Spring has sprung. Get out and shoot your Henry
Custom loads question
- RanchRoper
- Forum Ambassador
- Posts: 12681
- Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:14 am
- Location: Land of Shining Mountains, Alberta
Custom loads question
Lots have talked about "you will enjoy customizing your own loads" as I venture in to reloading.
I intend to stick to the manual like glue for the foreseeable future but how much actual difference to the shooter does a grain or two more or less make? As a novice reloader will I even know the difference? Obviously I get the part where too much or too little powder is bad. But how much leeway are you folks doing to see a difference at the range?
I intend to stick to the manual like glue for the foreseeable future but how much actual difference to the shooter does a grain or two more or less make? As a novice reloader will I even know the difference? Obviously I get the part where too much or too little powder is bad. But how much leeway are you folks doing to see a difference at the range?
0 x
1860 Colt SA Richards Conversion Revolver .45C
1860 Henry .45C
1885 High Wall .45C
1820-1840 Frontier Percussion .50
1790-1820 Frontier Flintlock .50
Ohkínohkomit - Shoot skillfully
1860 Henry .45C
1885 High Wall .45C
1820-1840 Frontier Percussion .50
1790-1820 Frontier Flintlock .50
Ohkínohkomit - Shoot skillfully
- CT_Shooter
- Administrator emeritus
- Posts: 5152
- Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 8:42 am
- Location: Connecticut
Re: Custom loads question
RR, most of what I've read about custom loads is that they are most relevant to rifle cartridges where a rifle's head space measurements can be adjusted along with the other variables. In pistol calibers, it's more of a preference for varying amounts of powder, types of powder, varying weights of bullets, and types of bullets. Since you will be using only lead 250 grain Round Nose bullets and Universal Powder, you will likely only be comparing differences in powder weights.
In Hornady's Ninth, which I like because they develop their loads from actual test firings in real firearms, they break it down into ranges for pistols and rifles, using a Ruger Bisley Blackhawk with a 7 1/2" barrel and a 1:16 twist and a Rossie 92 SRC rifle with a 20" barrel and a 1:16 twist.
Revolver using Universal Powder, WLP, and Hornady 255 gr. FP Cowboy bullet:
Start: 5.6 gr., 650 fps
6.1 gr., 700 fps
6.6 gr., 750 fps
7.0 gr., 800 fps
7.4 gr., 850 fps
Max 7.9 gr., 900 fps
Rifle using Universal Powder, WLP, and Hornady 255 gr. FP Cowboy bullet:
Start: 6.1 gr., 800 fps
6.5 gr., 850 fps
6.8 gr., 900 fps
7.2 gr., 950 fps
7.6 gr., 1000 fps
Max 8.8 gr., 1050 fps
I would start in the middle at 7.0 grains and decide if you're hitting your targets as expected, then make adjustments depending on the results.
Others may give you other suggestions, but you should do well to use reliable data and judge the results for yourself.
Good luck, Cowboy. I know you're going to like it, regardless.
In Hornady's Ninth, which I like because they develop their loads from actual test firings in real firearms, they break it down into ranges for pistols and rifles, using a Ruger Bisley Blackhawk with a 7 1/2" barrel and a 1:16 twist and a Rossie 92 SRC rifle with a 20" barrel and a 1:16 twist.
Revolver using Universal Powder, WLP, and Hornady 255 gr. FP Cowboy bullet:
Start: 5.6 gr., 650 fps
6.1 gr., 700 fps
6.6 gr., 750 fps
7.0 gr., 800 fps
7.4 gr., 850 fps
Max 7.9 gr., 900 fps
Rifle using Universal Powder, WLP, and Hornady 255 gr. FP Cowboy bullet:
Start: 6.1 gr., 800 fps
6.5 gr., 850 fps
6.8 gr., 900 fps
7.2 gr., 950 fps
7.6 gr., 1000 fps
Max 8.8 gr., 1050 fps
I would start in the middle at 7.0 grains and decide if you're hitting your targets as expected, then make adjustments depending on the results.
Others may give you other suggestions, but you should do well to use reliable data and judge the results for yourself.
Good luck, Cowboy. I know you're going to like it, regardless.
RanchRoper wrote:Lots have talked about "you will enjoy customizing your own loads" as I venture in to reloading.
I intend to stick to the manual like glue for the foreseeable future but how much actual difference to the shooter does a grain or two more or less make? As a novice reloader will I even know the difference? Obviously I get the part where too much or too little powder is bad. But how much leeway are you folks doing to see a difference at the range?
1 x
H006M Big Boy Brass .357 - H001 Classic .22LR - Uberti / Taylors & Co. SmokeWagon .357 5.5" - Uberti / Taylors & Co. RanchHand .22LR 5.5"
- Rifletom
- Deputy Marshal
- Posts: 3898
- Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2018 11:26 pm
- Location: California Territory
Re: Custom loads question
Agree with CT here. Using only Universal for now, you'll not see a big difference if you only do a .5gr increment. But, you'd likely notice it if you go from say 6.5gr Universal, then jump up to 7.6gr Universal. Gradual changes in powder charges are safe. Just go by the manual. When you do your ordering this weekend, maybe add a digital scale to help verify what the Lee scale reads. They're not expensive, say $35 for a Hornady or others. You've chosen a good powder to work with. Certainly going in the right direction. Now, time for me to head out to the shop and load my own .45C loads. Think I'll try 8.3gr Unique with those Missouri 250gr LRNFP's.
