Loading coated bullets for the first time

Bullets arrived yesterday, but I'm having problems finding data for 185 lswc.

I believe I can use 200 lswc data. Would this be correct?

chris

Thanks.

I do have the Lyman 50th, but it doesn't have the 185 listed. Guess I'll have to order the Lyman Cast manual.

chris

rfwobbly said:

Only that members of THR get discounts on Rocky Mntn Reloading and Missouri Bullet Co web sites. You might want to concentrate your ordering on those web sites. Since there are very few mold makers, most bullet casters offer nearly identical products, and MBC makes a very, very nice SWC bullet.

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Thanks for all the help. Next time I'm ready to place an order I'll have to ask for the code.

chris

Thanks everyone. I'll try to post a pic of the dummy round I made.

chris

On the left is my Speer 185 swc tmj, on the right is my Acme 185 swc coated dummy round.

I seated it to 1.248", for a starting point, then measured from the base to the shoulder as suggested. My measurement is 0.934" ~ 0.937" depending on where I measured. So I think I got that part taken care of.

I also chambered the round from the magazine four times to check feeding and ejection, and all was well. Finally I measured my oal again to check for setback and the measurement is still 1.248".

So thanks again everybody, now it's time to find my starting charge and load some for a ladder test.

chris

Thanks Walkalong for the link. I do seat and crimp in two steps as it works better for me.

chris

I agree that it is a heavy taper crimp, but at .470" my loads won't chamber in my Kimber, and at .469" it is hit or miss as to whether they will chamber or not. So I crimp to .468 ~ .4685 and they all chamber every time.

chris

Demi-human said:

I have a Dan Wesson that is also that tight. It takes impressing on the bullet to chamber. I had thought of having it fixed, but it shoots nice, why mess that up? The others shoot the same with the ammunition, so an extra tight crimp in two steps is my method.

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My thoughts exactly. My Kimber with a 3" barrel will hit cans at 25yds with good ammo, and I don't feel the need to "fix" it.

chris

Follow up range report on my first ever coated rounds:

I finally got to the range yesterday and was able to shoot these 185gr Acme coated bullets. Haven't been shooting in a couple of months, and really need to get out more to unload some brass. Here are a few pics, first is my 3x5 load card front side, second is the same load card but the back side.





And here is a target with 20 rounds (10 at 4.9gr and 10 at 5.0gr) shot standing at 7yds two handed.



The gf liked the 4.6gr load, but the heavier charges were more accurate for me. We brought along a .22 revolver and the lighter loads actually felt close in recoil to the revolver. The heavier loads were still plenty mild to me, although she didn't much care for them.

All but one round loaded and cycled fine. It didn't go fully into battery, and I found the problem to be a bit of oil in the magazine, causing bullet jump in the round below it and consequently the ftf. I've had this happen before, and cleaning the magazine well should take care of it.

All the rounds were fired through the 3" Kimber in the below pic. Didn't think to take the 5" but will next time.



All in all a good day, very happy with the results and think I have found a load I and the gun like.

Thanks again to all for the help and advice. Very much appreciate everything.

chris