Lightly Peppered In The Face?

flyallnite · November 27, 2004, 07:32 PM

Anybody else get a "powder spray" in the face when shooting reloads? If so, what the heck does it mean?

I'm shooting 40 cal 135gr Berry's plated on 7.6 grains of Unique (max is 8.5). OAL is 1.115, (min is 1.105.)

I also had quite a few misfires with CCI 500 primers. My USPc was shooting like my darn keltec.

WESHOOT2 · November 28, 2004, 08:44 AM

What press / dies?

What are your reloads being used for?

What other powders do you have?

flyallnite · November 28, 2004, 02:56 PM

Weshoot,

Thanks for the reply. I'm using a Lee turret with a factory crimp, and loading for target practice only.

Edit: Gonna load the next rounds a little higher, and try some HS-6 too.

Jim

AustinMike · November 28, 2004, 05:11 PM

I tried Unique when I first got into reloading. Absolutely filthy powder! Made a mess and tended to leave unburned powder on my hands and forearms. I'm still looking for a cleaner burning powder for my .45 target loads myself. I've been using 231, but it will speckle me with powder too with lighter loads. The gun cleans up easier than with Unique though! I'll be trying some faster burning powders soon.

flyallnite · November 28, 2004, 07:03 PM

My hands also get blackened pretty good with Unique. (Even my left palm at the base of the grip.) Weird.

I'll let you know how the HS-6 does.

Jim

rwilson452 · November 28, 2004, 09:28 PM

Might try some Clays....

Fen · November 29, 2004, 01:23 AM

I use HS-6 in my 9mm and havn't had any such 'powder spray' going on. is there a proper term for this?

Nnobby45 · November 29, 2004, 02:23 AM

Some of the above posts already mentioned upping the powder charge, or going to a faster burning powder---I agree with that. I still have a lot of Winchester's discontinuted Action Pistol Powder (WAP). It's great for 9mm and .40. Too bad it's discontinued. I've also worked up loads with W231 in prepertion for the day when my supply of WAP runs out. Incidentally, I found that WAP gives somewhat erratic results with .45 Auto, in case some of you are still using it.

flyallnite · November 29, 2004, 08:27 PM

I increased my Unique loads from 7.6 grains to 8.1. No more powder in the face, and much less soot on the hands. Was still quite a bit of muzzle flash, and rapport.

The HS-6, however, was awesome. No powder in the face. Very low muzzle flash. Much less rapport, and zero soot on the hands.

I honestly can't believe the difference between the two powders. Incredible. Oh, I almost forgot... HS-6 meters much, much more precisely than Unique, too. Now I gotta go find a cat to feed this Unique.

Thanks for all the replies.

Jim

OfcrBill · November 30, 2004, 01:02 AM

Fellas, I been using Unique for a long time for my reloads. I am a creature of habit and have used it because I was taught with Unique and Bullseye for pistol loads (9mm, 38/.357, 45 ACP). Unique is very dirty, and I got many face blasts while shooting my S&W snub #649. However, I clean my guns anyway after I spend an afternoon at the range, so I don't mind much. I almost loaded up what I have left and will use up my Bullseye (much better in performance and less residue). Since joining this forum, I learned many things from you all and I am very grateful in the knowledge contained here. I was given the recommendation to try "Clays" for pistol loads, I am going to try it. Albuquerque usually has a gun show every six months and we have one in December )Yah-Hoo!!

Anyway, thanks all and happy loading. Bill

WESHOOT2 · December 1, 2004, 06:06 AM

(Still have furniture made of cases full....)

Ramshot Silhouette = WAP

Whew, ay?

November 27, 2004, 07:32 PM	#1
flyallnite Junior Member Join Date: November 16, 2004 Location: Mogadishu-on-the-Mississippi, TN Posts: 10	Lightly Peppered In The Face? Anybody else get a "powder spray" in the face when shooting reloads? If so, what the heck does it mean? I'm shooting 40 cal 135gr Berry's plated on 7.6 grains of Unique (max is 8.5). OAL is 1.115, (min is 1.105.) I also had quite a few misfires with CCI 500 primers. My USPc was shooting like my darn keltec. __________________ If you can read this, thank a Teacher. If it's in English, thank a VET.

