Using rifle powder in a pistol

Actually, that was an aside. A story. I thought it was pretty funny at the time. Other people I have told it to have chuckled heartily.

Humor: It's a thing people do.

Nobody's screaming the sky is falling. Nobody said you were the one missing an eye.

If this is what you need to feel like a man in the midst of all us schoolgirls--you got it. We are all terrified little ladies, you are the manly man who reloads wildcats. Rrawwwr, fierce!

Me--if some guy I don't know asks, "I wanna reload X in Y, but there's no data"...my answer's gonna be the same thing. Not a great idea. Maybe the combo's bad, but also maybe he calculates wrong. I figure, if he has to ask how or if, then he doesn't know how, and a forum thread isn't the place to learn how. Ain't even about my personal practices. I do all sorts of **** I wouldn't recommend to the innocent bystander.

If that makes me a coward or a wuss in your book, then so be it. I ain't readin' it.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to clean some WST out of my doilies.

Still living up to your handle I see. Sad.
 
While a valid question from a new reloader, the answer most of us have given "it may work, but will probably not work well." is also valid. If one wants to experiment and go outside the envelope of published loads, they should really know what kind of performance published loads give first. 7828 is one of the slowest of rifle powders, the concern of safety with it in .500 mag IMHO, would be a stuck bullet, not fear of over pressure. Stuck bullets/barrel obstruction have probably blown up as many guns as over pressure. So again, to the OP, get some appropriate powder.

Which was my answer. It's just some can't resist being called out when stating something wrong, like "stick to the books, only book data is valid", blah, blah. Then some get their panties all in a wad. Hey I get it, there are guys that load for 1 or 2 cartridges & never go off book. Just don't pretend to know enough to tell other they can't ever do that. As before, it's all about the degree of going off book.
 
The 460 and 500 magnums do indeed fall short of the 30-06 in maximum pressure. they also exceed the maximum pressure of the 30-30.

from SAAMI

460 S&W Magnum - Maximum pressure 65,000 psi (450 MPa)
500 S&W Magnum - Maximum pressure 60,000 psi (410 MPa)
30-06 Springfield - Maximum pressure 60,200 psi (415 MPa)

Don't know where you got your information
____________________________________________________

Guys there is data form good sources using "rifle powder" for the 500 S&W.
Is it suitable for your use? That is up to the owner of the decide.
____________________________________________________

If you want reduced recoil loads that have no potential to blow your cylinder into smaller pieces - you cannot overcharge them- "rifle powders" may be for you when used in the 500, but pay attention or an obstruction maybe in your future.

I think this horse has been beat to death.

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy
 
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If you want reduced recoil loads that have no potential to blow your cylinder into smaller pieces - you cannot overcharge them- "rifle powders" may be for you when used in the 500, but pay attention or an obstruction maybe in your future.

I think this horse has been beat to death.

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy

Ruggyh too has much experience reloading for X-Frames. Again, while it can be done, is it worth it? With the rifle powder the OP has, it probably isn't worth a feeble attempt even at reduced recoil loads. His powder is too slow even for that.

Which was my answer. It's just some can't resist being called out when stating something wrong, like "stick to the books, only book data is valid", blah, blah. Then some get their panties all in a wad. Hey I get it, there are guys that load for 1 or 2 cartridges & never go off book. Just don't pretend to know enough to tell other they can't ever do that. As before, it's all about the degree of going off book.

You keep quoting me claiming I said stick to the book or you'll blow your gun up, but none of those quotes said that. They only said the OP will probably get poor performance, which is correct. Since I generally go commando, it's kinda hard to get nuttin' in a wad.

Another thing I hafta agree with ruggyh about. This horse has been beat enough.
 
The people of this country have already been divided up enough!
Must we be so passionately sub-divided over smokeless powder?

There are rules for safety and there is wiggle room.
Be safe!
 
You keep quoting me claiming I said stick to the book or you'll blow your gun up, but none of those quotes said that. They only said the OP will probably get poor performance, which is correct. Since I generally go commando, it's kinda hard to get nuttin' in a wad.

Another thing I hafta agree with ruggyh about. This horse has been beat enough.
So where did I say in your last quote about blowing up anything? I was actually agreeing with you about certain powders being less than useful. I think you are just it defensive mode buck. Read the whole thing.
 
Some gun powders....

Please let us know when you decide to try the one microgram of nitro load as I would like to be watching .....at a safe distance of course !:D :p

Eddie

Some gun powders have nitro in their formula. Just saying that anything that goes 'pow' will push a bullet out of the barrel, but I don't venture into that territory.

When he was a kid a friend of mine shaved match heads to load his home made cannon and it went off while he was 'ramming the ball home' and almost took off the front of his skull and went right through the cellar ceiling.

Update: I see where powders have been developed that use RDX as an explosive component.:eek:
 
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There are more factors......

There are more factors than burn rate. That's just the easiest for loaders to relate to. Burn temperature and amount of gas produced. That's how powders with similar burn rates can differ.
 
Some gun powders have nitro in their formula. Just saying that anything that goes 'pow' will push a bullet out of the barrel, but I don't venture into that territory.

