Guys,

I found my old load notebook from years ago and found that I had used lots of Hogdon's Universal in a M29 I once had. My notes (and memory) claimed it was EXTREMELY clean burning with mid-range charges behind a 240gr Lead SWC and (I think) with several different primers.

So, I bought a pound Friday and loaded some .357 rounds with it. 4.0 - 5.0 grains Universal behind 162gr SWC and 168gr Keith SWC using WSP primers. It was no cleaner than Bullseye, which isn't exactly "clean". There were also lots of unburned flakes in the empty cases, cylinders and barrel. I lay an old towel over my sandbags and remember Universal only leaving the mildest brown powder marks from the barrel/cylinder gap in My M29. This time, with both my M66-7 and BlackHawk, there were sooty black powder marks on the towel, with just as much powder residue on the cylinder flutes and top strap as when shooting Bullseye?

Why isn't it burning as cleanly in my .357s as it did in my old M29?

TIA,
Sean

__________________
Sean,

"Much learning doth make thee mad" - Festus

Two thoughts -

First, is that a light, medium, or heavy load? Any idea if the velocities were consistent? Sometimes changing the load a few tenths of a grain gets better ignition. It might have been the exact same load you used before, but you aren't necessarily using the same bullets, are you? Then of course you get into things like different lots of powder, brass, primers, etc. Might just be some tinkering required.

Second, a lot of the 'gunk' comes from bullet lube burning. Same lube? Any idea what it even is?

__________________
MikeG

The load was stuffed into .357 brass, but as I haven't replaced my Chrono since shooting it, I'm not sure of the velocities. The loads would probably be considered medium to heavy .38 spc loads - light to medium .357 loads.

Definitely different bullets since the "old" loads were .44 magnum and these are .357 However the bullet alloy and lube are the same. Wheelweight and Thompson bullet lube.

Would the "gunk" from lube coat the towel covering my sandbags and cylinder flutes of the gun?

Thanks for the help,

Sean

__________________
Sean,

"Much learning doth make thee mad" - Festus

Hmmm, don't know, hope some other Universal users can pipe up with experiences....

__________________
MikeG

Hi - Can't comment on the Universal, but cast bullet lube of most types in a revolver will leave "gunk" everywhere. Not only your rest, but the revolver frame should be more or less dirty both in front of, and behind, the cylinder.

Wasn't there quite a bit of smoke when you fired the gun? That's the lube burning.

Normally when there's a lot of unburned powder left over, it means the pressure isn't building up high enough. I'd try a stiffer crimp, or switch to jacketed bullets and see if the gunky problem is still there. I'm guessing that's a bullet/lube problem.

Papajohn

__________________
"My grandmother's brain was dead, but her heart was still beating. It was the first time we ever had a Democrat in the family." Emo Phillips

Gents,

I have found Universal to be very clean, espeically in the mid range loads (38, 45 auto). I have noticed that it some heavier loads, when a lead bullet is used, then it will smoke and soot more. I have noticed this in a 44 special load, which I had to check the box and see if it was universal, or bullseye.

I'm quite satisfied.

Steve

__________________
Experience is a hard teacher, because she gives the test first, and the lesson afterwards.

There were indeed puffs of smoke...

I was talking with my friend who cast the bullets and he is not using the same lube he used when I was shooting my S&W Model 29-6 (where I remembered Universal burning very cleanly). The lube he's using now is made by the same company that makes his commercial lube/sizer (Magma, I think).

__________________
Sean,

"Much learning doth make thee mad" - Festus

I use Universal in the 38 and in 45colt.
It is not exactly clean, but cleaner than Bullseye and some Win. powders Ive used.
148gr. Wadcutters=3.8gr universal in my Smith k38. Don't move too fast, but punch one clean hole!

Have you tried Clays? That is an extremely clean burner.
148HBWC=2.9gr Clays...Very accurate out of the 14's 6 inch bbl.

__________________
Chris in NH.

"some days, I wish my dogs could talk"