Another newbie question, please bare with me. When figuring powder amounts for your loads, do you usually just go by weight of bullets as to the type? For example, I will see data for a 125 gr FMJ but nothing for a 125 gr HP. Is there a difference?

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Rick

Basically no. A 125 grain jacketed round is a 125 grain jacketed round regardless of the nose profile. There will however be a difference between a 125 grain jacketed round and a 125 grain lead or plated round however. In the event of a lack of data, you can use jacketed bullet data to start a load for a lead bullet but do not attempt to use lead bullet data for jacketed bullets.

Then, if you really want to get into splitting hairs there will be a difference between different cast alloys - but in all reality in over 40 years of reloading I have never had an issue with that.

Just a reminder, start low and work up your loads. Get into the habit of ALWAYS visually checking the powder level in each case before you seat the bullet and only have one powder out on the bench.

Pretty much all the bullet makers will have a loading manual for their bullets (Hornady, Sierra, Speer, Barnes - -- ) as well s the powder makers will have load data for their powders (Alliant, Hodgden, Winchester, VV - - ) so get a much reliable data as you can. NEVER as in NEVER rely on any stuff you see published on the internet.

Good loading.

GEC

Great info, Thanks GEC

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Rick

elpac3, isn't the load data for lead or plated bullets "less" than that for jacketed bullets. That being the case, choosing jacketed bullet data for lead or plated would seem to be problematical and using less powder for jacketed rounds would be OK. Or am I mistaken?

One good source for loading info is to go to the powder and bullet company on the web. Then down load this info or charts keeping it in a folder. I have made a manual with this info and really use it more than store bought manuals. Here is another good place to ask question as there are a lot of experienced people here willing to answer your questions.. feel free to ask these people before making a mistake. I ask a lot from these guys....I usually go by bullet weight. But if approaching max loads I usually look into the type of bullet and what it's made of. I will hardly ever go with max loads as lower charged bullets are usually more accurate.

Mr. Davis, you could end up with a jacketed bullet stuck in the bore (a squib). If not noticed, the next round will be an issue, anywhere from a bulged barrel to a kaboom. There is considerably more friction between the bullet and the bore with jacketed bullets vs. lead.

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Foster Positivity.

Jacketed bullets have more friction in the barrel and required a larger powder charge than lead bullets. When looking at load data, and only jacketed data is available for a given weight, when substituting a lead bullet, it will require less powder so what I have done is start with the lowest powder charge for jacketed bullets when substituting a lead bullet.

General rule is you can use jacket data with lead (higher powder charge, faster moving bullet than jacketed data would suggest) but never use lead data with jacketed bullets (you will have a lower powder charge, slower bullet and risk a stuck bullet)

Also, most companies that sell plated bullets claim they can handle at least 1250fps. So using FMJ data for plated projectiles is OK in most cases. I know I push them hard and have had no issues.

It takes a certain amount of powder to move a bullet down a barrel.
There may also be a small outside Dia. difference between jacketed and lead bullets, that may give different friction going down a barrel......... but it is very slight.

Three pounds of oranges and three pounds of rocks are still the same weight....... be they round nose or hollow points.

However, being different in make up, they do call for a different means of launching down a barrel.

No problem throwing rocks hard and fast but..........
you may have a problem doing it with a big water balloon.

Some things just don't work.
Hope this helps.

It's not the vel that matters. Plated bullets are nearly pure lead with a very thin copper plating. They react more like a lead bullet going down the bbl. Most manuf will tell you to use data between the lead & jacketed or just use lead data.
There is a diff between diff styles of the same wt bullet. A 124gr RNFMJ is not a 124gr truncated cone bullet, is not a JHP. Bearing surfaces are diff & the OAL will be drastically diff. So it does matter what shape/profile bullet your data is using & if you are running over midrange loads, it could affect your pressure to a dangerous level.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

Elpac3 and others. Thanks for the explanations. I understand what you are saying.
Good comparative analysis, Nevada Ed. Rocks and water balloons