Sorry if this is a rooky question. When shooting a bullet such as Oregon Trail's Laser Cast, is it correct to simply find a similar bullet in the loading manual and use that info? I noticed that different shape bullets of the same weight sometimes have different powder charge weight vs fps.
Dumb question, what if your bullet is not listed in the manual?
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Sorry if this is a rooky question. When shooting a bullet such as Oregon Trail's Laser Cast, is it correct to simply find a similar bullet in the loading manual and use that info? I noticed that different shape bullets of the same weight sometimes have different powder charge weight vs fps.
2sigs
Member
When using cast(lead) bullets to reload you can use data for same weight jacketed bullet as the bullet that is jacketed will have greater resistance causing greater pressure. What that means is if you use the same data for a lead bullet and a jacketed bullet the jacketed bullet will have a higher pressure due to the resistance.
Yes you can use a similer bullet of same material but ALWAYS start at the lowest charge
So start with the lowest powder charge for a jacketed bullet of same weight and work up.
Hope this helps and remember all reloading questions are smarter than not asking and being the example used to don't do this etc.
-2sigs
Yes you can use a similer bullet of same material but ALWAYS start at the lowest charge
So start with the lowest powder charge for a jacketed bullet of same weight and work up.
Hope this helps and remember all reloading questions are smarter than not asking and being the example used to don't do this etc.
-2sigs
nicky4968
Member
Also, you can start with the loads for the next heaviest bullet.
Assume you have a 120 grain bullet. No loads. The manual lists 130 grainbullets. Lead for lead, it would be reasonable to use the 130 grain information.
Assume you have a 120 grain bullet. No loads. The manual lists 130 grainbullets. Lead for lead, it would be reasonable to use the 130 grain information.
duckloads
Member
I called the mfg of 5744 to about substituting Speer vs. Hornady bullets and mag vs std primers. They were very helpful.
JD 500
Member
Definitely NOT a dumb question.
I noticed while looking up data earlier today, a note in the speer manual for 240 gr (44mag) loads, that a particular soft point speer bullet need to be charged with 1 gr less than the printed data, and that was a speer bullet !
I noticed while looking up data earlier today, a note in the speer manual for 240 gr (44mag) loads, that a particular soft point speer bullet need to be charged with 1 gr less than the printed data, and that was a speer bullet !
Steve C
Member
The above is generally true except with equal charges the lead bullet will have a significant higher velocity than a jacketed bullet.
In my experience with handgun cartridges, a 10% reduction from the maximum jacketed load should be considered the maximum for lead and the velocity you will usually get at this 10% reduction will be the same as a jacketed bullet of the same weight at the maximum load. When loading magnum calibers you can wind up pushing a lead bullet to a velocity where it starts leading pretty badly at this 10% reduction. With semi auto's you will stress the firearm more from faster slide action and increased battering shooting bullets at higher velocity.
Generally you should use a 20% reduction off a jacketed bullet load as the start load for a cast bullet of the same weight.
