Maximum grain pistol bullets

[codefour]

A little intro is needed. I am new to reloading. I have been reloading for close to a year. This forum is the most helpful place and the members are great people. Thanks for all your help. All us newbies really appreciate the help.!!

Anyway, I was wondering why most people prfer heavy bullets to reload pistol rounds.? For example, most load 230 grain .45 or 158 grain .357, etc. But right now, some bullets are getting harder and harder to find. Would there be any detrimnet to shooting say 185 or 200 grain in .45.? Powder Valley has a lot of 185 and 200 grain in stock but not 230.

I was just wondering what the advantage is or detriments to using lighter grain bullets? At this point, I only destroy cardboard.

 

[res45]

Mainly because the standard service load for the 45 ACP is 230 gr. ball and the 38/357 is 158 gr. in several bullet styles main RN and HP. I shoot 38 and 357 in both cast and jacketed in 158 gr. I like to load my practice and hunting ammo with the same bullet weight as my SD ammo.

Nothing wrong with using lighter bullets in either cartridge just be aware that your point of impact will likely be different if you use a heavier bullet for other purposes.

 

[GLOOB]

For high power revolver rounds, a shorter bullet can lead to more gas cutting. That's one reason to use heavier bullets.

Another reason is recoil. Often times a heavier bullet is softer shooting, while still retaining similar performance in various applications.

 

[Jim Watson]

Most target and many self defense and police duty .45 ACP loads use 185-200 grain bullets. There is certainly no detriment and there is plenty of published handload data.

I have tried light bullets in .38 and .357 but prefer the old standard weights of 148 grain wadcutters and 158 grain roundnose.

 

[BADUNAME37]

I have typically chosen to NOT go with the "typical" bullet weights for the caliber when I reload. Yes, they are some that are trialed for the most accurate loads, but many times, the ones that are the most accurate for my gun(s) are NOT the typical weights, so I go with those the gun happens to "like" the most (that is, pull the tightest group).

I have not purchased bullets (pill) for several years now, so I am not really 'in-the-loop' on what is readily available and what is not available.

I also load a couple or three different bullets for each gun, so, if one bullet is unobtainable, then I could always revert back to another one or two that worked just as well.

 

[gamestalker]

I prefer to load 125 gr. for .357 mag., 155 gr. for the .40 S&W, and 115 gr. for 9 mm. With a good charge of a slow burning powder behind those, and I get some very satisfying velocities that also produces excellent penetration, and good energy in foot lbs..