Cast Bullet Load Data or Suggestions

[frjeff]

I am brand new to reloading (still awaiting delivery of my press). Been lurking here and learning slowly.

A friend gave me some lead bullets which were his deceased father's.

I have no idea what load data might be applicable as I cannot even find the companies on the web.

Any help would be appreciated. I would like to use these in .38 SPL target loads:

500 - .38/.357 148 gr WC BB (Hustler Bullet Co.)
500 - .38/.357 125 gr Conical Nose (Houston Bullet Company)
500 - .38/.357 158 gr RN (Hustler Bullet Co.)

Thanks for any load data info you can give me...... (or direct me to a good source for loads on these type of bullets). :???:

Fr. Jeff+
frjeff is offline

[JesterGrin_1]

go here and you will find up to date load info. :) http://www.hodgdon.com/

And I also have to mention get some good reloading books. Like the Lyman 49th book that just came out a few months ago. As well as the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook.

And welcome to the MADD HOUSE lol.

[leadman]

The brand of the boolits won't make that much different with cast normally, as long as you pay attention to the weight and if it has a gas-check or not.
Buy the books and read, then follow the recommendations from the most current data you can find. This is usually from the powder companies websites.
When you think you are ready to start loading post on the board again with what you intend to load. The guys here are very willing to guide a newby to keep him(or her) out of trouble.

[JesterGrin_1]

LeadMan you are too nice lol. But he is very correct there are a bunch of great people here that will be very happy to help.

And to not only keep people out of trouble which is a nice way of saying to help people to keep from blowing up a nice gun and or getting hurt or even killed.

Reloading is not hard but there are things you must follow to keep things safe for yourself and others around you. I do not mean to sound like I am trying to scare you but to let you know that reloading should not be taken lightly even though it seems many times people do. But in the end people on this forum do care and wish for you to have a happy and long life reloading and having some fun along the way. :)

[zxcvbob]

What powders do you have? (Red Dot, Unique, Bullseye, or 231 would be good answers.) The brand of bullet doesn't make any difference.

[Slow Elk 45/70]

+1 on more info from you will help the folks here help....what kind of pistola , bbl length, what kind of velocity are you looking for, shooting beer cans or paper targets, what components do you have other than the boolits?? If you see what I mean, we will all help, the idea is to enjoy the sport/hobby and have fun , good luck

[Papa smurf]

Lyman Cast Handbook all the way , still # 1.
Good Shooting-----------------------Papa Smurf

[carpetman]

Most of the reloading books by bullet manufacturers wont have cast data--they aren't trying to promote cast--selling their bullets is the goal. Lyman being a manufactuer of casting equipment, includes cast reloading data. This data is in their standard manual and of course in their Cast manual. If you shoot jacketed as well as cast by all means get Lymans standard manual. Not only does it have data it has information about casting. Veral Smiths "book" if you call a 126 page 8x5 a book--(I call it a pamphlet) has no data.

[Pepe Ray]

Carpetman +2
Brands do NOT matter. It's ALL about FIT. Use good calipers and measure everything. The boolets must FIT.
Pepe Ray

[frjeff]

What powders do you have? (Red Dot, Unique, Bullseye, or 231 would be good answers.) The brand of bullet doesn't make any difference.

I currently have WIN 231 and Bulseye

I find cast bullet data in my Lyman's, but nothing exactly like these three I have.

I suppose I could interpolate data for a 155gr RN to my 158gr RN, etc. Is that safe to do? If so, I could do so for all of these bullets:

.38/.357 148 gr WC BB (Hustler Bullet Co.)
.38/.357 125 gr Conical Nose (Houston Bullet Company)
.38/.357 158 gr RN (Hustler Bullet Co.)

Jeff

[JesterGrin_1]

The weight is no problem as they are close enough. But you should check to see how far they go into the case. Check the crimp groove of a known boolit to the one you wish to use. Even if they are the same weight or close one may use up more case room than another which would change the amount of powder one could use for the given volume left in the case. I hope that helps.

[zxcvbob]

I suppose I could interpolate data for a 155gr RN to my 158gr RN, etc. Is that safe to do? If so, I could do so for all of these bulletsIt's safe for .38/.357 because they are large-volume cases (except maybe when loading full-power .357 Magnum loads using full wadcutters) You have to be careful about seating depth with short stubby high-pressure cases, like 9mm and especially .40S&W.

I currently have WIN 231 and BulseyeOf the two (oddly enough) Bullseye is more forgiving and can also give you higher velocities. The charge weights will be about the same. Both are very good powders.

[frjeff]

It's safe for .38/.357 because they are large-volume cases (except maybe when loading full-power .357 Magnum loads using full wadcutters) You have to be careful about seating depth with short stubby high-pressure cases, like 9mm and especially .40S&W.
Of the two (oddly enough) Bullseye is more forgiving and can also give you higher velocities. The charge weights will be about the same. Both are very good powders.

Would I not always seat these cast bullets to the cannelure (.38SPL/.357) so as to get the proper placement for a roll crimp?

If so, the depth of seating is pretty much predetermined, right?

I'll try to load some pics of each boolit....

Jeff

[wallenba]

Starting out, prep your cases(trim and chamfer case mouth inside and out), size and lube your bullets, use minimum loads for your selected powder and pay attention to seating depth in the case, and use the correct primer, that should keep you out of trouble til you gain more knowledge. Weights that are real close and are the same style of boolit I consider as the same, for example a Lyman 38 wad cutter at 150 grains and a Lee at 147 (3 grains is about what 2 postage stamps weigh) and boolits cast from the same mold at the same time can vary as much as that. Your boolits alloy blend will affect that too, pure lead weighs more that alloy.

