Coated bullets/powder thoughts

[Steveo_1704]

I ordered a package of SNS castings 158 GR coated LSWC bullets and am working on a recipe for 357 Mag and am wondering how much powder to use. I am using HP-38 for now.

Hodgdon Reloading has this recommendation for LSWC:
158 GR. CAST LSWC
Start: 3.4 @ 796
Max: 5.0 @ 1,109

They also state this for a plated bullet:
158 GR. HDY XTP:
Start: 6.2 @ 1,108
Max: 6.9 @ 1,220

SNS casting says about their coated bullets:
-Shoot higher velocities without lead fouling. We recommend 1,500fps or less(1,750fps in rifles)

I read this as I can user higher loads of powder (at least to 6.0 grains if not higher). Of course I'll start lower and work my way up.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Walkalong]

I push them to 1250ish FPS from a 4" 586 with 2400. W-231 won't get you there.

Work up carefully to mid jacketed and you'll likely be fine. Run it up to max jacketed at your own risk.

NS casting says about their coated bullets:
-Shoot higher velocities without lead fouling. We recommend 1,500fps or less(1,750fps in rifles)

That has nothing to do with pressure estimation, it just means at safe pressures you can run them that fast. It is up to you to use common sense in picking a powder and charge to get the velocity you are interested in.

I read this as I can user higher loads of powder (at least to 6.0 grains if not higher). Of course I'll start lower and work my way up.

What are your thoughts?

I would say completely wrong thinking, but not quite on track either.

Welcome to THR

 

[peterk1234]

I am using HP38 for my soft shooting 38 special loads. I was using BE86 for the mag loads because I have quite a bit of it for 9mm. I recently listened to Walkalong and picked up a couple pounds of 2400. I can't chrono my loads so I have to rely on feel. That is some great stuff for a mag load. From a loading standpoint, it is really nice because you are almost filling the case. There is no way your are going to put a double charge in there. I have fired off about 50 test rounds so far. Plenty of pop and it just burns clean. Nothing left in the case, no carbon on my brass, and even the rounds still in the chamber barely get any carbon on them after shooting a bullet. The BE-86 really dirtied up the other bullets in the cylinder.

I am finding it really fun to begin experimenting with different powders (but I really like my BE-86 for 9mm). I need more guns in different calibers to feed my new reloading habit.

 

[Jonesy814]

The XTP isn't a plated bullet. It is copper jacketed

 

[Dudedog]

Welcome to THR
Lots of great people here.

XTP is not plated it is jacketed.
Different animal.
Lead seals better and needs less powder for the same velocity.

1500 is what the bullet is rated for, a load to get it there may or may not be safe depending on a lot of things.
For example you would probably never get 1500fps out of a snubby .357 no matter what load you used.

If you want more velocity a slower burn speed powder is in order.
CFE-P or BE86 work good for higher velocity but not full power loads.
If you want true magnum loads something like 2400 or H110/W296 would be a good choice.
H110 really only works for full power loads but does that job well.

Edit Was typing and Jonesy814 beat me to the Jacketed not plated

 

[mstreddy]

OP, Dudedog beat me to it.

They also state this for a plated bullet:
158 GR. HDY XTP:
Start: 6.2 @ 1,108
Max: 6.9 @ 1,220

The XTP is not a plated bullet, it's jacketed. Typically jacketed needs more oomph to get them to obturate compared to lead, so that's why the charge range is greater than the lead bullet.

The 1500 fps listed on the site is that the coating is rated up to that velocity. It's not that you will get (or try to get) that velocity when you load those bullets.

 

[Skgreen]

If your going to reload a coated 158 gr LSWC (as it sounds) and Hodgdon recommends the following:

158 GR. CAST LSWC
Start: 3.4 @ 796
Max: 5.0 @ 1,109

Your best bet would be to focus on that data.

Forget the XTP data as it's a different animal,,,

(I have a love/hate relationship with coated bullets due to my bullet feeding die and the availability of similarly priced copper plated projectiles.)

Be safe and have fun!!!

 

[Steveo_1704]

thanks all. back to the books!