[Ridgerunner665]

Ridgerunner "finally" fires a reduced load...using Unique!

I wasn't sure if the round went off or not ;D....there was a slight "bang", but no recoil ???

RD350 seated to the crimp groove, full crimp
12 grains of Unique (no filler)
Starline brass trimmed to 2.095" (annealed...they sealed the chamber, brass came out nice and clean)
CCI BR2 primer

1,110 fps (no leading) I only loaded 1 round, just to see what it was all about, I mean't to settle the powder down on the primer before I fired it but I forgot to do it...not sure it matters much, but it can't hurt.

Due to my "high velocity" leading issue (being dealt with )...I'm in a bit of a scramble to get this postal match thing done, so I'm gonna load me up a few of these tonight and hope like hell they shoot straight

How much Unique can you use under a 350 grain bullet? I've read 12-15 grains, seeking confirmation though...

Any idea of the pressure?

 

[STARDATE2010]

Re: Ridgerunner "finally" fires a reduced load...using Unique!

The GMDR.com website shows that 12gr Unique behind a 350gr bullet goes 1091fps and is a tried/true round.
It also shows 21gr H2400 behind the same round gives 1146fps.
I just went through about 60 rounds of 405gr at 1600fps at the get together in Orlando and I was all over the paper at 50 yds. So, slower would have been better in my case, but moderate in the recoil. I ordered my rounds from the cheaper than dirt site for approx $20/box of 20 rounds.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Re: Ridgerunner "finally" fires a reduced load...using Unique!

Thats where I got the load data from...I'm just wondering if my bullets are too hard for this. They are 30 BHN, so they may or may not be a bit more accurate at a bit higher pressure.

At any rate, I finally fired a reduced load...and it felt funny

I'm gonna load me up some at 12 grains, but anybody that has gone up a tad higher please tell me about it...most people do this with 400-405 grain bullets (or bigger)...I have an RD425 mold but don't have any of those boolits cast at this time.

Oh well...postal match targets coming up tomorrow ...win, lose, or draw!

 

[Wind]

Re: Ridgerunner "finally" fires a reduced load...using Unique!

Hey there RR665 -- Bet that was one fine group!! Here is some information that straddles your 350 grain bullet weight. Looks like you're in the neighborhood. Good luck. Hope this helps. Best regards. Wind

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Re: Ridgerunner "finally" fires a reduced load...using Unique!

Hey there RR665 -- Bet that was one fine group!! Here is some information that straddles your 350 grain bullet weight. Looks like you're in the neighborhood. Good luck. Hope this helps. Best regards. Wind

Thanks a bunch Wind...yeah, those 1 shot groups are always nice

I may try 13 grains or so in a week or 2...just to see what happens.

EDIT: I'm gonna go ahead and load them at 13 grains...I ran some numbers, I think 1,200 fps is as much as I want out of these (HOT 45 Colt in a rifle )

Besides...based on that load data I used, the Unique seemed to be getting better (more accurate and consistent) as the charges went up.

 

[Rowdy]

Re: Ridgerunner "finally" fires a reduced load...using Unique!

Ridge – this data comes from Lyman Cast Handbook.

Class II loading.
#457122 – 325gr GC Lyman #2… COL 2.550”
Unique Max – 14.5grs 1295fps 24,400 CUP

Class III loading for Ruger #1
#457122 COL 2.610”
Unique Max – 17.5grs 1472fps 38,700 CUP

Re; bbl leading… I think you’ve already answered your own question.

If the BTB 405gr did not lead, but your 350’s do?
Could it be that maybe your 350’s are TOO hard?

Easy test – try some AC next and see if that’s it…

 

[Gaterskiner]

Re: Ridgerunner "finally" fires a reduced load...using Unique!

Ridgerunner loading plinkers????? I have lost all faith!! ;D

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Re: Ridgerunner "finally" fires a reduced load...using Unique!

Thanks Rowdy

Ridgerunner loading plinkers????? I have lost all faith!! ;D

Don't lose faith , I will get this rifle shooting without leading (I ordered the fire lapping kit yesterday 8))

Whether its bullet hardness, or not (I'm beginning to think its not)...its only leading 1 single land of the rifling, right under the front sight, and only in the last 2 inches or so, other than that the barrel is clear and clean....its just got a "trouble spot", that I think is gonna take fire lapping to get out...she will get straightened out, one way or another

 

[Paborn]

Re: Ridgerunner "finally" fires a reduced load...using Unique!

