wave.jaco said
Thank you for the guidance, Bert. I agree, it's good and safe practice to start with a reduced start load and work up from there and chronograph. "To measure is to know".
I would still like to know what I got wrong in Gordons Reloading Tool, since its output now seems to be questionable at best, which defeats its purpose.
  

I cannot help you with the Gordons Reloading Tool as I have never used it.  I am relatively certain that 12 grains of 2400 is not an over pressure load for the 32 WSL.  I have loaded a lot of 22 Hornet and 38 WCF with it.  For the 22 Hornet, I load 10.5 grains of A2400 under a 40-gr V-Max.  For the 38 WCF, I load 22.0 grains under a 180-gr XTP.  Neither load is high pressure.  I am curious what your Gordons program has to say about my loads.

Bert

I would still like to know what I got wrong in Gordons Reloading Tool, since its output now seems to be questionable at best, which defeats its purpose.

As a former PPC and Outdoor Pistol (Bullseye) shooter I'm familiar with BE. I haven't shot a match gun in over 20 years but I probably have a few pounds of BE stashed somewhere even though I generally used 231. I have an 8lb bottle of Unique plus a handful of one pound bottles so I'm set for awhile. My 9mm Unique load is only 1.2 grs more than your BE load (under a 115gr bullet) but that means you get nearly 300 more rounds/pound so your point is valid. My mentor gave me that load over 40 years ago and it's the only load I remembered after not loading for the 9mm for over 30 years. Unique is very dirty in a moderate 38 Spl load but is actually fairly clean in a max 9mm load. It also works well in straight walled rifle cases up to and including the 45-70 but I don't have much data for Unique in the bottleneck cartridges other than 38WCF, that's why this thread caught my eye. I don't think it worked as well as 231 in the 32WCF but it's possibly because my 32WCF load only uses about 3 grains of 231. Other than appearance I don't think the 25WCF and 32WCF have much in common but I haven't started my 25WCF adventure yet. 

Mike

TXGunNut said

Bert H. said

TXGunNut said
My new P365 is coming up on that 1000 round mark, guess I better have a recoil spring handy next time I clean it. It likes a full case of Unique but there are cleaner powders. I just happen to have lots of Unique.
 
Mike
  

Yes there is... I stopped loading with Unique because it is a dirty powder, and it takes significantly less Bullseye to get the same result as compared to loading with Unique.  You being the miser that you are can certainly relate to that
Bert
  

I use what I have, Bert. Not sure I can afford powder today. All kidding aside "Flaming Dirt" (Unique) is actually fairly clean in some of the loads I use it for. Unique is also a very versatile powder, it may not be ideal for every cartridge but it works for many of the cartridges I like. Many levergun cartridges can be loaded with 8-10 grains of Unique for fun plinking loads. Can't get much cheaper than that, especially when my bullets are recycled wheel weights. My EDC guns collect lint, sweat and grit so when I decide they need cleaning I'll go run a box of ammo through it to make sure it needs cleaning. 
 
Mike
  

Someday when you run low on the Unique, I recommend switching horses and going with the Bullseye.  The problem I had with Unique is that it craps up the semi-auto pistols fairly fast (not so bad in a revolver).  I do not know if the newer Unique is any cleaner than the old stuff, but because I have nearly 10-lbs of Bullseye on hand, I am unlikely to ever change my recipes.

7,000 / 5.0 = 1,400 9 MM loads/lb.

Bert

Bert H. said

TXGunNut said
My new P365 is coming up on that 1000 round mark, guess I better have a recoil spring handy next time I clean it. It likes a full case of Unique but there are cleaner powders. I just happen to have lots of Unique.
 
Mike
  

Yes there is... I stopped loading with Unique because it is a dirty powder, and it takes significantly less Bullseye to get the same result as compared to loading with Unique.  You being the miser that you are can certainly relate to that
Bert
  

I use what I have, Bert. Not sure I can afford powder today. All kidding aside "Flaming Dirt" (Unique) is actually fairly clean in some of the loads I use it for. Unique is also a very versatile powder, it may not be ideal for every cartridge but it works for many of the cartridges I like. Many levergun cartridges can be loaded with 8-10 grains of Unique for fun plinking loads. Can't get much cheaper than that, especially when my bullets are recycled wheel weights. My EDC guns collect lint, sweat and grit so when I decide they need cleaning I'll go run a box of ammo through it to make sure it needs cleaning. 

