I have a new NOE mold that casts 140ish grain SWCHP’s. As a solid it drops them at 150gr. My trouble is that for lead bullet data everything I’m finding is 125gr SWC to 148gr HBWC to 158gr SWC. But then I found 140gr XTP load data. I know you can drop jacketed data by ten percent for plated bullet data. Does the same logic apply for jacketed to lead?

If you're going to load lead bullets the Lyman Cast Handbook 4th Edition is a must. It's not a copy of the data in the Lyman 49th Edition manual. It adds load data for bullet molds other than Lyman which is a first for them.

Remember, double check all load data you get from the Internet. Mistakes can and will happen when posting numbers.
Unfortunately even the Lyman manual omits load data for a 140gr SWC bullet but it does have data for 155gr SWC bullet. You can use safely data for heavier bullets but not the other way around. You will of course have room on the upper end.

I'm guessing you are loading for the .38 Special:
Bullseye - 2.8gr to 4.0gr
W231 - 3.5gr to 4.7gr (5.0gr = +P)
AA#5 - 5.0gr to 5.6gr
Unique - 3.4gr to 5.1gr (5.4gr = +P)
Universal - 4.3gr to 4.8gr (5.1gr = +P)
HS-6 - 4.4gr to 6.7gr
True Blue - 4.3gr to 4.8gr

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SWCA #3437

What Arch said^^^^^^^^

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I have that one, the Lyman 49th, Hornady 7th, Lee 2nd, Speer 14th, and a few powder company hand outs. I just didn't realize you can go from heavier bullet data when it's that far away. I would think case volume would be an issue. Thanks for the heads up.

You will get more velocity so I would not be using max loads at first

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Let me go a little further. You usually use more powder with lighter bullets than with heavier ones. That being true if you are using data from a heavier bullet with a lighter one you are using charge weights that are lighter than those that would be safe if you had the actual data for the lighter bullet. Like I said, the data from the 155gr bullet won't be Max with the 140gr bullet but it's a very good place to start. You couldn't safely use the Max charge from 140gr bullet data with a 155gr bullet but you are going the other way. That makes it safe as long as you don't go too light on the powder charge and stick a bullet in the barrel. (highly unlikely but possible)

I hope that clears it up a little and I hope I didn't confuse things even more!

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Looks like sound logic to me. I dipped them in alox/JPW amd once they dry I will give them a try.

Just out of curiosity, what powder, powder charge and primer are you using?

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I was going to decide on most of that tomorrow but likely Win 231 and WSP primers.

With W231 a very safe place to start will be 4.0gr but I'm sure you will be able to safely load up to 4.8gr W231 with no ill effects.

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I'm not looking for lightning bolts so that 4.0 as a starter sounds just fine. These will suffice until I find a decent cramer or similar mass production SWCHP mold that drops the same bullet at 158gr.

Here are a few leftovers that I culled to go back into the pot but still show what they look like:

That's a good looking bullet. Those will probably make a great FBI type load even though they are lighter than the originals...

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Ooopsie. 4.0gr of 231 was a super powder puff load. Glad I only started with 6 of them. Cranking out six more now to head back out with 4.5gr pushing them:



I'm only setting a light roll crimp. I guess I can load up six more with a bit more aggressive medium crimp. I don't usually go heavy on a crimp unless I'm loading for a tube mag or something in a magnum flavor.

Bottom right at the fifteen yard range:



They seem as accurate as I'm capable with the rest of my handloads standing at fifteen yards. But with 4.5gr of 231 they still seem like powder puff loads. I'm going to go for a listed 150gr +P load next time. Jumping to 5.0gr seems serious enough since there is still unburned remains with the 4.5gr loads.

I'd try about 5.0 grains of Unique and if you are using a heavy frame gun, work my way up to just under 6.0. I bet those loads will expand that big hollow point.

I tried them first in my GP100 but then when they were obvious mouse farts I finished them in my M10-7. Tomorrow they will all go in the GP100. If I find that I'm unhappy with the 231 loads then I may try Unique next.

Loaded up 12 more with 4.9-5.0 gr of 231 with a more medium crimp this time.

Like I said above, a charge of 4.8gr will probably make a good light range load. I see no reason not to charge 5.0gr W231 under that bullet. Also, don't be fooled by the light feel of W231. You are probably generating more velocity than you think. You can't go by feel alone, run them over a chrono if you have access to one.

If you're looking for a good and accurate +P load I would suggest trying HS-6 or even AA#5. Both will do a great job with that bullet at the higher pressures...

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SWCA #3437

I say mouse farts because they even sounded quiet. I have a bucket of 105gr SWC loads from a Lee mold that are very powder puffy and the 140's with 45.gr seemed even fluffier than those. But I get your point about the chrono. I really need to break down and buy one as the range rental always seems to be out when I want to use it.

You can buy a good chrono for right around $100 or just a little more on sale from most manufacturers. They work well enough for what we as reloaders do. I have had my chrono for about 5 years now and I have no idea how I got along without one. It's probably my most important tool for reloading...

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Still no chrono but this time they felt goooooood. Not over powered, no flattened primers, no gout of flame, they felt just right. I think 5.0 of Win 231 is the load for this bullet for now.

Also, I added the Shooting Chrony F1 Chronograph to my wishlist for next time I do a large purchase. It's $93.99 at MidwayUSA and has decent reviews.

If you are gonna get a self contained unit the Comp Electronics is a much better unit.

ProChrono Digital Chronograph

If you still want the Chrony brand get the Alpha Master with the computer right at the bench, It goes on sale a lot. I had two of them and returned them to Midway, they do not like the Florida Sun. Just my experience.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/306...er-chronograph

The Competition Electronics has not missed a shot. I got it on sale also.

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