Anyone reloading .351 WSL with unique?

Walther_PPK

Walther_PPK

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Anyone have experience reloading .351wsl with unique? I’m using 180gr cast bullets. I found some data that called for 11grs but when testing them today they don’t seem strong enough to cycle the action with the pressure of more than 2 rounds in the mag acting on the underside of the bolt (the bolt fails to open completely after firing the first or second rounds but the other three cycle fine) so I would imagine it only needs a bit more powder but before I start experimenting I wanted to see if anyone here has had better luck.

And yes, I realize there are better powders for this round but the allure of this rifle for me was that I could reload with brass made from .223, cast bullets and unique powder. It’s the one powder I usually have plenty of.
 
I haven’t tried cast bullets yet. Still have a bunch of plated 180 gr from Rusty Woods.
I use 18gr of 4227 for that. What mold are you using and do you gas check them.
I do cast 200 gr for my Remington Model8 and gas check them. IMR 4198 at 22gr works great for plinking and easy one the gun.
 
I got a custom mold from accurate molds. One designed to cast using wheel weights. No gas checks. It casts really well.
 
More volume of a slower powder would make a larger volume of gas, and that's likely what you need for reliable operation of semis.
 
Walther_PPK said:
Anyone have experience reloading .351wsl with unique? I’m using 180gr cast bullets. I found some data that called for 11grs but when testing them today they don’t seem strong enough to cycle the action with the pressure of more than 2 rounds in the mag acting on the underside of the bolt (the bolt fails to open completely after firing the first or second rounds but the other three cycle fine) so I would imagine it only needs a bit more powder but before I start experimenting I wanted to see if anyone here has had better luck.

And yes, I realize there are better powders for this round but the allure of this rifle for me was that I could reload with brass made from .223, cast bullets and unique powder. It’s the one powder I usually have plenty of.
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I found that with Unique, I went from not enough powder to cycle the action to too much to allow for extraction within 1-2 grs. In my rifle I found that 8.0 grs of Unique with a 180 gr cast bullet gave 1350 fps and cycled the action.

The best powder choice IMO is IMR4227 - up to a full case in bullets weighing up to 200 grs gives excellent results.
 
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Andy said:
I found that with Unique, I went from not enough powder to cycle the action to too much to allow for extraction within 1-2 grs. In my rifle I found that 8.0 grs of Unique with a 180 gr cast bullet gave 1350 fps and cycled the action.

The best powder choice IMO is IMR4227 - up to a full case in bullets weighing up to 200 grs gives excellent results.
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I’m going to make up some more using the modified .223 brass tonight for testing on Saturday. I want to give the unique the benefit of the doubt that it can work in this because it’s all I have to work with at the moment.

If 8grs would get me reliable cycling, I’d be fine with 1350fps. Though, the starting load of 11grs would never cycle the first two rounds out of either mag I have for my 1907.
 
You are well equipped to work up a load with Unique and as each gun is a bit different your results will be too.

I use 357 Max brass to make 351 WSL. Easy-peasy.

Best wishes.
 
I would not use unique, I was using a 4227 and decided to try a bit of a faster powder (long shot) not as fast as unique but faster then 4227. When I got it to some what cycle I noticed the bases of the brass were more bulged at the base suggesting early opening. If you play with faster powders be careful on those old blowback guns especially as they potentially have weak springs and worn buffers
 
If you can find it 360dw starline brass was cheaper then 357max and works for full length brass. I also made some from 38 brass work by thinning the rim and just seated the bullet a bit long and a slightly reduced powder loaded. Cycled good and because it headspaces on the rim no issues other then slightly less powerful.
 
Webley No.5 said:
I would not use unique, I was using a 4227 and decided to try a bit of a faster powder (long shot) not as fast as unique but faster then 4227. When I got it to some what cycle I noticed the bases of the brass were more bulged at the base suggesting early opening. If you play with faster powders be careful on those old blowback guns especially as they potentially have weak springs and worn buffers
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This may be the case with mine. I think the “start grains” of 11 as listed for Unique is a bit much. I tried reloading the spent brass last night and some had swollen bases and the primer pockets were expanded so much that primers would not stay in place.

I loaded some new brass with the 8gns previously suggested and everything functioned fine today. I will work my way up (if necessary, for accuracy) from there. I won’t be hunting with this rifle and will treat it like a PCC. I just want a fun plinker I can make cheap ammo for.

If I can find a load that I can hit a Pepsi can at 100 yards with, then I’m happy. As long as I can used unique to do it. At least until I can get better powder.
 
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