kfin
01-26-2016, 08:52 PM
I used to reload quite a bit and have not for a long time. Had a good mentor back in the day who shot competition so my "load data" was just a copy of his. I have still loaded all of my rifles since then but have always loaded the same bullets/powder combinations. I have definitely been a "if it ain't broke don't fix it" kind of guy. We always used 700X for 45s and seems to me it was either 5.0 or 5.2 grains (been a while) but that is basically irrelevant for my questions. My questions come from respect of what we are actually doing, I know it is safe as long as the guidelines are followed. I also cast my own lead bullets for my pistol, which I now have a few of and also in new calibers.
When looking at the loads in my manuals....I have the hornady book from 1985, a couple of the books that only have a single caliber in them for a huge variety of bullets, the new Lyman manual, the new Lyman cast bullet manual, and have been looking at the load data on the Hodgdon site. What I have found is interesting to me, probably totally old school for you guys but I will ask anyway.
For the same bullet.....why does this collection of sources all have different data for both starting loads AND maximum loads? That just doesn't seem right to me. I was getting my press all set up to do some 9mm tonight with titegroup and looked in the lyman book, starting load for my bullet was 3.3 grains, max load was 3.7 grains. I set the powder measure to do 3.3 grains and was going to load a dozen or so at 3.3, 3.5, and 3.7 to check and see if they all even cycled my Glock 19 and 34 and then go from there.
How does a person know where to start? I would feel pretty comfortable taking load advice on this site, but there are VERY few places that I would take that kind of advice from on the internet....just not going to go there. http://www.brianenos.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.png
Secondly...looking at the online Hodgdon data since I have it in front of me, my manuals I forgot and left in the shed...what is the difference in a 125 bullet? I pulled up 125 grain 9mm on the website and get the following loads for Titegroup.
125 gr HDY HAP has a COL of 1.069 with starting load of 2.8 gr / 27,100 psi and a max load of 3.2 gr / 33,700 psi
125 gr SIE FMJ has a COL of 1.090 with starting load of 4.1 gr / 27,300 cup and a max load of 4.4 gr / 30,600 cup
125 gr LCN has a COL of 1.125 with a starting load of 3.6 gr / 22,900 cup and a max load of 4.0 gr / 40,400 cup
I understand that if COL is longer, the pressure goes down assuming all other factors are the same. but are all 125 grain bullets that much different in length? What is causing this big of a discrepancy? Do you need to find a source that has the exact bullet you are using to know that you have a safe starting / ending point?
Again, sorry for such a long post but I just want to make sure that I have a good understanding of using said manuals and am safe before I go load up a couple thousands rounds. Just seems weird to me that for 3 125 gr bullets you can have starting and max loads that far apart.
Thanks for any insights you guys/gals are willing to share to help a guy starting over to be safe while still have good loads.
Keith
When looking at the loads in my manuals....I have the hornady book from 1985, a couple of the books that only have a single caliber in them for a huge variety of bullets, the new Lyman manual, the new Lyman cast bullet manual, and have been looking at the load data on the Hodgdon site. What I have found is interesting to me, probably totally old school for you guys but I will ask anyway.
For the same bullet.....why does this collection of sources all have different data for both starting loads AND maximum loads? That just doesn't seem right to me. I was getting my press all set up to do some 9mm tonight with titegroup and looked in the lyman book, starting load for my bullet was 3.3 grains, max load was 3.7 grains. I set the powder measure to do 3.3 grains and was going to load a dozen or so at 3.3, 3.5, and 3.7 to check and see if they all even cycled my Glock 19 and 34 and then go from there.
How does a person know where to start? I would feel pretty comfortable taking load advice on this site, but there are VERY few places that I would take that kind of advice from on the internet....just not going to go there. http://www.brianenos.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.png
Secondly...looking at the online Hodgdon data since I have it in front of me, my manuals I forgot and left in the shed...what is the difference in a 125 bullet? I pulled up 125 grain 9mm on the website and get the following loads for Titegroup.
125 gr HDY HAP has a COL of 1.069 with starting load of 2.8 gr / 27,100 psi and a max load of 3.2 gr / 33,700 psi
125 gr SIE FMJ has a COL of 1.090 with starting load of 4.1 gr / 27,300 cup and a max load of 4.4 gr / 30,600 cup
125 gr LCN has a COL of 1.125 with a starting load of 3.6 gr / 22,900 cup and a max load of 4.0 gr / 40,400 cup
I understand that if COL is longer, the pressure goes down assuming all other factors are the same. but are all 125 grain bullets that much different in length? What is causing this big of a discrepancy? Do you need to find a source that has the exact bullet you are using to know that you have a safe starting / ending point?
Again, sorry for such a long post but I just want to make sure that I have a good understanding of using said manuals and am safe before I go load up a couple thousands rounds. Just seems weird to me that for 3 125 gr bullets you can have starting and max loads that far apart.
Thanks for any insights you guys/gals are willing to share to help a guy starting over to be safe while still have good loads.
Keith