Basic starting load charge weight info.??

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HiWayMan

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I've been reloading for several years now and have just started to venture off the map of published data. If I am using a heavier bullet than one listed, should my starting powder charge be more or less than that listed for the lighter bullet?

I will be using a 154gr bullet, whereas I only have data up to 147gr.
 
If you do not already know the answer to this you should step back from the reloading press and stay with a loading manual.
 
Thank you USSR for a straight answer.

Thank you Frohickey for the advice, but I have 5 manuals already.

Thank you brickeyee for the smartass comment. I believe we are all alotted a brain fart now and again.
 
Have you looked in Lyman's manual? I don't know if they have data for bullets that heavy, but they often have listings for heavier than typical lead bullets. I will look tonight at some older versions.

And besides the rule about heavier bullet=smaller charge, remember that there isn't a lot of volume in a 9mm case. You will quickly be using that up with the longer bullet.
 
HiWayMan many good responses to your question and brickeyee's was one of them.There is a reason for that bullet not being listed in the manuals.Whenever I get to this point I back away and seek info as you are doing,my input here would be contact the bullet manufacturer.
 
The only place I could find load data for a bullet heavier than 147 grains in 9mm P was in Lyman 44th of 1967. Loads there for a 158 grain bullet - from the usual Lyman .38 Special roundnose mould - are about the same as what is now shown for a 147 or even a bit heavier. Bear in mind that they did not have a pressure test barrel in those days and were shooting up to what the gun would stand without "pressure signs."

I would figure the seating depth for that 154 versus a 147 and if it left as much powder space in the case, would load the starting 147 load and leave it at that. I actually did that once. The loads seated as long as the magazine would accept shot fine. The ones seated deeper, to cover the crimp groove of a revolver bullet, definitely showed "pressure signs" and I got away from that right away.

Y'all be careful, now, you hear?
 
Keep in mind if the bullet you are planning on useing is a 38 cal bullet it is very likely .357" vs the called for size of .355" for the 9mm.
You don`t have good data
you don`t know how much the reduced case volume from the extra lenght/wgt will affect pressure
you are looking at a oversize bullet
I would think real hard about trying this without a bit of lab backed guidence.

I would try calling the bullet manufacture as suggested already.
Please, safety first..........:)
 
Thank you everyone for your concerns and advice and taking the time to look up some info for me. I would also like to apologize to brickeyee for my comment. I realize now that he had my safety in mind. As to contacting the manufaturer, well not really possible as I'm the caster of said bullet. The mould is actually a 148gr WC. at .358". I'll probably size it down to .357". So far my test rounds (no primer or powder) have fed fine from the magazine. I'll try a harder alloy as well in hopes of getting the weight down nearer 148gr. That way I won't be so far out of the known data range.

When I get down to it this is really just an experiment in "can I do it" and "because I can".
 
Personal Comment

I just went through a Back biting contest on the Legal Forum and it was setteled, finally, I came here to check out some information and BOOM there seemed to be more of the same, as it turned out just a poor choice of words that left the person asking an honest question, the impression that he was being attacked for asking.

My total point here is this, I like others, have joined this and other Forums to gather information and to share the same, to try to learn from those that have the knowledge to teach and are willing to share thier knowledge with others of a like interest, so if you have a reply to the question, PLEASE THINK ABOUT YOUR WORDING BEFORE YOU POST IT, it would save a lot of friction, I'm not defending nor condeming anyone here just trying to get all of us to be a bit more respectful of the other person, thier position and if they have a far out question that raises the hackels on the back of you neck by all means point out the error if you feel it is but explain your stance and offer a suggestion as to a better approach, simply put tact will work a lot better than a tactless aproach. Especially considering each and every one of you are SENIOR MEMBERS.

I'm done now!
 
I looked in two Lyman books and an RCBS cast bullet book. The closest thing was a 147 gr cast bullet, and of course it wasn't a wadcutter. What OAL length are you planning to use? It never occured to me to try a WC in 9mm, I assumed it would not feed.
 
wolf_from_wv - Thanks for that article. It shed some light into some areas and confirmed what I'm doing in others.

griz - my OAL is around 1.050" right now.



Some more tinkering is in the plans for this weekend. Going to try to reduce bulllet length a bit to gain some more case space. Right now my WCs are at 0.554" and I would like to get them to 0.525". I'll have to monkey with a plug in the face of the mould.
 
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