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Hi All, new here. I recently scored a wichita break barrel pistol and need some reloading info please. I want to try some lighter weight bulllets next, 100gr speer hollow points. I cant find any load data but did find load data for hornady 100gr hollow points in my 5th edition manual. Is it safe to load to the hornady specs for the speer? They look to be almost identical bullets. Or does anyone have the load data for 100gr speer varmint HP's?
thank you!

HS, You will probably be OK using the Speer bullets but I would suggest using the starting loads or midrange loads shown in the Hornady manual just to be safe. I also have one of those pistols but have never gotten around to loading for it and shooting it. I do know they can be a real handful with heavier loads and the 1911 grip. Good luck with the project and please post some results.

Thanks for the info, yes i will only be loading to minimums for plinking. I started out shooting 160gr and its a handfull to keep on target. Its even harder to control than my BFR in 45-70. I think the 100gr will be more controllable. THe 5th edition shows 29.4 grains of h335 for the hornady 100gr, which is what i will be using but with speer 100gr,

I shot 5 roubnds 100gr with 29.4 grains of h335 today as a test before i load more. It does have less recoil than the 160's but still is harder to control than other big bore pistols i have. I suspect the grip is part of the problem. I ordered the pearce 1911 finger grip for it, maybe this will help. Last week i milled the scope base on my drill press with an end mill. I think i still need to mill a couple thousands off because i am close to the limits of elevation adjustments for my scope.

Might try the Pachmayr wrap around grips but even they don't have much padding at the rear of the grip.

I have no experience with this cartridge, but until you find a safe load with reduced powder charge, that gun will always be a handful. You're shooting 29 grains of powder with a 100 or 110 grain bullet. Imagine shooting a 9mm with a 115 grain bullet but with SIX TIMES the powder charge, and without the benefit of a recoil absorbing slide/spring. Just my .02

I agree but since this is an obscure cartridge, its hard finding info. I loaded the least i could for the info i found. I am not sure how to find a safe powder charge to use without any books to show me the way.

I've been running 26 grains of 4895 in mine. Have the Wichita and a 14" TC in this caliber. Wichita can be brutal with heavier loads. You can load even farther down using 4895. Good powder for reduced loads in all rifle type cases.

What grain bullet are you running 26gr of 4895 with? And is it imr4895 or h4895?
Thank you!

You might research light loads for 30-30. Case capacity & design is the same, bullet weight & diameters are comparable. Most of the cowboy sites refer to cast bullets, so there's that hitch. Worth a look. Keep in mind that some light powder charges are position sensitive when being fired.