38 Special Alliant data for LSWC or Cast bullet?

[ike1518]

Hello,

I would like to know which load data I should reference when using Alliant powder (Sport Pistol, Unique, Bullseye etc.) for 38 Special using a 158 grain SWC bullet from ACME with Brinell of 16 and Hi-Tek coating.

My issue is that some of their recipes are very similar, if not the same sometimes, between the Speer LSWC and RNFP cast bullet. Sometimes there is slight variation so I am wondering if I should use the Speer LSWC recipe or the RNFP cast recipes for the bullet described above?

I have been using the Speer LSWC but am always open to suggestions and improvements.

 

[max]

I would look at both.

 

[BC38]

Since you've already LOOKED at both, I would actually TRY BOTH

 

[minconrevo]

Either recipe should be okay. The Hi-Tek coated Acme's will work either way. Try both recipes and if you have other suitable powders, with data, try them too.

 

[ironhead7544]

Use the start load and then work up slowly.

 

[Sevens]

I am not much a fan of the load data that Alliant offers now, or any time recently. I think it was all dumbed down years ago.

When I’m using one of my Alliant powders, I consult my 2005 printed guide — one of the last sources before ATK re-wrote all of it and aligned it specifically with Speer bullets.

Some slick web searching can show you a .pdf of the 2005 guide. I’m happy to help, but I’m away from my bench right now.

 

[Forrest r]

Welcome to the wonderful world of alliant!!!

Alliant bought speer and they had an Apiffany. Namely why not only post data for the bullets we mfg/sell??? Hense, the introduction of the new style manual and the format they still use to this day. The 2008 reloading manual
http://www.castpics.net/LoadData/Freebies/RM/Alliant/Alliant_2008.pdf

The last year of what I consider their best reloading manuals where they actually use real world/common bullets (not just speer bullets) that reloaders like us would use (2005 manual).
http://www.castpics.net/LoadData/Freebies/RM/Alliant/Alliant_2005.pdf

I print page 42/43/44/45 from the 2005 manual and still use/reference it to this dy.

This 2003 manual has the same data as the 2005 data. It's simply in a better multi color format that's easier to see/read.
Cowboy action page #13
Pistol/revolver page #16/17/18
http://www.castpics.net/LoadData/Freebies/RM/Alliant/Alliant_2003.pdf

All of these links are downloadable for free

Hope this helps

 

[Forrest r]

I am not much a fan of the load data that Alliant offers now, or any time recently. I think it was all dumbed down years ago.

When I’m using one of my Alliant powders, I consult my 2005 printed guide — one of the last sources before ATK re-wrote all of it and aligned it specifically with Speer bullets.

Some slick web searching can show you a .pdf of the 2005 guide. I’m happy to help, but I’m away from my bench right now.

+1^^^^^^^^

I didn't mind the use of the speer bullets too much. But I don't like that they quit putting the pressures of the pistol/revolver loads in the data. At least in 2005 you could see a bullet, bullet weight, oal for that bullet and pressures of their max loads. They also used real world bbl lengths that more often than not, mirrored my results.

Seeing the oal & max pressure data for a bullet allowed me to adjust the powder weights up and down with confidence doing ladder tests to verify my results with theirs.

 

[glenwolde]

I'd tend to use the cast data for the cast bullet. Often the swaged lead bullet data is more about keeping it from leading than actual maximum pressure.

 

[Chady734]

You should try both .

 

[alwslate]

For the best castbullet data forget Speer and Alliant and use Lyman data.

 

[ike1518]

For the best castbullet data forget Speer and Alliant and use Lyman data.

Great idea! I used to have a Lyman manual but loaned it to a friend and have never seen it again. Lol! However, even finding reloading manuals during this ammo drought period is difficult, but now you've given me a reason to go to my LGS to look since nothing else is available.

 

[mtgianni]

Typically an RF bullet has a little more bearing surface than a SWC. You are going to start with start loads and work up anyway, so start with the RF.

 

[ike1518]

Typically an RF bullet has a little more bearing surface than a SWC. You are going to start with start loads and work up anyway, so start with the RF.

Thank you for that information, very useful as have many of the other comments above.

I called around and found the current Lyman manual at my local Scheels store and I will pick it up later today.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

A BIG THANKS! to Forrest r for the pdfs: accurate & complete Bullseye data is sometimes pretty hard to find...

Cheers!

 

[GypsmJim]

The current Lyman manual is available from Amazon, EBay and Midway. A hard copy of the 2022 Alliant manual is available directly from them for free.

I use electronic data frequently at my desk, but when I'm at my loading bench I prefer a hard copy.

 

[reddog81]

You’re using a lead semi-wadcutter right? What’s wrong with just using the LSWC data. I don’t understand the question…..

 

[ike1518]

You’re using a lead semi-wadcutter right? What’s wrong with just using the LSWC data. I don’t understand the question…..

I’m using a cast bullet with a brinell of 16 so it is much harder than a swagged lswc. At least that is my understanding.

 

[GypsmJim]

The pundits say that when using Hi-Tek coated bullets, use the data for lead bullets of the same shape and weight. I recently tried some coated bullets and I found that to be quite true.

 

[ironhead7544]

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