I recently loaded some light target loads for 45ACP. Usings 185 gr SWC cast bullets, 4 gr of Win 231, starline brass, cci primer. Upon fire some of my loads during testing i noticed quite a bit of powder was left in my barrel. What is the reason for this? WIN 231 has a decently fast burning rate so i dont understand. Thanks for your input

quote:

4 gr of Win 231

About the only thing I know about W231 is that it's not a good idea to load reduced loads with it. Or maybe it's W296 that is verboten for reduced loads. Whatever. I think your unburned powder problem is because the flash is not infiltrating its way through the entire powder charge. The powder is laying down, and the flash only gets to some of it. The powder half-burns, bullet gets out of the barrel, the pressure drops and the powder is not completely burned. Got any other powder to try? I'm just guessin', here...

Ball powders will leave the burnt particulate in the bore.
Load some Bullseye & soot will be evident on the muzzles exterior.

I've burned a ton of different powders in the 45 ACP. If clean is what you want look to V-V powders. Unique has an ideal pressure curve with all bullets commonly used in the 45, and Bullseye will forever remain the economy champion. Blue Dot was a velocity champ breaking the 1000f/s mark with 200 grain bullets, but the fact remains Unique is the powder to beat in 45 ACP.

quote:

Originally posted by buckshot:
I've burned a ton of different powders in the 45 ACP. If clean is what you want look to V-V powders. Unique has an ideal pressure curve with all bullets commonly used in the 45, and Bullseye will forever remain the economy champion. Blue Dot was a velocity champ breaking the 1000f/s mark with 200 grain bullets, but the fact remains Unique is the powder to beat in 45 ACP.

unique is what i use in all my pistols it does soot a lil tho

In my experiance, incomolete powder burn is the result of loose grip of the case on the bullet.
I polish down the case expander, I use a Dillion press, the case expander also flares the case mouth.
When I seat a cast bullet I can see where the base of the bullet stops by looking at the side of the case.
I have little to no unburned powder.

Jim

Brennanc9093 ; Give these two things a try before doing anything Else .

Change primer brand use a Winchester .If you don't have them then charge the case with 5.2 gains of W 231

instead of 4.0 grains . Give us a report back on your results .

I saw no mention of barrel length , as this to some times effects powder burn . Arkypete ; also has the

right Idea , a improperly crimped projectile will " Pop " out before burn is completed and so will some of

the powder .

FYI ; I'm no expert by any stretch of the imagination when it comes to .45 acp . I tried the above post

on another caliber and it solved my problem .

I'm still having issues with a Griffon S A made , .45 acp similar to a colt commander in style an size.

With 230 grain hardball it keyholes at 25 yd. ?. This coming week I'm trying some 185 200 an see if I can get

it to behave . None of my other .45's have this problem and I'm having difficulty understanding why this unit

is !.

Use a magnum primer or buy the WLP. Take NOTE that winchester only makes 1 type of large pistol primer. It lights up even ww296.

Speaking very generally, the higher the pressure, the cleaner the burn. Again, very generally, the faster the burn rate of the powder, the cleaner the burn.

Lots of things can increase the pressure to improve the cleanliness of the burn...crimping will, if its not already being done (in a .45 ACP a taper crimp, not a roll crimp).

So will different cases sometimes, depending on the variations in their temper and resulting "bullet-pull" tensions.

A larger powder charge, which Doc suggested above, can do it.

Heavier bullets can do it.

Larger diameter bullets can also do it.

Different primers can do it.

So can a different powder with a faster burn rate, which allows more of the powder to burn before the bullet moves hardly at all, which keeps the space of the "burn chamber" relatively smaller until combustion is complete.

Of course one does not want to make all those changes at once, IF they end up needing to do more than one of them.

Also, there is NO propellant currently useable in pistols which will turn all the fuel (powder?) into gases. There are always some solids left behind in the bore as the result of the burn.

Lastly, in the quest for cleaner burning, be sure to remember that higher pressures must not be too much higher.

Thanks for all the info. I'm headed to the local reloading shop on monday to get a taper crimp seating die and hopefully get some different primers and maybe try a couple diff. powders. I bought a couple 1000 primers a week ago and had my pickup broken into and guess what they took!!!!! Lol why would some one like that need primers! I wouldnt be so mad if they were easy to come by! O ya loading for Govt model 1911