothing dangerous happens because the case if over 90% empty. Slower powders like 296 carry the warning of dangers of under filling cases.
saskgunowner101
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- near Prince Albert
I still have all my fingers and eyes.
I loaded up five rounds each of 6.5, 6.8, 7.1, and 7.4 grains Unique with a 50 grain soft point and went to it. Shooting at 50 meters the 6.5 went about 1/2 inch, the 6.8 shot inside that group, so less than 1/2. The 7.1 shot a touch over 1/2 and the 7.4 opened up to the outside of that group.
The report is much less with these loads than factory but still louder than CCI Stingers. They also shoot about two inches lower than factory ammo. I have no clue on the velocity though.
I loaded up five rounds each of 6.5, 6.8, 7.1, and 7.4 grains Unique with a 50 grain soft point and went to it. Shooting at 50 meters the 6.5 went about 1/2 inch, the 6.8 shot inside that group, so less than 1/2. The 7.1 shot a touch over 1/2 and the 7.4 opened up to the outside of that group.The report is much less with these loads than factory but still louder than CCI Stingers. They also shoot about two inches lower than factory ammo. I have no clue on the velocity though.
notsorichguy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- The city that rhymes with fun
What velocitys were you getting saskgunowner?
Just curious if this would be an indoor range acceptable load (under 1000fps)
Cheers!
Just curious if this would be an indoor range acceptable load (under 1000fps)
Cheers!
saskgunowner101
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- near Prince Albert
Not a clue on the velocities, sorry.
If I had to pull a number out of the air, my guess would be faster than Stingers and quit a bit less than factory Rem going 3000 fps.(1600-1800 s.w.a.g.??)I was shooting at 50 meters, and they twack the wood pile at 75 meters quicker than any rimfire I've shot. They shoot about 2 inches lower than factory Remington at 50 meters.
I also tried out Ganderites suggestion of 3.2 grains of Titegroup behind a 50 grain Hornady softpoint. These are reportedly going around 1100 fps, and they shoot approx. 4 inches low at 50 meters compared to the Remington stuff. Maybe a touch less powder would make it suitable for indoors, but I'd just use a rimfire before going with the Titegroup loads.
I only shot a few 5 round groups, and they both had a nice group with one flyer....try it out if you like, but not as quiet as you'd think. I do find it fun to experiment though, so it wasn't a waste of time at all.
Let me know how you make out when/if you give it a shot.
notsorichguy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- The city that rhymes with fun
I've got all the components..... I just got to find the time to put it all together.....
I've been working an outside job for the last 6 weeks, all I can find the energy for when I get home from work, is laying on the couch!
It will be another 2 to 3 weeks before I will get all the loading done, then I (knowing my weak azzed self) will probably wait for a day when it isn't snowing, blowing or colder than -10 before I get a chance to fire them off......
Cheers!
I've been working an outside job for the last 6 weeks, all I can find the energy for when I get home from work, is laying on the couch!
It will be another 2 to 3 weeks before I will get all the loading done, then I (knowing my weak azzed self) will probably wait for a day when it isn't snowing, blowing or colder than -10 before I get a chance to fire them off......
Cheers!
As it happens I loaded up five .223 rounds a couple of days back using the Hodgdon recipe of 3.1gr of Titegroup and a 55gr bullet. They worked fine, but as others have pointed out a rimfire is substantially cheaper. Even a 17HMR would probably be cheaper to shoot. I checked the bore after every round despite the fact this is an "official" load from a trusted source. I would be wary of some of the other recipes out there.
