.401 reloading powder

[battis]

For many years, I've been using IMR4227 powder for all of my WSLs.  Due to the current shortage, I'm looking at other powders.  I've seen Unique listed but I've never tried it (I have a few pounds of it).
Has anyone had any luck with Unique in a .401?  It seems that between 10 and 13 grs should work (250 gr cast bullet).

[gyrhed]

looks like no one replied. you may already have this, but just in case. Someone shared this with me before I just lucked into a copy of Lymans 45th, and i used it to build up my 401 loads.

I have a lyman 45th edition (1970) with obsolete calibers listed. Use it at your own risk. Its old information. I dont know if this was updated in 1970 or if it was listed as originally published in the 40s or something. I do believe the 4227 today is not quite the 4227 in this manual. I left the 4227 loads for your reference. I have loaded all three. But I like 4227 the best for other reasons not related to how they operate the gun, accuracy, etc. I just use a lot of 4227 for other rounds. I try to consoladate and use as few powders as possible for all my reloading. Just so in times like this i can keep an adequate amoung of just a few powders.

0.401 Self Loader - Remington 9-1/2 primers LR and Remington Cases

200 grain jacketed Unique Starting load 13 gr Max 15.2 gr
200 grain jacketed 2400 Starting load 22 gr Max 24.7 gr

212 grain cast Unique Starting load 12 gr Max 14.9 gr
212 grain cast 2400 Starting load 21 gr Max 23.5 gr
212 grain cast 4227 Starting Loadd 26 gr Max 29.0 this is a compressed load.

240 grain cast Unique Starting load 11 gr Max 13.7 gr
240 grain cast 2400 Starting load 20 gr Max 22 gr
240 grain cast 4227 Starting Loadd 24 gr Max 27.5 this is a compressed load.

I chrono'd all these loads when i worked up my ladders and never got the velocities published in Lyman #45. Also although there were no overpressure signs if i got anywhere near the max it threw cases all over the country, and beat the crap out of them. Too much money and time in a case for that!!

I bought 500 star-line 414 Super Mag Brass. I trim it to length, and then cut the rim diameter. I don't cut the extractor groove even though the 414 groove isn't as deep as the 401. My gun doesnt seem to mind. I buy 41 magnum 210 gr XTP and size it down to 0.406. I had Lee make me a swager. takes just a few minutes to completely resize a whole box of XTPs. I had issues with cast bullets leading the barrels, hate to use gas checks, and dont really shoot this thing enough to care about the cost of the XTPs. The die from LEE was only $18 if i remember right.

Nothng i have shot though my gun has been less than about 2-3 inches at 50 yards, but i havent taken the time to try to get a better load since everything i have tried in working up load ladders for each of these powders has never given me a reasaon to believe the gun it will get much better.

My load makes 1800 FPS with the 210 gr XTP, but i dont see a reason to push this velocity even though there may be room. I have a marbles tang sight and it will never have a scope on it. Accuracy isn't good enough to shoot a small hog or deer out to maybe 150 yards with my old eyes anyway. I have shot one 120# hog with my load at about 75 yards and it was DRT. like it should be, the XTP didnt exit but was found under the skin on the far side.

What kind of accuracy/velocities do you get? I might chase a more accurate load if i thought it would be worth the time.

[battis]

I also use the .414 Mag brass with no extractor groove. I don't cut the extractor groove in my .32, .35 and .351, and they all function perfectly.
I use approx. 22 grs of IMR 4227 in the .401 (200 gr & 250 gr lead bullet), and it works fine. I just loaded up a bunch, plus three more with Unique: 10 gr, 11 gr and 12 gr. When, and if, it warms up a little, I'll try them.
I haven't chronographed the .401 in a few years. I'll probably do it with the Unique loads.
As far as accuracy - if I hit the gong at 100 yds I'm happy.
Thanks for the load data.

[battis]

I tested the Unique loads with the 250 gr cast bullet. 10 grs, 11 grs and 12 grs fired and worked the bolt perfectly. The 12 grs felt more like 22 grs of IMR4227 (my powder of choice). I didn't use the chronograph - too cold. I didn't aim at a target, or even the gong (I think it was under the snow). I just wanted to test the powders.
It's good to know that I have powder options. I'll test accuracy and velocity when it warms up.

[cantthinkofaname]

New member here, does anyone know the case capacity of the 401WSL? I have a version of QuickLoad and I can do some playing to find load data. But currently QuickLoad is incorrect for their case length and cartridge length numbers, so I'm assuming their case capacity is wrong as well.
I just bought a 1910 and just ordering all the reloading gear. So it could take me a while to get the brass and cut it down and measure it myself.

[nedchristiansen]

I've having very good luck using the 414 SuperMag brass too. I do cut the extractor groove-- I agree in that it will work without it, as I have done that in the .351.... indeed being a straight blowback it should function in live fire with no extractor. But I don't want to give up an positivity in extracting live rounds. To illustrate, a friend sent me his .351 dies and some cases made from .223 Rem. I loaded them and fired them, no issue, but with the undersized rim, live rounds would not extract-- a big safety hazard.

The .351 cases I tried without the groove, I went back and grooved them the next time I did a batch as they would not fit the .351 shell holder and with the rim at .407 the .38 shell holder was too loose.

BTW kinda funny why he sent me the dies. He had a .223 case stuck in there, rim pulled off, a real mess. I put a pinch of black powder in there and it came out just fine :-)

[snuker]

Good afternoon.

I have a Win 1910 since some month. Now its back from the proofhouse and ready for use. Testing in a proofhouse is duty by german law. Now i am looking for shooting and hunting with the 1910. For the cases i have prepaired 100 414 super mag. I have a set of CH4D reloading dies for the 401 WSL (found online in south france in a small gun shop, a very lucky day). Bullets I have is the copper plated bullets by grafs and son and the .410 XTP (sized down like gyrhed does it). Now it comes to the powder. Now chace to get IMR Powders in germany... I have calculated a load in QuickLoad with Hodgdon LilGun for the .410 XTP. I think the load with 23grs can be a good choice. Does anyone have experience with LilGun in the .401 WSL?? In the attachment is the load-suggestion from Quickload. NO garantie for the loaddata, you on your one risk! 401wsl_xtp_lilGun.pdf (70.85 KB)