Help with cast bullet weights

[Fireman5045]

Well I'm about to attempt my first time reloading just to give you an idea of how new I am at this.

I have finally got everything I need to get started. Im reloading for 357 magnum. I ordered my boolits from Missouri Bullet Company. I got 158gr SWC. They came in yesterday so out of curiosity I weighed some of them. All of the boolits are weighting around 160gr to 162gr. Is this normal? Will it throw off my reloading data for 158gr bullets?

Thanks

[cbrick]

It'll be fine. You shouldn't start off with top end loads anyway so if you use 160 gr load data or even any 158 gr data the difference will be negligible. It's quite common for the alloy to vary in weight by that much. It is good that as a new reloader you caught that and asked though. Always err on the side of caution and keep in mind that the only dumb question is the question that you don't ask.

Good luck and welcome to CastBoolits,

Rick

[Harter66]

It is not unusual for boolit to weigh heavy . Many folks here except 2% as normal variation w/in a lot. I cast a 252gr SWC and 255 RNFP in 45s that weighed in at 262 and 265gr . As we often say start low work up, a couple of boolit grains don't seem to make too much difference as far as loading goes.

[Fireman5045]

Ok. Thanks. I was really worried at first.

[mikeym1a]

If you have a good loading manual, it will have 'minimum' loads, and maximum loads. Start at the bottom and work up, until you have a load that is accurate. My rifle mold is rated at 160, and drops at 171-172. Don't know why, it just does. Most of my molds are a bit heavier than the stated design weight. I simply adjust to weight. Good luck! mikey

[Cherokee]

I'll just add my Welcome !

[Bullet Caster]

Welcome to castboolits. As was stated above no question is a bad question until you don't ask and something bad happens. I agree with erring on the side of caution. A few years ago I would have asked the same question, but I tend to search out an answer before I ask here.
I originally started out loading for just one pistol, i.e., .45 acp. Once I mastered that I moved on to other calibers within my abilities and knowledge.

Once I moved on to rifle calibers, I probably studied different powders for a couple of months before I made a decision on which type powder to use in my rifles. If you cannot ever find an answer to your question, then it becomes necessary to ask on the board. BC

[jeepyj]

Welcome aboard, The information given by some others above is correct. It is not uncommon for some small variations in weight. I'm not sure about you but I'd bet they'd shoot better than I can for the most part.
Best of luck jeepyj

[Animal]

Good luck and enjoy!

[Fireman5045]

Thanks for all the info. Sorry if I was beatin a dead horse. I'll try and search out the answer before asking next time.

[Love Life]

Start at the start load for 158 gr or 160 gr bullet weight data and work up from there in whatever increments you feel safe.

[osteodoc08]

What powder you have on hand to use?

[smokeywolf]

Welcome to the forum. Can't add anything to what's already been said RE: boolit weight variations. cbrick said what I was thinking when I read your post.

smokeywolf

[Larry Gibson]

The bullets are heavier because you are probably not using the alloy the mould was designed for. If you are using something like straight COWWs there is a greater % of lead in that alloy and less % of tin and antimony thus the bullets will be heavier than if the mould was designed for #2 or linotype alloy (most commercial moulds are designed for one of those alloys).

Larry Gibson

[tazman]

The bullets are heavier because you are probably not using the alloy the mould was designed for. If you are using something like straight COWWs there is a greater % of lead in that alloy and less % of tin and antimony thus the bullets will be heavier than if the mould was designed for #2 or linotype alloy (most commercial moulds are designed for one of those alloys).

Larry Gibson

The OP is using boolits he purchased from Missouri Bullet company, not ones that he cast himself. That will undoubtedly come a bit later after he uses up the ones he bought.

[Bullshop]

Well I'm about to attempt my first time reloading just to give you an idea of how new I am at this.
I have finally got everything I need to get started. Im reloading for 357 magnum. I ordered my boolits from Missouri Bullet Company. I got 158gr SWC. They came in yesterday so out of curiosity I weighed some of them. All of the boolits are weighting around 160gr to 162gr. Is this normal? Will it throw off my reloading data for 158gr bullets?
If the load data you have is for jacketed bullets and you are substituting cast bullets of the same weight that will throw off your load data more than the difference in weight.
If you look through load data for other cartridges you will see that often bullet of slightly varying weights are grouped into the same load data.
There is however way more drag or friction resistance in a barrel between cast and jacketed that will skew the load data if substituting one for the other.


Thanks


If the load data you have is for jacketed bullets and you are substituting cast bullets of the same weight that will throw off your load data more than the difference in weight.
If you look through load data for other cartridges you will see that often bullets of slightly varying weights are grouped into the same load data.
There is however way more drag or friction resistance in a barrel between cast and jacketed that will skew the load data if substituting one for the other.

[Larry Gibson]

The OP is using boolits he purchased from Missouri Bullet company, not ones that he cast himself. That will undoubtedly come a bit later after he uses up the ones he bought.

Ah, right you are.....my bad. Hard to say the reason then, eh?

All the other advise for loading the heavier than advertised bullets applies. He shouldn't have any problems if he works up the load.

Thanks for the correction.

Larry Gibson