Getting ready, couple questions

[Sauer Grapes]

I just ordered a Lee turret press kit and the Lee and Lyman manuals. I have some questions.
I have loaded shotgun ammo for a long time so I'm not completely in the dark about reloading. That said,

I would like to start out loading lead rounds. I got an impression from some reading that it may be a little more tricky tham FMJ? I'm starting with 9mm pistol for now. Other calibers like .38spl and maybe .45acp if I buy a 1911.

I doubt I'll ever do any rifle loading. I only shoot big bore for deer hunting.

Is loading lead harder than FMJ rounds? and #2, is there a difference in chamber pressures between lead and FMJ if both are the same wieght? I guess what I'm asking, can you swap out different bullit types on a specific recipe if the wieghts are the same. I guess the OAL would change acording to bullit type?

I know in shotshell reloading they say don't substitute componets on recipes, how does this pertain to pistol loads. With shotgun loads, I don't get too concerned since most of my loadings are well below recemended chamber pressures.

Other than the 2 manuals I bought, where else do you obtain load data. I went on Alliant's website, bullit selection and powder combinations seemed limited.

 

[rcmodel]

The Lyman manual will have 9mm jacketed & lead data in several different bullet weights for each.

You will see that lead uses slightly less powder to reach the same velocity as jacketed bullet.
This is due to less bore friction on the grease lubed lead bullets.

So no, you should not swap bullet types with the same load data.

The only differance in loading is, the lead bullets will require slightly more case-mouth bell to prevent shaving lead & grease off when the bullet is seated. If you don't bell enough for easy bullet base starting, you will have problems with damaged case mouths & lead bullet shavings that may prevent easy chambering.

rc

 

[JDGray]

I would load plated before lead in 9mm. Lead bullets are usually .001" larger in diameter, so you need to bell the case a bit more so you don't shave the bullet when seating. You also must deal with lube, if loading lead. If it builds up in your seating plug, your bullets will progressively get seated deeper and deeper, so you gotta watch for that. Lead seals the bore better than jacketed bullets, so you can get the same velocity, with less powder. For the price of Zero jackted bullets beeing just a bit more than plated, I don't mind spending a little more. Lead is smokey, too

Free shipping
http://www.rozedist.com/
Free shipping
http://www.tjconevera.com/berrys-9mm-115-gr-r.html
Good bullets, not free shipping
http://www.missouribullet.com/results.php?pageNum_rsCWResults=1&category=5

I see that RC is a faster typer than me, telling you most of the same stuff.

 

[LiveLife]

JD and I posted at the same time.

Jacketed/plated bullets are easier to load than lead bullets, but the cost savings can be significant if you reload a lot.

Is loading lead harder than FMJ rounds?

Yes and no. With FMJ bullets, you don't have to worry about being too careful with setting the bullet on top of the case neck during bullet seating step of reloading or having to flare the case neck enough to not shave the lead off the side of the bullet. After shooting, you don't have to worry about cleaning any lead deposits in the barrel or gas cutting (powder burning melting the base of the bullet and leaving lead/fouling deposit in the rifling near the chamber).

With lead bullets, you need to flare the case neck enough so you don't shave the side of the bullets as you seat them. You need to select the bullet hardness (harder BHN 24/18 or softer 12) and powder charge so you get good enough obturation (bumping of the base of the bullet to expand and seal against the rifling of the barrel). And depending on your bullet hardness/powder charge, you may have leading/fouling to clean out of your barrel.

#2, is there a difference in chamber pressures between lead and FMJ if both are the same wieght?

Yes. Lead bullets are larger in diameter than jacketed bullets so they require less powder charge to generate the same chamber pressure. So if you are using lead bullets, use lead load data or if you can't fine lead load data for your bullet type/weight, reduce your jacketed charge by 10%.

9mm jacketed bullets are 0.355" in diameter compared to 0.356" for lead. 45ACP jacketed bullets are 0.451" in diameter compared to 0.452" for lead. However, 40S&W bullets are the same 0.400" diameter whether jacketed or lead.

 

[noylj]

In general, a jacketed lead-core bullet of a given weight and diameter will use the same powder charge weight as another jacketed lead-core bullet of the same weight and diameter (i.e., you can use the same starting charge for a JHP and a FMJ.
For 9mm, it is a very small case and is loaded to what is, for auto pistols, a high pressure (~35K psi).
The most important thing to watch for is the seating depth of the bullet. Seating the bullet a little deeper into the case can raise the pressure very quickly. Thus, you watch the seating depth and you make sure that the bullet will not set-back deeper into the case during shooting (the recoil will slam the rounds in the magazine into the front surface of the magazine and could push the bullets into the case) and during feeding into the barrel.
Read your manuals carefully. Make note of any references to bullet set back. Always start with the starting load and, since you will have two manuals, be sure to start off with the lowest starting load referenced in the two manuals.
If you could select a round to start with, I would say the 9mm is a great round NOT to start with.
If you plan to load lead bullets in a 9mm, please slug the barrel first and determine the groove-to-groove diameter. 9mm barrels range from 0.355-0.3585" and the lead bullet has to be at least the same diameter as the groove diameter and, in general, should be at least 0.001" larger.

 

[Hondo 60]

Loading lead isn't any more tricky than loading FMJs. It's just that the recipes are different.
Lead has less friction in the barrel so you use less powder.