Leading with different powders?

[Scott Tschirhart]

I tried some TiteGroup powder this weekend and noted that I was getting significant leading compared to similar loads with Unique.

The gun also got noticeably hotter than it did with similar loads of Unique.

Has anyone else noticed a significant difference like this with similar loads (velocity wise)?

[JBowen]

Scott, I have noticed that the barrel gets hotter faster with the Titegroup using it in 38 Special and 44 Mag and plated bullets. Have not tried it with lead.

JBowen

[samsi]

I've only used TG in 38 Spl and 9mm and haven't noticed that. I did have similar results using Power Pistol in 45acp. It was a good accurate load, but it leaded. I've never had a 45 auto load that leaded that much.

[GunnyMack]

For a while we were shooting B&P international 24gram loads by the truck load. I noticed right off that my barrels were much warmer to the touch. In international trap it's a two shots per target so a guy could use 50 shells at a time. Anyhow one guy I shoot with had a side rib come loose. He sent his gun out for repair. Then someone else had a side rib pop. I sent the B&P folks an email, seems they used a high nitro formula powder, means more heat, softening the solider then cooling then heating, cooling etc until failure.
Could be that your tire group is just enough more heat for a leading problem.

[Griff]

I no longer shoot a lot of Unique, but in my Cowboy 45 Specials for cowboy action in my Colt SAAs, I want to shoot around 750 fps, so I'd reduce my load to 5.1 grains of Unique. With hardcast bullets of around 15-16Bhn, I didn't get any leading. When my son bought a couple 8 lb tubs of Titegroup, I started using that. The minimum listed load for 45 Auto (same capacity as the C45S), was 4.8 grains for 877 fps. To reach the 750 fps target, I reduced my load to 3.9 grains. The difference in charge weight is pretty significant, telling me that Titegroup is quite a bit hotter than Unique, ergo, I might anticipate leading at a lower velocity although my loads are well below any velocity that would yield leading with my particular bullets. When I went to a 160 grain bullet in the C45S, I initially tried 3.2 grains of Titegroup for around 700 fps, but... that was too low, and while I didn't have any squibs, they didn't have enough felt recoil for my tastes. Upping the charge by 2 tenths yielded 750 fps and much better felt recoil. I've worked hard to keep from leading any of my guns. The only time I ever experienced it was in my Winchester 94 carbine in 44 Magnum. Way back in the early '70s with some factory lead 44 Magnums. Once I started buying hardcast bullets from the now defunct S&S Bullets I ceased having that problem.

So yes, I can see where a particular powder might yield certain bullets more susceptible to leading. Very unscientific conclusion, but one reached thru my own observations and experience.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I’m on the hunt for a different powder to replace Unique and TightGroup may not be it.

231 is next. But there’s a whole lotta space in the case with 231.

[JimT]

I’m on the hunt for a different powder to replace Unique and TightGroup may not be it.

231 is next. But there’s a whole lotta space in the case with 231.

It takes up a bit more space than Bullseye.
I've shot a lot of Bullseye loads with no problems.
Since the powder shortage I am glad you are searching. It will help the rest of us.

[JBowen]

Here is a chart from Brian Pearce in Handloader Magazine for Standard Colt loads that may give you some ideas.

IMG_0535.png

JBowen

[JimT]

I like 700X in the .45 Colt. I have shot a lot of it and it works well and is accurate.

IMG_0413.JPG

[Scott Tschirhart]

I had so much good success with Unique for so many years!

[GunnyMack]

Not sure which is older Scott but mine still has powder in it!

20240723_183732.jpg

[Griff]

The thing I like about 231 vs Titegroup is the much wider latitude for load density and wider velocity range on published safe loads.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Not sure which is older Scott but mine still has powder in it!20240723_183732.jpg

If you look closely you will see that mine has never been opened.

[GunnyMack]

I hadn't noticed that Scott!
I don't remember where this can came from , I don't even know this is any good. Guess I should pour a little out and put a match to it.

[JimT]

I hadn't noticed that Scott!
I don't remember where this can came from , I don't even know this is any good. Guess I should pour a little out and put a match to it.

Just smell it. You can tell if a can of powder is good or bad by giving it a smell. If the smell ranges from no detectable odor to resembling alcohol, ether or acetone (from its solvent content), it is okay. If you get a terribly unpleasant, acidic odor that fries your nasal passages, extreme deterioration has taken place.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Big Dave Wasson found this can at a garage sale. I have no idea how old it is.

[GunnyMack]

True Jim but it's WAY more fun to burn it!
The estate sale I bought had a 4# of red dot included, cardboard can tells you how old it is and it smelled fine, look ok but didn't burn , just spitter and sputtered. As I poured it out deeper into the can is when I noticed the color changed to a rusty color.
A jug of WC846 also went bad and it was in plastic .
They both turned into lawn fertilizer.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Fermin thinks I need to fire lap the bore.

Probably not a bad idea since I’m not getting a good lube star. But it does shoot!

[GunnyMack]

Yes, it's a shooter and a little lapping certainly won't hurt.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Easy enough to do:

https://singleactions.proboards.com/thr ... techniques