Heavy vs lighter weight bullets

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Waterboy3313

Waterboy3313

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I'm pretty new to reloading and I started out loading similar weight bullets that would normally buy in factory ammo. I primarily load 45 acp for a Kimber TLE 1911 style pistol as well as 38/357 used primarily in a 6 inch barelled GP100.

My use for these guns is general plinking and target shooting. I do carry the Kimber but I use factory self defense ammo for that. I've been loading 230 gr round nose plated bullets for the 45 and I'm not complaining. The stuff I have loaded has been great for what it's been used for.

My 357 that I shoot the most started out with 158 gr lead cast semi wad cutters. Once again no complaints there either. I got my loads worked up and they are accurate and fun to shoot. The other day I went to the local store I buy all of my reloading supplies from to find the shelves bare and out of just about everything.

I settled on a box of 250 125 gr plated flat point bullets. It was the last box and if I wanted to continue reloading right away it was my only local option. I did my work up and found a load that I was happy with.

I'm just curious if for general plinking/target shooting if there is really any advantage or disadvantage to different bullet weight. For my 357 I am starting to reach out and shoot at 35-60 yards with the goal of doing it well and possibly moving out towards the 100 yard mark.

I just ordered a 1000 more 125 gr plated flat point bullets from RMR today and I will be needing to order more bullets for my 45 by the end of this weekend. I shoot for fun not competition or hunting. I kinda like to stick to what I know works but I am on the fence about trying some lighter weight bullets.

Before I started reloading I studied a lot of loading data and found that I could spend more money on bullets and save money on powder or save on bullets and use more powder. Being new I figured using less powder would be the safest way to learn.

Just curious what the thoughts are on using different weight bullets for punching paper or hitting steel.
 
I don’t pretend to be an expert, but in my experience, for target shooting the bullet size and type you use is just a personal preference. You shoot what you like best, but that doesn’t mean you can’t or won’t adapt to other bullets/powders/velocities. The .357 magnum is one of he most versatile guns I’ve ever handloaded for. You can go from heavy and hot to light and mild, or anywhere in between. You will need to work through your loads to find the most accurate for the bullet/powder combination though.

If you want to find a load for one bullet that mimics (sort of) the recoil of another size bullet, you can use a recoil calculator with your load data to give you a starting point, but it will still probably have a different feel. Personally though, I like to just experiment with different size bullets and different powders to find what I like and what I don’t.
 
I don't claim any great expertise either, but have been loading and shooting .45acp in 185, 200 and 230 grain for ten years, and have settled (mostly) on 200 gr lead SWCs.
And .38/.357 in 125 and 158 gr, mostly lead 158 lead SWC.
These choices were mostly due to availability and price, and once I found loads that worked well, I continued using them due to momentum.
One thing to consider is that bullet weight can affect POI (and perhaps counter-intuitively).
So find something where POI that hits close to POA, and live happily ever after.
Conversely, if your current load hits low or high, consider using lighter/heavier loads.
 
For the handguns I have and use, after fifty or so years, I tend toward the "standard" weights and loadings. For .45 ACP I load a hardball duplicate. .38 Special is a 158 RNL 'standard' loading and for .357 Magnum I use the same bullet as the .38 Special but to a median .357 loading. These tend to work actions, extract easily and shoot to sights.

But it depends on what you seek. For 2700 Bullseye shooting, a lighter load may be desired. For hunting large game (in the U. S.), more power is required. Decide your goals and work accordingly.
 
For plinking and fun stuff I load a variety of bullet weights and styles in my revolver loads. These variations are most often dictated by the sale prices of the various bullet makers I like to use. I’ll take several loads along to the range to see what works and what doesn’t. I won’t mix loads in a cylinder unless I want an immediate 1-2 comparison of recoil.

Same for powders. My standby is Unique, but I’ll load H110, HP-38, Power Pistol, Enforcer, Bullseye, etc. depending on my mood and the intended purpose of the load.

