Author Topic: Compression of Swiss (Read 872 times)

The Pistoleer · « **on:** March 20, 2005, 07:00:11 AM »

I have heard that Swiss black powdr used in cartridges doesn't like compression.

Have any of you found this to be true? If so do you still use a drop tube?

Will Ketchum

Ray Newman · « **Reply #1 on:** March 20, 2005, 07:58:16 AM »

Some Shooters developed successful Swiss loads that don't require compression; others reported success w/ some am't. of compression.

Just another factor to tinker w/ whne developing a load.

I have never spoken to or read of a Shooter who reloaded w/ Swiss & didn't utilize a drop tube.

bpcshooter · « **Reply #2 on:** March 21, 2005, 03:49:04 AM »

Pete: I use Swiss 2F in my 40-65 Win. cartridges. MY Browning BPCR will shoot good with anywhere from 59 to 64 grains of this powder. I throw charges from a Harrel measurer, verifying each charge on an electronic scale. A drop tube is not used when inserting powder into the cases, only a small funnel. My 64 grain loads are compressed around .250" and will shoot under 2 MOA consistantly at 100 yards, if I do my part. Bullet is a PJ Creedmoor 40001, .060" ldpe wads, Winchester [WLMR] primers in Remington cases. John

Ray Newman · « **Reply #3 on:** March 21, 2005, 06:38:45 AM »

BPC Shooter: have you ever tried a drop tube w/ your .40-65 load?

Wuz wondering if w/ a drop tube, the powder would compact tighter & lessen the amt. of compression & how that all would effect the loads performance??

The Pistoleer · « **Reply #4 on:** March 21, 2005, 12:29:19 PM »

Thanks for the replies. I have a lot to learn.

Pete

Ray Newman · « **Reply #5 on:** March 21, 2005, 04:42:46 PM »

These sites may have some useful information for your application:

On-line BPCR Reloading Primer:

http://www.ssbpcrc.co.uk/Resources/Introduction%20to%20BPCR%20Loading.pdf

Bullet casting info @:

http://www.longrangebpcr.com/

Click on ammunition, then bullet casting, then 8 Phase casting Cycle.

cooper · « **Reply #6 on:** March 22, 2005, 08:23:51 AM »

I remember reading, somewhere, that Swiss responds well to compression in 2 areas:

First, in the area where you would compress around .05" to .10".

In the area of .10" to about .20 or .24" compression, it doesn't shoot as well.

Then, at .25" compression and up, Swiss again responds well to compression.

I have never tried Swiss at anything above about .12" compresssion, so I don't have any comment on the above statements.

BTW - the compression rates of .05" to .10" are so low that for those loads, I compress while seating the bullet. No need for a compression die until compression gets up to about .12" or larger.

Timberlake · « **Reply #7 on:** March 23, 2005, 01:32:51 PM »

I've been getting good results in my Shiloh 40-65 using 1-1/2 Swiss, 65 grains of it pushing a Brooks 420 grain bullet. My compression figures to be right at .250 using a .03 ldpe wad. I've never got an SD above 5 and the accuracy is the mirror of bpcshooter's earlier post. Velocity is averaging 1280.

TL

iowa · « **Reply #8 on:** March 25, 2005, 04:42:58 AM »

My experience with Swiss 1 1/2 is just about as Cooper relates. For best results: Little to no compression or lots of it. I favor and use Swiss compressed to around .295 in both the 45-70 & 90. Best Regards steve witt

The Pistoleer · « **Reply #9 on:** March 25, 2005, 07:21:49 AM »

Steve, thanks for the reply.

Will you be having any of the tools you make for assisting the loading of a stubborn round in a Sharps at the Nationals?

Are you going to the Trader's Jubilee?

Pete

Omaha Poke · « **Reply #10 on:** March 31, 2005, 11:23:39 AM »

I have been using Swiss 1.5 in my .45-90 and a 550 gr Victory/Pedersoli/Gunn/Trenk bullet and have been doing very well with it using 83 grs powder and .315 compression. This load is not very sensitive to different primers either. I tried out 3 different primers , one for each 10 shot string at our last match. This was a 500 yd bench rest, and I shot 94, 94, 93 out of possible 100's. I think I would have done better if I had my new glasses at the time. Don't be affraid to compress Swiss, it compresses just as well if not better than other BP. Randy

The Pistoleer · « **Reply #11 on:** March 31, 2005, 11:32:07 AM »

Omaha, could you tell me more about that bullet? Where do you get them? Mold? Lube?

Pete

Omaha Poke · « **Reply #12 on:** March 31, 2005, 05:08:13 PM »

Pete, the bullet mould is made by Victory Molds, that is correct not moulds. Someone in Europe owns the rights to Victory Moulds. Steve Fotou is the owner/operator, and is a great guy to deal with. This mould/bullet was designed to fit the chamber/throat of Pedersoli Rifles. I am currently working up loads for both my Shiloh and C. Sharps rifles as well. The bullet is a great design, and holds wind very well.

I am going to try and make as many Creedmoor matches as I can this summer, and will be using this bullet and the Paul Jones 540 Creedmoor bullet as well.

I cast both of these bullets at 30-1, lead-tin, alloy. Both are great bullets, and so is compressed Swiss. Randy

The Pistoleer · « **Reply #13 on:** April 03, 2005, 02:26:02 PM »

Randy, thanks for the reply and the information. Do you remember how much the mold was?

Pete

Omaha Poke · « **Reply #14 on:** April 03, 2005, 03:32:09 PM »

Pete, the mould was $150 which is pretty much the norm for a custom mould of this quality. Ask for the heavy sprue plate, and oversized blocks and that is the way it will come. Handles are separate and the mould takes a lee gang mould handle set which is relatively inexpensive from sources such as Midway, etc. Hope this helps, Randy

Longcruise · « **Reply #15 on:** April 23, 2005, 07:37:36 AM »

Quote

have never spoken to or read of a Shooter who reloaded w/ Swiss & didn't utilize a drop tube.

I don't even own a drop tube. Am thinking of making one though.

I load swiss 1.5f and 2f in rem cases with the flash hole drilled to .096 (#41 drill), Win mag primer and compress them up to 1/4 inch and sometimes even a bit more with a compression die. Have been using 480 grain and 405 grain flat base soft cast. No problems and accuracy is fine. However, these are hunting loads and I/ve never shot them for accuracy over 200 meters. They do shoot very accurately at that range though.

I load 65 or 70 grains of powder and compress it to whatever depth is needed to seat my bullet to touch the lands and use no wad.

Like I said, these are hunting loads that shoot with hunting accuracy out to 200. They burn very clean and have SD's in the single digits.