corerf
posted this
26 January 2021
Wow what a timely post (for me at least)
I picked up 36 lbs of BR5 from Jeff as well as 16 lbs of WC857, TODAY! Got back from Owensboro this evening.
I have reviewed a short data sheet Jeff handed me.
I have looked at ALL makes; Lovex, Alliant, AA, IMR/Win/H and I cant find any equivalents or a defined correlation, except it IS slower than Unique from this Ad Hoc data sheet. It is said to be slower by a bit than Unique, from the data offered me, that is true from study of other slower powder data. Its not Herco by any stretch, just a TICK slower than Unique. So the idea is Unique staring loads "should be" low for velocity and pressure low for a given cartridge. Unique start loads taken at their actual weights, are the "reduced start weight" to work up from. Reducing 10% would be really reducing 15-20% or thereabouts. Cant hurt but will be wasteful of material, PRIMERS and time.
Unfortunately there is no good indicator of pressure for the revolver cartridges like 38 and 32 and 357. Autoloaders are just as bad, unless you have a single shot to strap a transducer to. I have the pressure lab, just dont have the barrels. So when you get 38 special (as an example) typical Unique speeds (min to max for a given load data sheet), then you stop. Push I suppose if you like taking a risk but the fact that it is slower than Unique "virtually" guarantees that Unique weights and Unique velocities, when coincidently met, are the of the end of the line for development. Unless again you have pressure test electronics and a viable breach loading barrel.
Ill be loading 9, 45, 38, 357 32 H&R, 32 SWL, 44 SP, light 44 MAG, 8mm TXR with it and experiment with it for 30-30 reduced loads and the like (Old Lyman Unique type data). It might become a kicker for duplexed WC857/860/872. Bottom line is I loaded up so that I could use just one powder for non magnum shooting and narrow my scope. Ed Harris made that suggestion years ago with his Bullseye work. Im excited to be able to work with it and am hoping others here in 2021 will report findings. WC820 and WC680 for Handgun magnums (in large quantity).
I DO have a 357 MAX barrel for a contender that I can add a strain gauge to so maybe I can get pressure data on 38/38+P/357.
Anybody have a 9mm or 45 ACP contender barrel that can be gauged?? I dont want a complete library of data, just a few index points to work with and have pressure curves. 125/115 (9mm) and 230gr ball and LRN(45)
I have 6 lbs of current Unique and 1 lb of cardboard can Unique to test actual performance differentials.