Plinking loads for various calibers! - The Firearms Forum

DoesItMatter · 12-23-2010, 02:18 AM

Disclaimer:

None of these loads are "Recommended" - just loads I have used.
They are plinkers - no where near max loads, and only for target shooting.

I am not recommending any of these, just saying what I have been using.

I don't want to call down the wrath of god, or LDBennet or JLA -

Plinking loads only! In my area, it is still quite a hassle to find various powders at a decent price.

I still have trouble finding Unique and Bullseye at some stores - it sucks!

I would love to hear what loads you are using - but again "Not Recommending!"

-----------------

44 mag -- 250 gr KSWC lead -- 8 grains Clays -- CCI Magnum LPP

357 mag -- 125 gr RNFP lead -- 5 grains Green Dot -- CCI Magnum SPP

45 acp -- 200 gr RNFP lead -- 5 grains Green Dot -- CCI Magnum LPP

The 45 ACP load was under max, and I wanted to try some Magnum primers
in replacement of Standard primers because of the shortage.

It is getting better now, and a little easier to find primers, but they still arent' cheap!

I had no problem with primer strikes on the 45 acp loads.

All 3 loads shot fairly clean for reloads - by that I mean, no un-burnt powder.

Good snap to them, but not a lot of kick - and more accurate than I can shoot them.

Those are the test loads so far for plinking, and I would love to hear any of yours.

Reason I'm using those shotgun powders, is they were cheap, and I could get them in 4 or 8lb containers locally.

Once again - these are NOT recommendations - just what I have used for plinkers.

I would definitely like to hear your plinker loads, especially if you're using shotgun powders for plinking!

----------------------

By the way - I saw this on gibrass.com

10B101 Powder made by VihtaVuori, used in the .50BMG short range training cartridge
with the plastic bullet. Can be loaded using Herco data. This is a very thin,
square flake type powder that is not recommended for progressive
machines, as it tends to bridge very easily. Best to load on a single stage
press, dropping charges slowly. Excellent for use in magnum type handgun ammo.
This is pulldown flake powder. $25/6# jug.

Has anyone tried this out?

I was thinking of ordering 4 jugs - so before the shipping charge, I'd be looking at

$25 x 4 + $20 hazmat = $120 / 24 lbs = $5 a lb + shipping - damn cheap plinking powder!

I mostly shoot 44 mag and 357 mag, and load single stage press, so I think this should be a good deal!

DoesItMatter · 12-24-2010, 03:26 AM

Well,

I went ahead and ordered 4 jugs of the 10B101 pull-down powder from gibrass.com

Total with shipping and hazmat came out to $150 for 24 lbs = $6.25 a lb!

44 Mag -- 11 GR Herco for 180 GR LSWC

44 Mag - 240-250 GR LSWC -- 9 -> 11 grains of Herco

357 Mag -- 158 GR LSWC -- 7 grains of Herco

357 Mag -- 125 GR FPRNL -- 7 grains of Herco

45 ACP -- 230 GR LRN -- 5 grains of Herco

45 ACP -- 200 GR LRN -- 5 grains of Herco

That was load data I found... so, I'm planning on 10 grains of Herco for my 44 mag loads

Looking at under $0.01 a shot for the powder per bullet - not too shabby!
Figure an average price of $0.03 per primer for each round,
and whatever the bullet costs, looking at under $0.15 a round for 44 mag reloads.

Online, even the cheapo 44 mag is running around $25-30 a box, so $0.50 to $0.60 a round.

Gotta love reloading!

JLA · 12-24-2010, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoesItMatter

Disclaimer:

None of these loads are "Recommended" - just loads I have used.
They are plinkers - no where near max loads, and only for target shooting.

I am not recommending any of these, just saying what I have been using.

I don't want to call down the wrath of god, or LDBennet or JLA -

no need to be redundant...

, no wrath, I promise

Plinking loads only! In my area, it is still quite a hassle to find various powders at a decent price.

I still have trouble finding Unique and Bullseye at some stores - it sucks!

I would love to hear what loads you are using - but again "Not Recommending!"