[zxcvbob]

Would I not always seat these cast bullets to the cannelure (.38SPL/.357) so as to get the proper placement for a roll crimp? If so, the depth of seating is pretty much predetermined, right?Of course. But the cannelure might vary from one brand of bullet to the next. I'm just sayin' it won't matter in revolver cartridges. (it might matter in 9mm, etc)

[frjeff]

OK, here goes:

I want to load the .38SPL with my cast 148gr BB wadcutter (see pic below).
This looks much like the RCBS 38-148-WC on page 38 of my One Book. My Lyman book has a #358091 which looks just like mine, but is only 150gr and it calls for 3.7gr - 4.2gr of 231

My bullet measures .615 overall and .475 from cannelure to base.

So, if I use the load data for the 148gr RCBS, I would begin with 4.0gr of WIN 231 (max 4.5).

If I seat bullet to the cannelure I have a 1.298 OAL (the #358091 calls for 1.317).

No loading til I have some input on this.......thanks in advance for the help.
Will this work?

PS - to further confuse the issue, the Hodgen Annual shows a 158gr cast LSWC at 3.1 to 3.7gr WIN 231. This is a much longer OAL of 1.475 and I have no picture to compare. And, my old (5th Ed.) Hornady book shows a #10108 148gr BBWC with just 2.2 - 3.5 gr WIN 231.

Jeff

[zxcvbob]

Here's what I calculate using a 148 grain WC with a seating depth of .475" Notice I told it .38 Special +P; if that's not what you want, just move down a couple of notches. (3.7 grains looks about right to me for a standard pressure load)


Cartridge : .38 Special +P (SAAMI)
Bullet : .358, 148, LEE 358-148-WC
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 1.260 inch or 32.01 mm
Barrel Length : 6.0 inch or 152.4 mm
Powder : Winchester 231

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 41 3.20 799 210 11833 1920 99.5 0.975
-18.0 42 3.28 813 217 12387 1962 99.7 0.954
-16.0 44 3.36 828 225 12957 2003 99.8 0.933
-14.0 45 3.44 842 233 13541 2042 99.9 0.914
-12.0 46 3.52 856 241 14140 2080 100.0 0.895
-10.0 47 3.60 869 248 14755 2116 100.0 0.877
-08.0 48 3.68 883 256 15386 2152 100.0 0.860
-06.0 49 3.76 896 264 16032 2188 100.0 0.843 ! Near Maximum !
-04.0 50 3.84 909 271 16693 2224 100.0 0.827 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 51 3.92 922 279 17371 2259 100.0 0.812 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 52 4.00 934 287 18064 2295 100.0 0.798 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0 53 4.08 947 295 18774 2331 100.0 0.784 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 54 4.16 959 302 19500 2366 100.0 0.770 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 55 4.24 971 310 20243 2402 100.0 0.757 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 56 4.32 983 318 21002 2437 100.0 0.745 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 57 4.40 995 326 21779 2472 100.0 0.733 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 52 4.00 955 300 20605 2231 100.0 0.757 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 52 4.00 902 268 15489 2376 99.7 0.852

[frjeff]

Here's what I calculate using a 148 grain WC with a seating depth of .475" Notice I told it .38 Special +P; if that's not what you want, just move down a couple of notches. (3.7 grains looks about right to me for a standard pressure load)


Neat! How did you do that?? Is that in some software you wrote?

Jeff

[zxcvbob]

It's some software I paid big bucks for :holysheep (it's called QuickLOAD)

[frjeff]

It's some software I paid big bucks for (it's called QuickLOAD)

Well, thanks for sharing. Obviously, my load interpolation was a bit on the "hot" side. So, you maybe saved me some grief or pain. :veryconfu

I'll reduce my beginning load mental calculations by about 10% from here forward.

Thanks again!

Jeff

[frjeff]

OK, I just finished loading the .38SPL 158gr WC over 4.4gr WIN 231.
My OAL ended up being 1.29 (a bit longer than the earlier calculation, but it should be OK I think).

I'll try these tomorrow afternoon - loaded just 18; 3 cylinders full of the Ruger GP100

If you see any problems, please caution me prior to Noon CDT tomorrow.

Jeff

PIC attached..........

[zxcvbob]

158 or 148?

[frjeff]

158 or 148?

Sorry!

148gr

Jeff

[Hardcast416taylor]

I used 8 lb. cans of Win. 231 and the 148 gr wadcutter boolit. My favorite indoor load was 3.5 gr. of 231 and either a Win. or Fed. small pistol primer in my S&W .38 Spcl. Model 14 6" revolver.Robert

[frjeff]

Target shows results of my first effort (148 gr WC over 3.4 gr of Winchester 231 powder - Remington 1 1/2 primers).

Like the load a lot. The Ruger GP doesn't even blink on these.

About half of the 50 rounds were bench rest; the balance free hand @ 15 yards. I'll try your 3.5 gr load next, but these were pretty sweet for a novice shooter and reloader. What fun to shoot a round you actually made!

I love this Lee press!

Sweet shooters...........

Jeff

[Thumbcocker]

You are well andd truly hooked. Now get yourself a Lee pot and 6 cavity mould and you will soon find yourself hanging around tire shops, salvage yards, and other strange places as wellas driving along wondering how hare it is to ge 2oz weights off semi tires