Data for 138gr cast MP boolit

[dearslayer]

Looking to use Win231 or HP38 to load the mentioned 138gr cast hollow point no lube groove 9mm powder coated boolit. I have the Lyman handbook but it only has 140gr cast info but not using Win231. Any info would be appreciated. I've used Win 231 for 125gr 9mm round nose loaded with 3.9- 4.1 in the past with good results so should I use this info as a starting point? Not sure I'm posting in the correct section so mods please move if necessary.

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[F_L]

I have the same mold but with lube grooves/gas checked. It casts 132gr as a hollow point. I load 4.0 HP38 for my 9mm pistol and AR. Your mold drops a bit heavier so start low, work it up.

[dearslayer]

Perhaps I should start with 3.5 and work up?? I don't have a whole lot of experience with the trial and error part of reloading.

[F_L]

Lyman's manual shows:
125 gr bullet - Starting load 3.9 gr w231, Max load 4.4 gr w231
147 gr bullet - Starting load 3.5 gr w231, Max load 4.1 gr w231

Your starting load of 3.5 gr should be safe. But I read between the lines and started my load ~3.8 gr.

[dearslayer]

So how does it work... Lighter boolit less power and heavier boolit more powder or the opposite? Something tells me I may have asked this question before though.

[F_L]

Heavier bullets, less powder.

[dearslayer]

Heavier bullets, less powder.

Is it because heavier bullet builds more pressure?

[BJung]

This was taken from an Oregon Trail Lasercast Manual.

[dearslayer]

This was taken from an Oregon Trail Lasercast Manual.

Interesting that Win231 and HP38 are supposed to be the same powder but they have different start and Max loads. Not by much but still different. Most everywhere I've seen data for these two powders the data is always the same. With so much varying data it difficult to establish a stating point.

[tazman]

You might try looking up the data provided by he powder manufacturer. Here is a link to the data page.
https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/rel...c=true&type=53

They have a load listed for a 135 grain bullet that should work fine for you.

[dearslayer]

You might try looking up the data provided by he powder manufacturer. Here is a link to the data page.
https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/rel...c=true&type=53

They have a load listed for a 135 grain bullet that should work fine for you.

I did actually see that on their site but I wasn't sure if the data would be different for lead cast versus plated! So would I be correct to think that there is no difference and only the weight is the most important ? I thought that perhaps boolit shape also played a role for powder type and brand.

[farmbif]

heavier bullets and hollow points are seated deeper and that is a factor in pressure when fired, its always safest to start low and work your load up.

[BJung]

Maybe the variation was caused from a particular lot.

[Kosh75287]

TYPICALLY, when there's no data for a particular bullet weight, the convention is to use data for a heavier one that is similar, and expect that the max load for the heavier projectile may not constitute a max load for the lighter one. This is where a chronograph is particularly helpful when navigating "unexplored territory".