Working up a load questions

[LittleBill]

Several weeks ago I was in my local shop, and he had a Lee mold for sale, which I bought. It is a .357 mag, 150 grain round nose. I have had great success in casting nice clean boolits from this mold, and am ready to start loading with it. The bad news is, I can't seem to find any load data for it. :cry: The closest I can come is a Lyman of the same shape but only 120 grains, or another Lyman which is 150 grains but is a semi wad cutter. I put together a couple of dummy rounds with an OAL of 1.59" and they chamber with no problem in my Marlin 1894.

Does anyone have any load data for this boolit? I have looked around and am not coming up with anything. It looks good, it chambers well, but I really don't want to blow myself up with something inappropriate. :shock:


67954

[LeadRecycler]

From Modern Reloading 2nd Ed...
150 Grain Lead Bullet
ACCUR #9 12.9 .85 .82 NA 1375 14.3 1562 42100 CUP 1.655
WIN 296 NA NA NA NA NA 14.0 1510 32000 CUP 1.540
ACCUR #7 10.3 .67 .66 NA 1297 11.4 1474 44000 CUP 1.655
ACCUR #5 8.5 .53 .53 .5 1250 9.4 1422 41900 CUP 1.655
WIN 231 6.5 .61 .61 NA 1233 6.9 1305 42000 CUP 1.540
ACCUR #2 5.9 .49 .49 NA 1097 6.5 1247 43800 CUP 1.655

[Case Stuffer]

150 gr. RN or SWC are same weight and if the same dia. hardness should be fine with same load data)powder charge / type) at starting charge level. Main difference pressure wise would be any difference in the boolits OAL as it effect remaining case capacity. A boolit which seats deeper in the case takes up case volume and thus causes higher pressure.

[DrCaveman]

Alliant 2400 from about 12 gr up to 15 gr. These would be 357 magnum loads, prob about 1300-1400 fps near the top. Maybe a little more from your rifle.

Tip: you can often load a boolit with a charge recommended for a higher weight boolit. For instance, you could use 158 gr SWC data and be pretty safe.

THIS OF COURSE ASSUMES that you are practicing safe loading procedures and understand the concept of case capacity as it relates to OAL. Also to avoid leading your barrel, the boolit diameter needs to be right.

Be safe. This all is easier than you think, but deserves utmost respect.

[44man]

Weight really has less affect then bearing length and seating depth. Eight gr can be found from mold to mold of the same number and even the alloy can change weight.
I bought the Lyman .45, 325 gr mold and it drops boolits from WW at 347 gr. The suggestion to use data for a 158 gr boolit is sound.
I would say the only concern with a lighter boolit is the starting load with a slow powder, just use a little more then the starting load.

[Shiloh]

Same weight as a WC or SWC boolit. it will be seated to the about the same depth as a SWC. Work up loads as you normally would.

Shiloh

[LittleBill]

Thanks for the responses everyone.


Main difference pressure wise would be any difference in the boolits OAL as it effect remaining case capacity. A boolit which seats deeper in the case takes up case volume and thus causes higher pressure.

This is my main concern here, pressure. I have substituted many j-words over the years based on weight, but my main concern is OAL and pressure changes.