-----------------

44 mag -- 250 gr KSWC lead -- 8 grains Clays -- CCI Magnum LPP
My .44 mag loads are 240 gr cast from a LEE mold over 7 grains of unique
357 mag -- 125 gr RNFP lead -- 5 grains Green Dot -- CCI Magnum SPP
My .357s are 150 or 158 gr cast from LEE molds over 5 grains unique
45 acp -- 200 gr RNFP lead -- 5 grains Green Dot -- CCI Magnum LPP
My .45ACP loads are 228 gr cast from LEE mold over either5.4 gr HP38/W231, or 5.0 g bullseye, or 4.6 gr titegroup (actually not done tinkerin with the titegroup load)
The 45 ACP load was under max, and I wanted to try some Magnum primers
in replacement of Standard primers because of the shortage.
I use magnums almost exclusively
It is getting better now, and a little easier to find primers, but they still arent' cheap!

I had no problem with primer strikes on the 45 acp loads.

All 3 loads shot fairly clean for reloads - by that I mean, no un-burnt powder.

Good snap to them, but not a lot of kick - and more accurate than I can shoot them.

Those are the test loads so far for plinking, and I would love to hear any of yours.

Reason I'm using those shotgun powders, is they were cheap, and I could get them in 4 or 8lb containers locally.

Once again - these are NOT recommendations - just what I have used for plinkers.

I would definitely like to hear your plinker loads, especially if you're using shotgun powders for plinking!

----------------------

By the way - I saw this on gibrass.com

10B101 Powder made by VihtaVuori, used in the .50BMG short range training cartridge
with the plastic bullet. Can be loaded using Herco data. This is a very thin,
square flake type powder that is not recommended for progressive
machines, as it tends to bridge very easily. Best to load on a single stage
press, dropping charges slowly. Excellent for use in magnum type handgun ammo.
This is pulldown flake powder. $25/6# jug.

Has anyone tried this out?

I was thinking of ordering 4 jugs - so before the shipping charge, I'd be looking at

$25 x 4 + $20 hazmat = $120 / 24 lbs = $5 a lb + shipping - damn cheap plinking powder!

I mostly shoot 44 mag and 357 mag, and load single stage press, so I think this should be a good deal!

thats a pretty damn good deal, worth a try at least...

DoesItMatter · 01-06-2011, 02:52 AM

OK...

Got the 24 lbs of 10B101 aka Herco in and loaded up 100 rounds of 44 mag.

Using 10 grains for a 240 gr LSWC.

Hopefully I can try them out this coming weekend and report the results.

BIG flakes on this powder - I'm actually doing the loading with one of the Lee dippers.

I figure even if I'm off by up to 0.5 grains I'm ok as the Lee loading manual
shows a recommendation of 11.x to 12.x grains for a 240 grain lead bullet.

Will report back with how they shoot.

Oh - and yea, total price was $150 and some change, so this was $6.25 a lb shipped!

doug66 · 01-09-2011, 07:45 AM

11.5 gr. of Herco is super accurate out of my 4 5/8" barreled SBH and M77/44. Using Lee's TL240grSWC. (44mag).
I'm out of Herco, but have Unique. 8 gr. of Unique works well in SBH but is not so good in rifle can't hardly keep 4 on a paper plate @60 yds.

