Since i cannot come up with anything in past threads on this i figured i'd just plainly ask.

for fast handgun powder i have 800X, Bluedot, WST and WSF... i've read a lot about light loads for slow lapping velocities using Reddot and such.

I'm just looking for a starting point before i go loading things up only to find i've gone too slow or too fast...

the speer manual shows 10 gr pushing a 250 gr jacketed about 800 fps... i figured add 100 for lead and then cut the charge in half...

that sound about right?

thanks

Jamie

I'm not sure what to say, as you didn't say what you're firelapping. As for powders, the Winchester ball powders aren't suitable for a nearly empty case, and you want the fastest flake powder, so that means 800-X.

Bye
Jack

Yeah, I'd concur with Jack.... you want flake powder, the faster the better. I'm not even sure how well 800X will work. The slowest powder I've heard used was Unique, and that was with a dacron filler also, to hold the powder back near the primer.

See if you know anybody who reloads for shotguns and has Red Dot, or some target pistol shooters using Bullseye. Almost every reloader has a dab of this or that, sitting in a can taking up space on the shelf.

Would be curious to know what you are lapping, as that makes quite a difference, whether revolver, semi-auto, or a fixed-breech gun.

I used a .22 short case full of 700X, for the .44 Rugers.
If you try this in a rifle, make sure the bullet exits the barrel, before you fire another round.
Humpty

OOOOPS... Ruger Blackhawk chambered in 45 Colt...

i ended up @ 4 gr of bluedot... the tip back and tap cylinder method got the powder back to the primer... you could see em fly and they bounced off the log so i figured it was about right... didn't run into leading issues either after a few rounds...

Jamie

I have firelapped several revolvers of mine and used just enough Unique to get the bullet out of the barrel. My mod 29 was a leading fiend when I first bought it. I spent hours cleaning the bore after using swaged bullets. After using 11 lapping bullets (pure lead, unsized, and enough Unique to push the bullet out of the barrel), and thouroghly cleaning between shots, I can shot 300 or more cast lead bullets w/o scrubbing the bore. Also, it tightened up my groups with jacketed bullets. I would recommend doing it if you have a leading problem. Powder...anything near Unique I guess.
Ask any one who has done it, and you will get a different answer from each of them.

Thanks for the info...

the Deed was done last Saturday... Closely following Mr. Stanton's procedure. the results were not unusual of what you read here and elsewhere... leading is greatly diminished and the bore is MUCH smoother than it was... it literally looked like washboard and potholes prior. Slugging the bore results in ever so slight drag at the breech after a total of 100 rounds. I flung bullets slow enough so that at 25 feet they barely made it to target from shooting height.. so in otherwords.. pretty slow... without wadding you HAD to tip gun back otherwise you'd just stick the bullet in the barrel.

during breakin of the barrel... shooting offhand @ 25 yds i was grouping tighter than i ever had off of the bags... Right in the 2 inch area with HEAVY H110 and Longshot loads... i would expect bag shooting to be better.

I appreciate all of the help and insite.

Thanks

Jamie