November 28, 2004, 08:44 AM	#2
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	more info What press / dies? What are your reloads being used for? What other powders do you have? __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

November 28, 2004, 02:56 PM	#3
flyallnite Junior Member Join Date: November 16, 2004 Location: Mogadishu-on-the-Mississippi, TN Posts: 10	Weshoot, Thanks for the reply. I'm using a Lee turret with a factory crimp, and loading for target practice only. Edit: Gonna load the next rounds a little higher, and try some HS-6 too. Jim __________________ If you can read this, thank a Teacher. If it's in English, thank a VET. Last edited by flyallnite; November 28, 2004 at 03:47 PM.

November 28, 2004, 07:03 PM	#5
flyallnite Junior Member Join Date: November 16, 2004 Location: Mogadishu-on-the-Mississippi, TN Posts: 10	Thanks, Mike My hands also get blackened pretty good with Unique. (Even my left palm at the base of the grip.) Weird. I'll let you know how the HS-6 does. Jim __________________ If you can read this, thank a Teacher. If it's in English, thank a VET.

November 29, 2004, 08:27 PM	#9
flyallnite Junior Member Join Date: November 16, 2004 Location: Mogadishu-on-the-Mississippi, TN Posts: 10	Update for Reference I increased my Unique loads from 7.6 grains to 8.1. No more powder in the face, and much less soot on the hands. Was still quite a bit of muzzle flash, and rapport. The HS-6, however, was awesome. No powder in the face. Very low muzzle flash. Much less rapport, and zero soot on the hands. I honestly can't believe the difference between the two powders. Incredible. Oh, I almost forgot... HS-6 meters much, much more precisely than Unique, too. Now I gotta go find a cat to feed this Unique. Thanks for all the replies. Jim __________________ If you can read this, thank a Teacher. If it's in English, thank a VET.

November 28, 2004, 05:11 PM	#4
AustinMike Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 171	I tried Unique when I first got into reloading. Absolutely filthy powder! Made a mess and tended to leave unburned powder on my hands and forearms. I'm still looking for a cleaner burning powder for my .45 target loads myself. I've been using 231, but it will speckle me with powder too with lighter loads. The gun cleans up easier than with Unique though! I'll be trying some faster burning powders soon.

November 28, 2004, 09:28 PM	#6
rwilson452 Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2004 Location: Tioga co. PA Posts: 2,647	Cleaner Might try some Clays....

November 29, 2004, 01:23 AM	#7
Fen Member Join Date: November 22, 2004 Location: North Pole Posts: 47	I use HS-6 in my 9mm and havn't had any such 'powder spray' going on. is there a proper term for this?

November 29, 2004, 02:23 AM	#8
Nnobby45 Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2004 Posts: 3,150	Some of the above posts already mentioned upping the powder charge, or going to a faster burning powder---I agree with that. I still have a lot of Winchester's discontinuted Action Pistol Powder (WAP). It's great for 9mm and .40. Too bad it's discontinued. I've also worked up loads with W231 in prepertion for the day when my supply of WAP runs out. Incidentally, I found that WAP gives somewhat erratic results with .45 Auto, in case some of you are still using it.

November 30, 2004, 01:02 AM	#10
OfcrBill Member Join Date: November 12, 2004 Location: New Mexico Posts: 62	Unique Powder Fellas, I been using Unique for a long time for my reloads. I am a creature of habit and have used it because I was taught with Unique and Bullseye for pistol loads (9mm, 38/.357, 45 ACP). Unique is very dirty, and I got many face blasts while shooting my S&W snub #649. However, I clean my guns anyway after I spend an afternoon at the range, so I don't mind much. I almost loaded up what I have left and will use up my Bullseye (much better in performance and less residue). Since joining this forum, I learned many things from you all and I am very grateful in the knowledge contained here. I was given the recommendation to try "Clays" for pistol loads, I am going to try it. Albuquerque usually has a gun show every six months and we have one in December )Yah-Hoo!! Anyway, thanks all and happy loading. Bill

December 1, 2004, 06:06 AM	#11
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	for WAP users (Still have furniture made of cases full....) Ramshot Silhouette = WAP Whew, ay? __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"