I've got both the NOE 460-350-RF and the 460-425RF that cast both FP and Hollow points. Spent considerable time working on reduced loads. There is much info available for tried and true loads with Unique and 2400. All I did was confirm what others have found. 15 grains of Unique or 28 grains of 2400 would shoot less than 1 and 1/2 inch at 100 yards with any of these four cast. All are gas checked, sized at .460, and cast of 15 Brinell alloy (90-5-5 Lyman #2). If cast of 94-3-3 they shoot just as well and expand better on game. I use a moderate crimp with Lee factory crimp die in the crimping groove. Shot in 1895 cowboy. No leading. 2400 gives around 1600 fps with the lighter bullets. Unique gives aroud 1350. I plan on cronographing all these loads for my records sometime this summer. As an aside, I also shoot these Brinell 15 cast at full power level 2 loads with good accuracy and no leading. Hard is not necessary but correct fit is necessary. Besides, the softer alloys expand and are not brittle.

Paborn

 

[Paborn]

Re: Ridgerunner "finally" fires a reduced load...using Unique!

All of the loads I listed use Starline brass that has been annealed. I found the light loads were dirty as the hard brass did not seal well. The annealed cases gave better case life. As a comment, I also found that the hard case necks actually resized down my carefully sized .460 bullets when using a normal Lyman "M" die. Annealing the cases and using a larger "M" die solved the problem. Unique proved to be position insensitive, which was not the case with 2400. With 2400 the use of a starch based packing peanut to keep the powder on top of the primer significantly reduced velocity variation. The annealed cases with these light loads have given over 30 reloads with annealing and trimming every 10 reloads. A light to moderate crimp helps in not working the brass inordinately.

Paborn

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Re: Ridgerunner "finally" fires a reduced load...using Unique!

The 13 grains of Unique shot great...but a tad slower than I wanted, I'm gonna bump it up to 13.5 grains when I get a chance to load some more.

They shot 1,175 fps...I'd like to get at least 1,200 fps.

 

[MontanaMarine]

Re: Ridgerunner "finally" fires a reduced load...using Unique!

Here's some of my Unique load notes:

1895 GBL, 18.5" bbl.

350gr cast (those you sent a while back)
Unique
12gr - 1120 fps


405gr Laser Cast
Unique
16gr - 1300 fps
15gr - 1250 fps
14gr - 1190 fps
13gr - 1120 fps

12gr - 1050 fps (those hollowpoints you sent me a while back)



405gr Rem FP
Unique
16 gr - 1100 fps (1070 - 1130)

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Re: Ridgerunner "finally" fires a reduced load...using Unique!

Thank You...

 

[MontanaMarine]

Re: Ridgerunner "finally" fires a reduced load...using Unique!

FWIW, here's a quickload ladder chart with pressure calcs, using Unique under a jacketed 350gr bullet,

Cartridge     : .45-70 Govt. SAAMI
Bullet       : .458, 350, Speer FN 2478
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.550 inch or 64.77 mm
Barrel Length   : 18.5 inch or 469.9 mm
Powder       : Alliant UNIQUE

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 5.263% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step  Fill. Charge  Vel. Energy  Pmax  Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %    %  Grains  fps  ft.lbs  psi  psi   %    ms

-52.6  27   9.00  951   702  9243  1104  100.0  2.955
-47.4  29  10.00  1029   823  11782  1185  100.0  2.348
-42.1  32  11.00  1092   927  13909  1280  100.0  2.122
-36.8  35  12.00  1150  1028  16091  1377  100.0  1.965
-31.6  38  13.00  1205  1129  18365  1475  100.0  1.844
-26.3  41  14.00  1257  1228  20742  1572  100.0  1.743
-21.1  44  15.00  1307  1328  23226  1669  100.0  1.658
-15.8  47  16.00  1355  1427  25821  1766  100.0  1.585 ! Near Maximum !
-10.5  50  17.00  1402  1527  28527  1861  100.0  1.521 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
-05.3  53  18.00  1447  1626  31348  1957  100.0  1.463 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+00.0  56  19.00  1490  1726  34285  2051  100.0  1.411 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.3  59  20.00  1533  1826  37340  2145  100.0  1.364 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.5  62  21.00  1574  1926  40515  2238  100.0  1.318 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+15.8  65  22.00  1615  2026  43814  2330  100.0  1.274 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+21.1  68  23.00  1654  2127  47240  2421  100.0  1.234 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+26.3  71  24.00  1693  2227  50795  2512  100.0  1.197 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Re: Ridgerunner "finally" fires a reduced load...using Unique!

FWIW, here's a quickload ladder chart with pressure calcs, using Unique under a jacketed 350gr bullet,

Much appreciated Shane ...you interested in trying some RD350's?

 

[MontanaMarine]

Re: Ridgerunner "finally" fires a reduced load...using Unique!

Thanks, but I'm fat on 405gr lasercast, and 405gr Rem JFPs. I'm going to stick with that for the time being.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Re: Ridgerunner "finally" fires a reduced load...using Unique!

Thanks, but I'm fat on 405gr lasercast, and 405gr Rem JFPs. I'm going to stick with that for the time being.

10-4...if you change your mind just let me know.

 

[MontanaMarine]

Re: Ridgerunner "finally" fires a reduced load...using Unique!

You bet.

Someday I'll get into casting my own too. Pretty handy to be able to make your own.