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07-23-2010, 12:07 AM | #1 |
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Confused about powder and burn rates
I have a WWII luger that I've been shooting winchester white box in. Now I'm starting to reload the brass using 115 fmj with CCI 500 primers.
I have a Handgunner magazine from 1996 or '97 that has an article called "The Luger is a Shooter". I that article, it states that a slow burning powder is best for the luger and it recommends a load of 4.1grs. of Red Dot. It say that Red Dot is the closest to the original German loads. The part I don't understand is that when you look at the powder burn charts, Red Dot is in the top 5 for one of the fastest burning powders??? So is Red Dot really good to use, or was the magazine wrong? Also, I'm using rcbs dies and it's had to get the bullet to seat straight. I know you want the bullet to be seated out farther with the luger, but the farther you seat it out, the harder it is to get the bullet seated straight. Thanks for any help. |
07-23-2010, 01:03 AM | #2 | |
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Proper Luger Loads
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Also, I hope that the springs in your Luger are in good shape, as a Luger with its springs out of spec., can be almost a hopeless case as to fuction. Sieger |
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07-23-2010, 06:52 AM | #3 |
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Your best bet is to forget magazine articles and get a copy of Speers Reloading Manual - the latest copy you can find. Powder characteristics change over the years, especially if your favorite powder mfg changes ownership and then the product line is revamped...
(If you have several different years worth of reloading manuals, you'll notice that even with the same powder and the same bullet traveling at the same velocity, the amount of powder changes...over the years...or to put it another way, with the same powder & bullet and same amount of powder, the velocity changes...Even with different lot numbers of the same powder, the characteristics change...) Reloading is an interesting hobby...Finding the "sweet spot" in the amount of powder for any given bullet in a particular pistol/rifle is a fascinating way to spend some time... I use W231, HS6, or AA #7...when I can find them...
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07-24-2010, 12:19 AM | #4 |
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I appreciate the info. I am belling the case so that about 1/16" of the bullet goes into the case easy. The other powders I use for different calibers are HS-6, Longshot, and Universal. How would these work for the luger?
Does anyone know what powder winchester loads their white box ammo with? That seems like a good load to duplicate. My springs in the mags are all good. The gun has never had any problems with the white box stuff. |
07-24-2010, 01:32 AM | #5 | |
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9MM Parabellum Loading
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9MM Luger". This single book compiles the 9mm reloading date from all of the various, current, reloading manuals (Hornady, Speer etc.), and is well worth the money. Let me know how you are getting along with your load development. Sieger |
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07-24-2010, 08:06 PM | #6 | |
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Could you please advise how I would check to see is my Luger springs are out of spec? George |
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07-25-2010, 01:06 AM | #7 | |
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Proper Powders
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07-25-2010, 12:49 PM | #8 |
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Thanks for all the help.
I think I'll try a few different reloads and post how they go. |
07-25-2010, 06:35 PM | #9 |
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Aa#7
Dear Postino:
I'm lucky enough to own a DWM 1916 Artillery and am interested in your favorate load in the AA#7 powder you mentioned above. I've used Blue Dot in that long 8 inch barrel, but it wasn't grouping for me. Thanks! Sieger |
08-02-2010, 09:04 PM | #10 |
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You have several springs to consider. The main two that give trouble are the recoil spring and the magazine spring. Magazine springs usually give trouble in after market magazines where the spring is not to spec. Vintage magazines are more likely to give trouble if the lips have been bashed around over the years. Recoil springs give trouble because they have been tinkered with or replaced by "gunsmiths" who had no idea what they were doing. First step is to count coils and see if you have the correct number. Springs that have been mucked up or replaced usually have the wrong number of turns.
Powder burn rate will have absolutely NO effect on functioning. Sieger will say it does, but that's because he counts accuracy as part of functioning. I don't, I consider proper functioning to be reliable operation and accuracy as a separate issue. Loading to the correct velocity for the bullet in hand does affect functioning. (Not the "hot" loads street "wisdom" says, the Luger wants middle of the road loads.) One other point if you are hand loading. The SAAMI specs for OAL for the 9 mm call for a maximum OAL that is actually the minimum as Georg originally intended. Seat the bullet so the OAL is a tad on the long side. Sieger has the number, I don't have it to hand at the moment. |
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