The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old June 13, 2011, 12:25 AM   #1
RMG1234
Junior Member
 
Join Date: December 13, 2010
Posts: 6
WW231 in .380 - Dirty??

Here is my load:
.380 mixed head-stamp brass (mostly WW white box and PMC, once fired in this gun)
100gr Lead round nose bullet
2.9gr WW231
Fiocchi SP primer

Firearm: SIG P232

I based this load on the Hodgden's website. It lists 2.9gr as the starting load for 100gr FMJ bullets. This loads shots good and I see no signs of over-pressure. Brass is tossed about 8'.

However, when I break the gun down to clean it, it is very sooty inside. The barrel has a lot of soot in it. There is a layer of soot on the feed ramp and all of the internal surfaces. There is also a lot of soot on the front of the slide near the muzzle.


I am new to pistol reloading but have reloading shotshells for several years. I know that with several shotgun powders, you need to keep the pressure up to get clean burns. Does this hold true with WW231 also? Should I increase the powder charge a little and see how it burns?

Other powders I have available are Universal Clays, Clays, Longshot and 800X. Would any of these be good powders to try?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks

Rick
RMG1234 is offline  
Old June 13, 2011, 01:32 AM   #2
FrankenMauser
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 25, 2008
Location: In the valley above the plain
Posts: 13,400
Most handgun powders will show the same thing you've experienced with shotgun powders: Keep the pressures up, or deal with the mess (though the pressure needed can vary from "moderate" to "hot").

If you aren't experiencing any leading, you could probably try bumping the load a few increments (one step at a time, of course).


The cleanest loads I've ever run for .380 Auto were with Titegroup. ....But they were finicky, and had to have perfect powder charges. A 0.1 gr deviation in charge weight had a significant effect on performance (or pressure signs).
__________________
Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.
FrankenMauser is offline  
Old June 13, 2011, 11:55 AM   #3
Doodlebugger45
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 15, 2009
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 1,717
Yep, like my friend from Utah notes, all powders burn cleanes towards the upper end of the pressure curve whther it's rifle pistol or shotgun. If you're not experiencing any signs of higher pressure, you can go up a bit on the powder charge and it should clean up nicely. I don't know anything about 380 though. I assume the difference between low pressure and high pressure could be an extremely small amount of powder.
Doodlebugger45 is offline  
Old June 13, 2011, 02:10 PM   #4
g.willikers
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 28, 2008
Posts: 10,442
231 is kind of dirty, anyway it's loaded.
But it's easy to clean off and it also provides consistent velocity, round to round.
Some of the cleaner burning powders are often less consistent and actually harder to get off the gun parts.
There might be less of it to clean, but it requires more elbow grease than 231.
231 is good stuff.
__________________
Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez:
“Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”
g.willikers is offline  
Old June 13, 2011, 02:11 PM   #5
FrankenMauser
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 25, 2008
Location: In the valley above the plain
Posts: 13,400
Quote:
I don't know anything about 380 though. I assume the difference between low pressure and high pressure could be an extremely small amount of powder.
Aye. A few loads I have come across (and tried one) with Titegroup have a total charge weight spread of 0.3 grains. It would be something like 2.6 gr starting, 2.8 gr max. ...Doesn't leave much room for error (and sometimes the starting load won't cycle, while the max load is too hot). Most powders (and most Titegroup loads) are more forgiving in the .380, but some bullets and powders can be frustrating.
__________________
Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.
FrankenMauser is offline  
Old June 17, 2011, 06:00 PM   #6
RMG1234
Junior Member
 
Join Date: December 13, 2010
Posts: 6
Thanks everyone. I think I will try .2gr more in my next batch. I may also try some Universal, starting at the beginning charge for a 100gr jacketed bullet.

Thanks
Rick
RMG1234 is offline  
Old June 18, 2011, 10:26 AM   #7
CherokeeT
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 23, 2008
Location: Medina, Ohio
Posts: 273
231 and Bluedot are my two 380 powders. For general use, 231 gets the nod. I load 112 gr cast with 3.1 gr which works fine for several of my 380's. Does not take much so .2 increments is most I would do from your 2.9 gr level.
__________________
God Bless America
US Army, NRA Endowment
TSRA Life, SASS
CherokeeT is offline  
Old June 18, 2011, 10:42 AM   #8
buck460XVR
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 28, 2006
Posts: 4,341
The sooty cases may be a sign of too low of pressure. Not enough pressure to expand the case and seal it against the chamber. 231 is a great powder for accuracy, but it will be dirty at low pressure.
buck460XVR is offline  
Old June 18, 2011, 11:45 AM   #9
golfnutrlv
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 5, 2008
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 1,347
I agree with bumping the load a tad. that should be better.

If you need another option though, try a powder with a slightly faster burn rate. Not too fast, as 380 doesn't have much room in the case, so it can overpressurize quickly. Accurate number 2 is slightly faster than 231, right in the ballpark.

Personally though, I use Hp-38 in my 380. have never had an issue. Shoots excellent. tougher to meter, being flake style, but good quality powder.
__________________
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
VIGILIA PRETIUM LIBERTATIS
"The price of liberty is vigilance"
America is at an awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards.
golfnutrlv is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:28 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.07073 seconds with 10 queries