W231 question

[forsaken]

I just started reloading a couple months ago and noticed that after shooting more than 100+ rounds i see some unburned powders on my arm. I am shooting FMJ with winchester large primer and 5.3 grains of w231 powder. Crimp is ~70 ish. Oal is 1.260.

Is this normal ?

[arfan66]

I'm in the same boat and was wondering the same thing. My brother uses W231 exclusively and suggested crimping more to delay bullet exit in order to allow the powder to completely burn.

I used Clay's previously and never had this problem. I might just switch back once this bottle is used up.

Jeff

[f4tweet]

Try a shorter OAL. I use 1.230.

[tankerman]

My mistake, sorry.

mixed up 231 and 296

[f4tweet]

I heard 231 and HP-38 are the same also. I like a crimp that just leaves a small noticeable ring on the bullet. Maybe, .470-.471. If I have less crimp than that, I have feeding and powder problems. I shoot mine at 5.4-5.6 out of an XD-45, Kimber, and a Para P-14.

[22popnsplat]

Dont go by what someone told you , read a reloading manual Please !
I have heard that w231 and hp38 are the same powder although there are several powders inbetween them on the burn rate chart .
I have also heard that h110 and w296 are the same powder not 231 but there are still a couple of powders inbetween on the chart .
Interchangable ? NO
Always use the recommended COL. or longer for a the exact bullet you are loading never go shorter , this can raise pressure quickly .
Reduced loads of some powders can be dangerous , but there are alot loads in large capacity cases that are safe that will not even come close to filling 90% of the case .
A crimp will sometimes help with ignition , so will a uniform primer pocket and deburr the flash hole . Differnt primers will have differnt affects also .

[Rust]

I have both 231 and hp-38, they look very similar but I feel that I get a cleaner burn out of the hp-38 using the same loads. That was the reason I started looking into switching from 231 in the first place, before also being told that they were the same powder. I was running 5.6 grains with a fairly heavy crimp and still getting the unburned powder, but never went with more.

[Bob Hostetter]

231 and H-110 are NOT the same powder. If you load with 231 to H-110 spec's you will hurt yourself. Only use data from published reloading books.

If you are getting an incomplete burn of your powder you can try a heavier crimp, or a hotter primer.

I assume you are talking about loading for a 45acp?

[sargenv]

I think he is confused. 296 and H110 are pretty much the same powder and like to be 90% or more case full.. it is HP38 and 231 that are the same burn rate (fast)..

Be careful with those numbers.. and check more than one source before saying X = Y.

[f4tweet]

I'll try to find the link where it is quoted that 231 and HP-38 come from the same process. The plant that I heard about is in Utah. FWIW

[xrMike]

That's weird...

I load 5.2 grains W231 under 200gr LSWCs to 1.26" OAL with a crimp of .69 to .70, and I've never had unburned powder like that. Winchester primers and brass.

The only time I've seen something like that happen is when a buddy first started reloading for .45, and he didn't crimp his first batch of rounds at all. He had a LOT of unburned powder with those rounds. On his arms, hands, all over the bench. Much more than you're describing.

We both figured he needed to start crimping, so he went out and bought a crimp die (Lee) and the problem went away completely on his next batch.

But you ARE crimping, so that's just weird. Maybe try more crimp, I don't know...

If you start seating the bullet deeper, just remember that's going to increase your pressure. I don't know what max load is for those bullets (230 grains?), but you might want to check a manual or the Win pamphlet first to make sure you're not already close to the max (before you start seating deeper).

I want to try Clay's too -- heard it's real clean and you don't need to use as much. Wish I didn't have 3lbs of 231 to kill.

[Californio]

I just started reloading a couple months ago and noticed that after shooting more than 100+ rounds i see some unburned powders on my arm. I am shooting FMJ with winchester large primer and 5.3 grains of w231 powder. Crimp is ~70 ish. Oal is 1.260.

Is this normal ?

Revolver or Autoloader?

I find that load clean in an autoloader and dirty in the revolver.

[J-cat]

See, this is what you get when you ask for reloading advice on the internet.

[diginit]

My pet load for my Kimber 1911, 5" barrel is 5.2 gr 231 behind a 230 FMJ, CJRN, or LRN @ .452. Using CCI primers and Winchester brass with an OAL of 1262. Using Western Nevada cast 230 gr LRN's, I got 835 fps with 1" groups at 25 yrds. using this load and a benchrest. (which I don't usually use) Crimp to 471. No more! You only need crimp enough to remove the bell and avoid setback when chambered.
5.3 is the max listed on the new Winchester site. You don't need to load that hot unless you are going +P. If so, Use new brass. I've found that 4.9 is a good plinker without wasting powder. My 2 1/2 cents.

[forsaken]

thanks for the reply guys. I am shooting it on my 1911. So it is an autoloader. I load 5.3grains because I tried 5.1 before and it was too soft compared to the winchester white box ammo. and hodgen and speer manuals have a higher max load of 6.3 (it think) so 5.3 should be okay... i suppose . I crimp mine with 470 but was thinking of lowering it down to 468-469 due to some jamming problems. I was reading somewhere that if you have a matched barrel to do your tappering around 468ish to avoid jams. What do you guys think ? also I measure my taper/crimp on the top end of the brass with the sharp part of my guage since using the thick part gives out a higher reading due to it touching the rest of the brass..