Light loads-position sensitivity

[MnMike]

I choreographed a few rounds from my .500 S&W and found it interesting that with a light load of Blue Dot (950 fps), there is a 200 fps difference between raising the barrel before firing and lowering the barrel. I have known about this in theory, but I never thought it was that much of a difference. Yes, I will start using Dacron or something.

mike

[Jerry Lester]

Forget messing with fillers. Get some Trail Boss, and have at it. It fills the case a lot better, burns clean, and meters very well. I've tried dozens of light loads in quite a few calibers, and with straight walled cases, Trail Boss is the best hands down in my opinion.

[Lloyd Smale]

ive done a ton of loading with fast powder to make light loads in big bores and have never once put a bit of filler in any case. It might have its place in cast shooting of large rifle cases but its never been proven to me.

[Old Syko]

Mike position does make a real difference with fast powders in large capacity cases and in some instances to the point of being dangerous.  i.e. too light a load causing a slug to jam in the barrel.  Find a local fabric shop and pick up some Kapoc.  Always works bestfor me.

[MnMike]

I have heard about using Dacron. I knew the wife had some pillow stuffing. I found the bag and it was polyester. I have not heard of using Kaypoc or polyester. Only Dacron and cream of wheat.

I thought of using Trail Boss, but I am working up a load to 1200 fps. Trail Boss tops out at about 1000 fps.

Lloyd, I am only going with what the chrono said and the fact that the low velocity case was smoked. The position of the powder seemed to make a real difference.

thanks all,

mike

[Lloyd Smale]

mike things like smoked cases and chrono readings dont mean much to me. I can tumble a smoked case and ive seen loads that have had alot of variations over a chrono that have shot into tiny groups on paper.  Bottom line is if your sticking bullets your loading alot lighter then any loading manual will suggest and to me thats crazy and your just asking for trouble. The loads on both the high and low side in the loading maunuals were put there for a purpose. Ill grant you that i may have given up on a load with a speciflc powder that may have done better with filler but i dont have time to fool with them and just switch to a powder that works at those velocitys or a gun in a caliber that is better suited to the load level im looking for. Sticking flller in a case loading on a progressive press would about tripple the loading time and id rather be shooting then stuffing filling in a case.

[burntmuch]

Thoughts from a newbie reloader ,200fps  is huge difference when coming from 900fps load, just from position of barrel. wouldnt it be better to switch to powder  that fills more case??? Im hunting with 45/70 from treestand this year, thats why Im asking
                                                                                                                                                                     Jay

[Lloyd Smale]

I think the problem your experincing is loading the bluedot to low of a level for its burning rate. Unique would be a munch better choise at those velocitys. I take flack for it but i hate bluedot powder and would never buy another lb of it. When using it for heavy loads it goes from mild pressures to wild pressures with just a small increase in charge weight and its allways done poorly for light loads for me. It might work just fine if you find its sweet spot but its just not a flexible powder. In that burning rate i much prefer hs6. But even that is a little slow to bring a 500 smith down to 900 fps. Other powders that would work well are power pistol, herco and universal clays. I dont load for the 500 smith but load most of the other big bores and use the above powders for those velocitys with any need for filler.

[goodconcretecolor]

FYI Dacron is DuPont's trade mark for polyester.

[cbourbeau32]

I second the Trailboss powder. I just reloaded some this past weekend for the first time and 10 grains of Trailboss fills up at least 2/3 of the capacity after the bullet (440 gr)  is seated. I should find out this weekend how it shoots in my 500 S&W Handi rifle. Charlie

[DakotaElkSlayer]

I noticed the same thing when using Unique of light charges in a .45 Colt.  I went with TiteGroup and couldn't be happier.  Titegroup is NOT position sensitive...

Jim

[MnMike]

Lloyd, I am not a fan of Blue Dot, but it works good in a 10mm 1911 I have. It is a dirty powder. I had been using Universal in that gun and got inconsistent results. The BD is more accurate, but I clean a lot more. I would love it if there was a published load for 1200 fps in 500 S&W, but there isn't yet. I have seen on the web, people loading more Blue Dot in heavier bullets. I am working up to my goal slowly and carefully. You are right that I should pick a caliber that fits better with what I want, but I do like fiddling. Even though I don't like recoil in a rifle, and had no good reason to buy one, I wanted a .500.

cbourbeau32, I am sure that Trailboss would do well, but I would like a bit more velocity. I am trying for the big bore equivalent of a .22 LR. 1200fps.

goodconcretecolor, Thank you, thank you! I will try the my wife's polyester!

burntmuch, as I told Lloyd, hunting is one thing (I don't intend to hunt with this one), fiddling is another. It is part of handloading.

DakotaElkSlayer, I picked Blue Dot because I had some. I try to use the stuff I have. If the filler doesn't help, I will try Tightgroup.

Thanks again all,

mike

[lilabner]

Guess I don't see much problem with a target load. Don't know if it is true, but I've read that if you tip the pistol up each time to position the powder before shooting, ignition will be more uniform.My pistols seem to shoot OK that way.  For a hunting load, fillers make sense because you can be shooting at different angles.