Confused about powder and burn rates

Hammerman · 07-23-2010, 12:07 AM

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, 12:07 AM	#1
Hammerman New User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	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.