I'm new to reloading and I've got a question? I'm reloading 38 spl. using Remington brass with 4.8 grains of Ramshot Zip powder (min. load) behind a 125 grain Winchester hollow point bullet.I'm shooting a Colt revolver,and my brass is sooty around the mouth on every case.Is this normal.

It is not "abnormal". You may trying bumping powder charge up in small incremental amounts to check brass sealing against chamber wall. If not sooty down the case length your brass should be expanding against chamber wall and sealing.

The brass is sooty down the sides.I will try going up to 5 grains. Ramshot recommends not exceeding 5.3 grains with there Zip Powder behind 125 grain bullet.

Ok, if sooty down the sides that load is too light for that lot of brass. May need to try another powder if 5.0 grs doesn't seal. The 4.8 grs of Ramshot Zip may work with a thinner wall brass.

I like the Ramshot powder it shoots great,I just don't like the sooty brass,but I'm going to load it just a little hotter and try that.I have some Unique that I'm going to try also.

the unique will probably be sooty too.
try 231 or titegroup to lose the soot.
if you use carbide dies and the soot isn't really bad it will help act as a lubricant for the sizing die.

Sooty deposists are normal with low pressue cartridges in general. Even "high pressure" handgun charges are quite low and it drops considerably after a revolver bullet clears the cylinder gap. Gap opens, chamber pressure instantly drops, case contracts, barrel pressure is still high enough to blow back past the mouth of the case.

I don't think you will be able to load it hot enough to stop the blow back.

I have loaded lots and lots of hot .44 mags and they all are sooty after firing. I believe it's the nature of the beast w/ strait wall cartridges. My good ol' .458 Winny does the same and I am never shy about the loads in her.?Revolver brass is the only brass I tumble after every load.

I thought that might be one of my problems losing presser around the cylinder gap.If I keep getting the soot,I'll just throw them in the tumbler like I've been doing to clean them up.
Guys thanks for the help,like I said I'm new to reloading and I will be loading for a 22-250,7mm Mag. and 300 Win. Mag. I'm sure I'll have a lot more ?????????

I'm with K20350 on this one, I load my 44 mag and my 45 colt in my Rugers Hot!! and still get sooty brass. I dont get too concerned over it, hardly ever use a polisher, and also think the soot helps, or at least doesnt hurt, with carbide sizing dies. Its just the cost of doing business and its fun to get a little dirty every now and then!!

My .02
Eterry

quote:

Originally posted by K20350:
I have loaded lots and lots of hot .44 mags and they all are sooty after firing. I believe it's the nature of the beast w/ strait wall cartridges. My good ol' .458 Winny does the same and I am never shy about the loads in her.?Revolver brass is the only brass I tumble after every load.

+1 more. All my revolvers do the same.