When he was a kid a friend of mine shaved match heads to load his home made cannon and it went off while he was 'ramming the ball home' and almost took off the front of his skull and went right through the cellar ceiling.

Update: I see where powders have been developed that use RDX as an explosive component.:eek:
:eek:
:D
 
Yes,

Might work with the previously listed 1 microgram of nitro as a kicker !

Eddie:D

The creamer slows down the explosion rate.

PS: I just found out that nitroglycerin burns at 9000 deg F. I wouldn't shoot a string of bullets because the gun would probably melt.
 
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The slowest powder I used for a revolver load was IMR 4227.

The 357 Magnum had "Blow Back", so I stopped using it.
My J frame snub nose cylinder froze from the dirty unburned powder.
In my 9mm, a full load was not enough to work the slide and could cause a SQUIB.

W296 or 2400 would be my choice of powders in the slow burn rates,
if you have them for your 500.
 
Old eyes got me today. I picked up a box of 125 gr Gold Dot's and a box of Hornady 125's to load some +p 38's for my Colt Cobra. Load is either bullet in Federal nickle cases ( today anyway ) with CCI sp primers and 7 gr of long shot. I loaded 50 of the Hornady's and then 50 of the Gold dots . AS I was putting everything away I noticed that the Gold Dots were not .357 but were for a 357 Sig so they were .355 . This Sucks !

Done some reading on the internet and found a fairly large number of posts stating that this does work but may require a bit more crimp than normal.Went outside and fired one and it sounded like a cap gun ! Stuck a bullet about 1 inch up the barrel . Got the hickory after it and it pops out no problem showing nice deep groves. I got my dies back out and put the seating / crimp die back in the press with the seating stem run out till it could not contact the bullet. Screwed the die body in another 1/4 turn at a time till I got a very heavy crimp. This should work because I read it on the internet. Wrong !! The first bullet hit the 2 inch stick on target I use no problem. The next one sounded like a lady finger firecracker ! Out comes the hickory . Same on the next three so I decided the crimp does not work. Funny thing is ....... NO load book says you should or could use .355 bullets in .38 special . Not saying this can't be made to work but I am saying it didn't . Guess I will just have to buy the correct size bullets and always be sure I wear my glasses when buying bullets.:D:D:D
 
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You would be wrong. Unless you load exactly the primer, brass, powder & bullet, you are going off the book. It's just a matter of degree. You are extrapolating. Choosing a diff powder is just a diff level of that extrapolation.
In the example asked about rifle powders in the 500. The answer is yes, you could. w/o data, with the right powder. Since Accurate says their 1680 is acceptable, then something like 4198 or RL7 could also be worked up.
In your example. Could you use 3031 in the 9mm, it would go bang, might not cycle the slide, but it would not blow the gun up. So would it be suitable, no as it would not cycle the action.

I'm not wrong just because we differ...the argument has been posted so I'll let it go at that.
 
Two things....

...

Done some reading on the internet and found a fairly large number of posts stating that this does work but may require a bit more crimp than normal.Went outside and fired one and it sounded like a cap gun ! Stuck a bullet about 1 inch up the barrel . Got the hickory after it and it pops out no problem showing nice deep groves. I got my dies back out and put the seating / crimp die back in the press with the seating stem run uo till it could not contact the bullet. Screwed the die body in another 1/4 turn at a time till I got a very heavy crimp. This should work because I read it on the internet. Wrong !! The first bullet hit the 2 inch stick on target I use no problem. The next one sounded like a lady finger firecracker ! Out comes the hickory . Same on the next three so I decided the crimp does not work. Funny thing is ....... NO load book says you should or could use .355 bullets in .38 special . Not saying this can't be made to work but I am saying it didn't . Guess I will just have to buy the correct size bullets and always be sure I wear my glasses when buying bullets.:D:D:D

I wonder how a roll crimp die for a .38 special would do for this?? One time a friend gave me .38 with 9mm bullets and light loads. They shot well, but they were more of a novelty than anything.

The store I go to never has 124 grain 9mm bullets, always 115 grain. (stupid, I know) Every time I snatch a lone box of ammo marked 9mm 124 grain, and thinking it's my lucky day, look closer and it's for 9mm Makarov. Lesson. Wear your glasses.:D
 
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I wonder how a roll crimp die for a .38 special would do for this?? One time a friend gave me .38 with 9mm bullets and light loads. They shot well, but they were more of a novelty than anything.

The store I go to never has 124 grain 9mm bullets, always 115 grain. (stupid, I know) Every time I snatch a lone box of ammo marked 9mm 124 grain, and thinking it's my lucky day, look closer and it's for 9mm Makarov. Lesson. Wear your glasses.:D

If I had anything to post a picture with I would post one of what a 357 sig GD looks like after it has been crimped heavily with an old time roll crimp die ! The dozen or so that I had left that were re crimped have basically a Keith style crimp groove in them now. The ones that I didn't re crimp look just like they did new out of the box. Live and learn . I'll take the unopened box I have back and give the other box to a friend who shoots 9mm .:)

Eddie
 
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