12-23-2010, 02:18 AM	#1
DoesItMatter V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Pacific NorthWest Posts: 109	Plinking loads for various calibers! Disclaimer: None of these loads are "Recommended" - just loads I have used. They are plinkers - no where near max loads, and only for target shooting. I am not recommending any of these, just saying what I have been using. I don't want to call down the wrath of god, or LDBennet or JLA - Plinking loads only! In my area, it is still quite a hassle to find various powders at a decent price. I still have trouble finding Unique and Bullseye at some stores - it sucks! I would love to hear what loads you are using - but again "Not Recommending!" ----------------- 44 mag -- 250 gr KSWC lead -- 8 grains Clays -- CCI Magnum LPP 357 mag -- 125 gr RNFP lead -- 5 grains Green Dot -- CCI Magnum SPP 45 acp -- 200 gr RNFP lead -- 5 grains Green Dot -- CCI Magnum LPP The 45 ACP load was under max, and I wanted to try some Magnum primers in replacement of Standard primers because of the shortage. It is getting better now, and a little easier to find primers, but they still arent' cheap! I had no problem with primer strikes on the 45 acp loads. All 3 loads shot fairly clean for reloads - by that I mean, no un-burnt powder. Good snap to them, but not a lot of kick - and more accurate than I can shoot them. Those are the test loads so far for plinking, and I would love to hear any of yours. Reason I'm using those shotgun powders, is they were cheap, and I could get them in 4 or 8lb containers locally. Once again - these are NOT recommendations - just what I have used for plinkers. I would definitely like to hear your plinker loads, especially if you're using shotgun powders for plinking! ---------------------- By the way - I saw this on gibrass.com 10B101 Powder made by VihtaVuori, used in the .50BMG short range training cartridge with the plastic bullet. Can be loaded using Herco data. This is a very thin, square flake type powder that is not recommended for progressive machines, as it tends to bridge very easily. Best to load on a single stage press, dropping charges slowly. Excellent for use in magnum type handgun ammo. This is pulldown flake powder. $25/6# jug. Has anyone tried this out? I was thinking of ordering 4 jugs - so before the shipping charge, I'd be looking at $25 x 4 + $20 hazmat = $120 / 24 lbs = $5 a lb + shipping - damn cheap plinking powder! I mostly shoot 44 mag and 357 mag, and load single stage press, so I think this should be a good deal! --> Last edited by DoesItMatter; 12-23-2010 at 02:41 AM..

12-24-2010, 03:26 AM	#2
DoesItMatter V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Pacific NorthWest Posts: 109	Re: Plinking loads for various calibers! Well, I went ahead and ordered 4 jugs of the 10B101 pull-down powder from gibrass.com Total with shipping and hazmat came out to $150 for 24 lbs = $6.25 a lb! 44 Mag -- 11 GR Herco for 180 GR LSWC 44 Mag - 240-250 GR LSWC -- 9 -> 11 grains of Herco 357 Mag -- 158 GR LSWC -- 7 grains of Herco 357 Mag -- 125 GR FPRNL -- 7 grains of Herco 45 ACP -- 230 GR LRN -- 5 grains of Herco 45 ACP -- 200 GR LRN -- 5 grains of Herco That was load data I found... so, I'm planning on 10 grains of Herco for my 44 mag loads Looking at under $0.01 a shot for the powder per bullet - not too shabby! Figure an average price of $0.03 per primer for each round, and whatever the bullet costs, looking at under $0.15 a round for 44 mag reloads. Online, even the cheapo 44 mag is running around $25-30 a box, so $0.50 to $0.60 a round. Gotta love reloading! Last edited by DoesItMatter; 12-24-2010 at 03:28 AM..

01-06-2011, 02:52 AM	#4
DoesItMatter V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Pacific NorthWest Posts: 109	Re: Plinking loads for various calibers! OK... Got the 24 lbs of 10B101 aka Herco in and loaded up 100 rounds of 44 mag. Using 10 grains for a 240 gr LSWC. Hopefully I can try them out this coming weekend and report the results. BIG flakes on this powder - I'm actually doing the loading with one of the Lee dippers. I figure even if I'm off by up to 0.5 grains I'm ok as the Lee loading manual shows a recommendation of 11.x to 12.x grains for a 240 grain lead bullet. Will report back with how they shoot. Oh - and yea, total price was $150 and some change, so this was $6.25 a lb shipped! Last edited by DoesItMatter; 01-06-2011 at 02:53 AM..

01-09-2011, 07:45 AM	#5
doug66 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 538	Re: Plinking loads for various calibers! 11.5 gr. of Herco is super accurate out of my 4 5/8" barreled SBH and M77/44. Using Lee's TL240grSWC. (44mag). I'm out of Herco, but have Unique. 8 gr. of Unique works well in SBH but is not so good in rifle can't hardly keep 4 on a paper plate @60 yds. Last edited by doug66; 01-09-2011 at 07:47 AM..