newer reloader questions

[goosepit]

Hi,     Ive been reloading for only a few weeks now. I have 3 manuals(speer,lyman,and hodgdon) I've read all the manuals and countless other things on reloading over the past few years. Everything I have read says to have several sources for your load before you use it, Ok thats what I have been doing(I'm only loading 45 colt now using 250gr rnfp and unique powder)this load is in almost everything I've read. Heres my question, Lymans manual has a load for just a .454 round ball and unique,I would like to try this load but cannot find any other data to cross refrence? and also it doesnt list a starting load. And I have heard of a few people using 2 round balls over unique, but I cannot find printed data on this anywhere. Also there is not much info on reduced loads, how much can loads like this be reduced, right now i'm using 6-8 grains of unique like the lyman manual says, but what would happen if I used 5 or 4 or 3 gr. with my 250gr bullet. I hate to be too experimental, since i'm just starting and I want to be safe, so any help will be appreciated.
                                             Thanks
                                                     Scott

[bigdaddytacp]

Hi,     Ive been reloading for only a few weeks now. I have 3 manuals(speer,lyman,and hodgdon) I've read all the manuals and countless other things on reloading over the past few years. Everything I have read says to have several sources for your load before you use it, Ok thats what I have been doing(I'm only loading 45 colt now using 250gr rnfp and unique powder)this load is in almost everything I've read. Heres my question, Lymans manual has a load for just a .454 round ball and unique,I would like to try this load but cannot find any other data to cross refrence? and also it doesnt list a starting load. And I have heard of a few people using 2 round balls over unique, but I cannot find printed data on this anywhere. Also there is not much info on reduced loads, how much can loads like this be reduced, right now i'm using 6-8 grains of unique like the lyman manual says, but what would happen if I used 5 or 4 or 3 gr. with my 250gr bullet. I hate to be too experimental, since i'm just starting and I want to be safe, so any help will be appreciated.
                                             Thanks
                                                     Scott

..........The 45lc and other large volumne cases and fast powder don't do as well with loads reduced that far......the powder is so small in that big case and it can arrange itself in the case too many ways...all to the front,all to the rear and laying along the bottom....you can see where  this will let the flame from the primer hit different amounts of the powder at the instant of firing and make the pressure vary and IT CAN cause a overpressure situation.........that is why many manuals don't give the super reduced loads and you MIGHT shoot thousands of the reduced loads and then get the one that go "BANG".....I have seen this in person in other "light" loadings and read many references to this with the 45LC loading in gun rag articles...some go to the trouble of using inert fillers to hold the powder to the rear in a consistant fashion.......I have never had to do this and I have loaded many thousands of 45LC rounds and I just use a bulky powder and don't go below the light target load level in the big case......IF you press the "round ball" all the way into the case and make the powder stay at the rear of the case then you could reduce the load to the 4 or 5 grain level........with two balls in the case pressed down I would check to make sure they both exit the barrel and do a few test shots before I loaded many of them....also the ball will be "melted and burned" by the powder if pressed into the case and you will get a lot of leading and flash on the cly and barrel.........hope this helps and good luck and good shooting-safe loading!!

[John Traveler]

Goosepit,

BigDaddy gave good advice on reduced loads.  The reloading manuals don't list them for liability concerns.

I've loaded double RB loads for years.  You treat the combined weight of two RB as one heavy-bullet .45 (about 270 grains combined wight).

Charge with the same amount of Unique as for a heavy-bullet .45 Colt load, deep seat the first ball, add a drop or two of melted bullet lube (beeswax, parafin, whatever), and seat the second ball to slightly below centreline, and crimp.  I've never had a ball stuck in the bore, but that is certainly a possibility if you use reduced loads.

As a new reloader, it is certainly best to be careful and cautious when making up new loads.

Remember, "There are BOLD reloaders, and there are OLD reloaders, but there are no BOLD and OLD reloaders!"

HTH
John

[jgalar]

Unique is not very case sensitive. I use small charges in 30-06 size cartridges without any problems.

[The Shrink]

With the two ball load I would suggest at least a card wad over the powder, this will minimize the gas cutting of the balls.  A lubed wad between the balls should provide the lube needed more easily than putting a dollop of lube between them.  

If you have something to cut a wad with you can use coffee can lid plastic or box waxed paper, like from a OJ box.  Just cut wads and drop them on top of the powder.  ButlerFord said he was using a 1/2" hole punch to punch his .44 cal wads for C&B, they should be readily available but the wad may be slightly large for the case.