2 x
- fortyshooter
- Ranch Foreman
- Posts: 6270
- Joined: Sat Dec 09, 2017 10:37 am
- Location: Va.
Re: Custom loads question
Well my "custom" .44 Mag loads are just a click below or right at starting level at 9-9.5 Unique with a 240 gr. SWC bullet.
Makes for nice shooting whether in a revolver or my Henry steel carbine.
Makes for nice shooting whether in a revolver or my Henry steel carbine.
1 x
- RanchRoper
- Forum Ambassador
- Posts: 12681
- Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:14 am
- Location: Land of Shining Mountains, Alberta
Re: Custom loads question
Yes I will follow the manual closely. I want to replicate Winchester 250 gr LFN Super X cowboy load. I will know when I shoot it if it feels right. I know my rifle very well. Thanks.
4 x
1860 Colt SA Richards Conversion Revolver .45C
1860 Henry .45C
1885 High Wall .45C
1820-1840 Frontier Percussion .50
1790-1820 Frontier Flintlock .50
Ohkínohkomit - Shoot skillfully
1860 Henry .45C
1885 High Wall .45C
1820-1840 Frontier Percussion .50
1790-1820 Frontier Flintlock .50
Ohkínohkomit - Shoot skillfully
- Ojaileveraction
- Cowboy
- Posts: 1292
- Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2017 11:49 pm
Re: Custom loads question
Novice reloader but not a novice shooter by any means.RanchRoper wrote:Lots have talked about "you will enjoy customizing your own loads" as I venture in to reloading.
I intend to stick to the manual like glue for the foreseeable future but how much actual difference to the shooter does a grain or two more or less make? As a novice reloader will I even know the difference? Obviously I get the part where too much or too little powder is bad. But how much leeway are you folks doing to see a difference at the range?
You may or may not feel a difference in recoil, but you will see a difference at the target.
I think you will notice a difference on you first outing.
Tim
1 x
Pax at Justitia
- JEBar
- Town Marshal / Deputy Admin
- Posts: 19268
- Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2016 10:58 pm
- Location: central NC
Re: Custom loads question
RanchRoper wrote:Yes I will follow the manual closely. I want to replicate Winchester 250 gr LFN Super X cowboy load. I will know when I shoot it if it feels right. I know my rifle very well. Thanks.
do you have access to a chronograph .. .. the best way I know if to duplicate a factory round is to run it through a chrony .... once you know its muzzle velocity, using the same weight/type of bullet, you simply vary the powder charge until it matches the factory speed
2 x
- RanchRoper
- Forum Ambassador
- Posts: 12681
- Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:14 am
- Location: Land of Shining Mountains, Alberta
Re: Custom loads question
Nope I don't have access to one. So will do it the cowboy way.
Which is basically load and shoot...load and shoot...repeat until you get it.
Which is basically load and shoot...load and shoot...repeat until you get it.
4 x
1860 Colt SA Richards Conversion Revolver .45C
1860 Henry .45C
1885 High Wall .45C
1820-1840 Frontier Percussion .50
1790-1820 Frontier Flintlock .50
Ohkínohkomit - Shoot skillfully
1860 Henry .45C
1885 High Wall .45C
1820-1840 Frontier Percussion .50
1790-1820 Frontier Flintlock .50
Ohkínohkomit - Shoot skillfully
Re: Custom loads question
One thing that needs to be mentioned here RR. If you are going to build loads you need to shoot them the same way every time you test. Whether its in a rest or in RR shoulder. Like others have said I start with a load and build some at .5 grain increments until I get one that the gun likes. Staying within the guidelines of the book
2 x
Don't worry about getting older and still doing stupid stuff. You'll do the stupid stuff as always, only much slower. Hold my beer and watch this.......
H001T .22LR
H001T .22LR MONUMENT VALLEY
H003T PUMP .22LR
BBS .41 MAG
SS .357
SIDE GATE 38-55
H001T .22LR
H001T .22LR MONUMENT VALLEY
H003T PUMP .22LR
BBS .41 MAG
SS .357
SIDE GATE 38-55
- RanchRoper
- Forum Ambassador
- Posts: 12681
- Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:14 am
- Location: Land of Shining Mountains, Alberta
Re: Custom loads question
You bet. I will shoot all from 1 knee so I can feel the rifle. I can feel the difference in some factory loads between different ammo. Sounds weird but I can. Couldn't name them or anything dumb like that but I can tell Winchester from a reload. So I look forward to some reloads and how they shoot.
2 x
1860 Colt SA Richards Conversion Revolver .45C
1860 Henry .45C
1885 High Wall .45C
1820-1840 Frontier Percussion .50
1790-1820 Frontier Flintlock .50
Ohkínohkomit - Shoot skillfully
1860 Henry .45C
1885 High Wall .45C
1820-1840 Frontier Percussion .50
1790-1820 Frontier Flintlock .50
Ohkínohkomit - Shoot skillfully