Mike

wave.jaco said
Thank you for your response, Bert.
I am inclined to agree with you, as all of the available load data (either published or community-shared) is consistent. I just don't understand why Gordon's Reloading Tool is predicting such overpressure conditions with the loads. Maybe some of my parameters for GRT are wrong?
  

If I were to undertake loading for the 32 WSL, I would start with the A2400 powder and reduce the starting load by 10% (10.8 grains).  If the rifle properly cycles (ejects the empty and picks up the next round), I would then begin accuracy testing in .1 grain increments.  For the SLR rifles, the less powder you can use and still get it to cycle rounds the better, but that old style balanced block (blow-back) action is a bit finicky.

Bert

TXGunNut said
My new P365 is coming up on that 1000 round mark, guess I better have a recoil spring handy next time I clean it. It likes a full case of Unique but there are cleaner powders. I just happen to have lots of Unique.
 
Mike
  

Yes there is... I stopped loading with Unique because it is a dirty powder, and it takes significantly less Bullseye to get the same result as compared to loading with Unique.  You being the miser that you are can certainly relate to that

Bert

Number I heard for the Defender is 2000 and it actually lasted longer than that before it started having trouble. My new P365 is coming up on that 1000 round mark, guess I better have a recoil spring handy next time I clean it. It likes a full case of Unique but there are cleaner powders. I just happen to have lots of Unique.

Mike

Bert H. said

TXGunNut said
I like the Wilson/Hackathorn video, Bert. My compact carry guns get shot a fair bit and my policy as of this year is "short gun, short spring life". Recoil spring in my little Defender failed after a few years. Springs are cheap. My Guvmint 1911 only needs a new spring once in a blue moon, if then. Thanks to the video I now know why!
The 1903 has some design features I find interesting, will need to get a better look at the frame. Saw some things in the above pics I haven't seen before. Neat gun!
 
Mike
  

Flat coil springs are definitely superior to coil wire springs for both consistency and durability.  I have shot at least 8,000 rounds through 92F with P+ loads and it keeps on ticking like a Swiss clock.  The physics of its design are what makes it so damn reliable.  Why the pistol manufacturing industry has not adopted them as a standard feature is beyond me.
Bert
  

I've inherited a Taurus semi-clone of the Beretta, the difference being it doesn't have a hammer dropper and is carried cocked and locked. Belonged to an old bullseye competitor and the SA trigger is mighty good. I think I'll order a flat wire recoil spring from Wilson.

Mike, all the compact blasters wear their spring sets out at 1000 to 1500 rounds. Sig says replace every 1k for the P365. 

I liked my Defender but like my CCO Commander better - since it isn't EDC. The time window for ejection/reloading is not nearly so critical. Regilar spring set replacement on the 3" shorties is extra important if they are social equipment. 

Nevada Paul said

Chuck said
Steve I definitely agree.  I collect old manuals and have never started a load development without a chronograph.  I use the data in the old manuals but always start low and work up.  Remember, speed alone does not give you what the actual chamber pressure is.  Some powders will go over the safe pressure before it hits the speed. 
  

I, too, collect old manuals and enjoy perusing and comparing loads across time. 
And yes, it is obvious that newer manuals often show 'lighter loads' than older manuals, all other things being equal.
But I've attributed this difference to liability and legal concerns more so than the newer powders being 'hotter'.
 
NP 
  

I agree about the liability issue for the new manuals.  But not so for the older manuals.  I've been using a chrono for at least 35 years and it proves my point.  You better start low and work up when using the old data.  Most of the new manuals don't even list data for most of the old calibers.   

I am inclined to agree with you, as all of the available load data (either published or community-shared) is consistent. I just don't understand why Gordon's Reloading Tool is predicting such overpressure conditions with the loads. Maybe some of my parameters for GRT are wrong?

Bert

TXGunNut said
I like the Wilson/Hackathorn video, Bert. My compact carry guns get shot a fair bit and my policy as of this year is "short gun, short spring life". Recoil spring in my little Defender failed after a few years. Springs are cheap. My Guvmint 1911 only needs a new spring once in a blue moon, if then. Thanks to the video I now know why!
The 1903 has some design features I find interesting, will need to get a better look at the frame. Saw some things in the above pics I haven't seen before. Neat gun!
 
Mike
  

Flat coil springs are definitely superior to coil wire springs for both consistency and durability.  I have shot at least 8,000 rounds through 92F with P+ loads and it keeps on ticking like a Swiss clock.  The physics of its design are what makes it so damn reliable.  Why the pistol manufacturing industry has not adopted them as a standard feature is beyond me.

Bert