Using Jacketed Bullet Data With Cast Boolits

[clyde 72]

Being new to the pistol game and an avid reader, I have read that one should drop the powder charge 10% when using jacketed bullet data. Correct?? Or what is the safe variation. My first reloads will be with minimum powder charge anyway, but I would like to get the correct answer before proceeding.
Clyde 72

[lka]

What cal/powder/bullet weight combo?

[Scharfschuetze]

Clyde,

Some good reference sites are maintained by the various powder companies.

Hodgdon has a great wealth for loading rifles, pistols and shotguns. I'm sure that you'll find info to help you there. Here's the link:

http://www.hodgdon.com/

As Ika suggests, post the details of your proposed load as there is a wealth of experience here and I'm sure that one of the members has loaded a duplicate of what you want to do.

[runfiverun]

in many handguns you just substitute the cast boolit for the jaxketed bullet.
in others you need to do other things in insure success.
but since you are a reloader and you are going to start low and work up you can use starting load data for your cartridge and boolit weight safely.

[popper]

in many handguns you just substitute the cast boolit for the jaxketed bullet. Because almost all CB alloys will take the pressure of jacketed loads. I also consider the spread of min/max grains & pressure for a given powder.

[303Guy]

Cast boolits generate lower pressure so reducing the charge may maintain the same or similar velocity. I don't know about 10% though.

[clyde 72]

First, thank you for the quick responses; now for my apology. I should have posted the following additional info: 380 and 102 grain cast boolit.

[fcvan]

Love that boolit in my .380 pistols. I've shot that sized to .358 over 3 grains of Bullseye with great success in 5 or 6 different pistols. Mine drop about 105 when cast from range scrap. Lately I've been powder coating them black but haven't had a chance to let them fly and see how they do.

[lka]

First, thank you for the quick responses; now for my apology. I should have posted the following additional info: 380 and 102 grain cast boolit.

Any particular powder you were planning on using?

[clyde 72]

Planning on starting out with Universal. Nice small grains which should meter well. Likely 2.7 grains.

[fredj338]

Cast boolits generate lower pressure so reducing the charge may maintain the same or similar velocity. I don't know about 10% though.

I am not sure I really buy this, many say it but until I see pressure testing, I am not buying it. There is no free lunch, so pushing say a 230gr bullet to a given vel requires a given pressure for that powder. It's wise when using lead bullets w/ jacketed data to go with starting jacketed data & work up.

[MBuechle]

For both .40 S&W and 9mm I use jacketed data if I can't find a load in my Lyman manual. Starting load to max in .2 increments and let the gun tell me what it likes. Power pistol has been very easy in both. Longshot in the .40 is awesome and works best at max. jacketed load with 190gr., 50/50 WW/Pb bullet. HP-38 works real well for medium loads in both. Have not had good results with Clays in either gun due to leading. Med burn rate powders for cal. seem to work best. I'll water drop my practice boolits but air cool my HP's. That 50/50 mushrooms sooo nice!

[retread]

Don't want to horn in here but anyone using Cast Pics load data? I have been using it for several years and seems to be working for me. I am not in to "hot" loads so I do not push their envelope. Any comments on that site for data?

[waksupi]

Don't want to horn in here but anyone using Cast Pics load data? I have been using it for several years and seems to be working for me. I am not in to "hot" loads so I do not push their envelope. Any comments on that site for data?


All loads on Castpics have been tested and submitted by members here. The caveat is, all firearms behave slightly different.

[retread]

wakupsi,
Thanks for the info. I did not know the data came from folks here but it does not surprise me. Thanks to all that contribute. I find it a valuable resource.

[olafhardt]

I have noticed the info published by speer and hornady often seems to be limited in the velocity that they allow for cast boolits, thus they show heavier loads for jaxketed than cast. Inoticed this the most in revolver loads. Many of us think that it is not necessary to hold cast boolits down like this.

[waksupi]

I have noticed the info published by speer and hornady often seems to be limited in the velocity that they allow for cast boolits, thus they show heavier loads for jaxketed than cast. Inoticed this the most in revolver loads. Many of us think that it is not necessary to hold cast boolits down like this.

I've noticed the same thing with the Lyman Cast Bullet book.

[H.Callahan]

I don't think I would have any problem using a listed starting load from jacketed data for an equivalent weight CB. However, I would always work up from there to get a good, accurate load. I certainly would NOT try to adjust a near max jacketed load without working up to it from lighter loads first. Regardless, you will probably find the best CB load under the max anyway. CBs generally shoot better at speeds somewhat slower than full out max -- at least IMO.

[hamour]

Remember, cast bullets of the same weight have less friction than the jacketed bullets. You are generally safe using 158 gr jacketed data for 158gr lead bullets.

Use the jacketed load data and work up as normal. See any signs of over pressure and back off.

[Jammersix]

Read the manual for your components.

If you substitute components or go outside the manual, avoid my range, please.

[303Guy]

I am not sure I really buy this, many say it but until I see pressure testing, I am not buying it.Good call. So I checked on Hogdon's load data site and came up with this;

130 GR. MEI CAST LRNFP IMR SR 4756 .358" 1.580" 5.5 1116 14,000 PSI 6.7 1322 22,800 PSI
125 GR. HDY XTP JACKET IMR SR 7625 .357" 1.590" 5.8 1178 19,900 PSI 7.5 1401 33,800 PSI

135 GR. CAST LRNFP Hodgdon Universal .358" 1.580" 4.8 9860 11,700 CUP 6.5 1314 27,800 CUP
125 GR. HDY XTP..... Hodgdon Universal .357" 1.590" 7.1 1394 34,900 CUP 7.6 1453 39,600 CUP

No direct comparison! Few like powders either. However, that first pair shows something almost comparable in the starting load.