ok total newbe ,but trying to work some loads up using some home poured boolits, lead ,lee mold 200 grain rfn 44 cal. and some powder I finally got vightori 320c (cowboy action powder) and all the data in my book calls for different loads & powder for different metal or boolit design , what's the difference ? 200 grain boolit lead ,jacket ,solid whatever shouldn't the charge be equal ? what am I missing ? brass is 44 mag. thanks , dumb as a post

Friction.
Jacketed bullets are harder to push down a barrel than plain soft lead.
Don't believe it, get some bullets and a rod and try it.

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Science plus Art

It is impossible to predict safe limits without testing. Loading tables are based on peak pressure for specified components, including bullets, and test method. The muzzle velocity is proportional to the average pressure, but safety is dictated by peak pressure. The effect of pressure on the primer does not seem to be a reliable indicator.

Bullets are basically jacketed or not, and of various weights. Composition of lead bullets affects the pressure needed to upset the bullet and seal the bore at the low end, and leading of the barrel at the high end. Differences between cast bullets of the same weight may reflect the test method plus random variations in the results.

The info above is spot on. Also, two cast bullets ("boolits" ) of the same weight, yet of a different design, may have different coefficients of friction and therefor will generate different pressures even when using the same charge weight. They can have very different bearing surfaces.

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No good deed goes unpunished.

By the way, welcome to the board!

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No good deed goes unpunished.

You did well getting that "Tin Star" powder that works very well with lead bullets.

It is like Trail Boss and you can make lots of great target loads with that powder.

You are smarter than you think !!
Enjoy.

Good for you getting the manual, NOW READ IT, not just the load data parts. It should answer your ?'s

WOW, thanks for the quick response's . NEVER thought about friction . And to be honest this reloding thing has become quite abit more complicated & precise then I first thought . Just acquiring "powder " has been a frustrating ordeal ! what lamen would ever think there would be so many types and purposes and then once you think you know what you want,you cant find it ...I guess I DO KNOW JUST ENOUGH TO BE DANGEROUS ,to my self that is !
I hope this question, because of safty does not cross the line BUT the only load data I found for vighvit. n32c (trail boss clone) calls for a 248 grain "gun hill" bullit lrnfp , BUT I only have 200 grain "Lee mold " lrnfp (made from lyman #2alloy) and there is nothing on the lapua site for a 200 grn lead bullit on top of a N32C powder , it calls for a start of 7.6 for 248lrnfl in 44mag @892fps down to START of 5.9 for 248lrnfl in 44spl @ 781fps...
so how does one adjust for a lighter bullit when there is No DATA , ? jerr

Bullets, even of the same wt, are seldom plug & play. Bearing area, bore friction, oal, all play into pressures. So you really can't just grab data for a jacketed bullet & plug in a lead bullet. Always work your loads up from the starting charges.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

If you can find a manual where their test firearm is the same as the gun you are loading for treasure it, also info for a gun with a different barrel (bbl) length than yours will not result in the same velocity. An online source is reloadersnest.com, if you want to try it. Good luck.

If you can't find published load data for your bullet/powder/caliber combo, you may want to make a change in one. As a newb, experimenting is NOT a good idea. That's tricky even for experienced hand loaders.

Granted, components are hard to come by, but so are fingers and eyes.

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Reg. Magnum wants/Rossi wallet

thanks to all ,very helpful ,I will continue to scower post for loads and WELL definitely add to my library ,I am looking to add the "lyman" 49th to go with my "lee" book that came with my classic set, I also have a hodgdon " family of fine products " handout that came with my powder order, but just a few loads in each per caliber ...thanks again ....jerr

big jerr,

You are on the path to success.

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S&WHF 366

You can safely substitute a starting load for a heavier bullet while using a lighter bullet. X.x gr powder for a 240 will not cause an overcharge with a 200 gr. What you need to be concerned with as much as weight with lead is case space and bullet bearing length. A load for a bullet with .25" bearing on the barrel will have very different friction than one with .75" assuming equal weights. Seating depth is important but so is the case in the space. A wadcutter seated flush leaves much less area in the case than one of equal weight seated out.

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Front sight and squeeze

Boolit = Aussie speak in Oz, ya?

+1 Theres very few powders where this subsitution becomes an issue, H110 might be one ;-)