If I want to shoot targets for record or to clang silhouettes at distance I’ll only shoot batches of a single bullet/powder charge to eliminate the changing point of impact various loads create.

In .38/357 I’ll go from 125 gr TCFP to 146 RNL to wadcutters coated, plated or lead, to 158 gr plated hp to lead SWC etc. .44’s go from 200 coated to 280 gr lead SWC, .45 Colt I’ll range from 185 gr SWC up to 300 gr XTPs.

It’s fun experimenting with loads and finding several that work well for every revolver I own.

Stay safe.
 
What about “Favorite”?

My favorite bullet weight to load would be the 22 caliber, 75 grain ELDM by Hornady.
They are long and easy to hold.
The sharp point is easy to “nail nick” to pick up.
The bullet is longer than my fingers are wide, so putting them in the case and press is painless.;)
They make me look like I know how to shoot.
And they are forgiving of minimally chamfered cases.
And, of course, the tips are a red that matches my rifle well.:D
 
Waterboy3313 said:
I'm pretty new to reloading and I started out loading similar weight bullets that would normally buy in factory ammo. I primarily load 45 acp for a Kimber TLE 1911 style pistol as well as 38/357 used primarily in a 6 inch barelled GP100.

My use for these guns is general plinking and target shooting.

Just curious what the thoughts are on using different weight bullets for punching paper or hitting steel.
Click to expand...

I also started reloading about a year and a half ago, and also primarily for my Kimber Ultra CSE 1911 in 45acp. I also have a 6" Colt King Cobra in 357 magnum, so some similarities here.

I too was loading 230gr for the 45acp, but recently tried some 185gr Speer tmj-swc. Very mild and accurate in my Kimber. I use W231 at 5.4gr (according to Speer data, but always double check) and OAL of 1.245" ~ 1.247". Works well for me. Speer part number is #4473. Cost is about $10.65 per 50 before tax, etc....

For my 38/357 loads I like 158gr because they shoot to POA in my gun. I have loads worked up with W231 that produce very good accuracy in 38spcl with almost no recoil and a mid range load for 357 with mild recoil. I also have a H110 load for 357 that produces a serious fireball and lots of recoil, really accurate and turns heads at the range!

chris
 
Waterboy3313 said:
I'm pretty new to reloading and I started out loading similar weight bullets that would normally buy in factory ammo. I primarily load 45 acp for a Kimber TLE 1911 style pistol as well as 38/357 used primarily in a 6 inch barelled GP100.

My use for these guns is general plinking and target shooting. I do carry the Kimber but I use factory self defense ammo for that. I've been loading 230 gr round nose plated bullets for the 45 and I'm not complaining. The stuff I have loaded has been great for what it's been used for.

My 357 that I shoot the most started out with 158 gr lead cast semi wad cutters. Once again no complaints there either. I got my loads worked up and they are accurate and fun to shoot. The other day I went to the local store I buy all of my reloading supplies from to find the shelves bare and out of just about everything.

I settled on a box of 250 125 gr plated flat point bullets. It was the last box and if I wanted to continue reloading right away it was my only local option. I did my work up and found a load that I was happy with.

I'm just curious if for general plinking/target shooting if there is really any advantage or disadvantage to different bullet weight. For my 357 I am starting to reach out and shoot at 35-60 yards with the goal of doing it well and possibly moving out towards the 100 yard mark.

I just ordered a 1000 more 125 gr plated flat point bullets from RMR today and I will be needing to order more bullets for my 45 by the end of this weekend. I shoot for fun not competition or hunting. I kinda like to stick to what I know works but I am on the fence about trying some lighter weight bullets.

Before I started reloading I studied a lot of loading data and found that I could spend more money on bullets and save money on powder or save on bullets and use more powder. Being new I figured using less powder would be the safest way to learn.

Just curious what the thoughts are on using different weight bullets for punching paper or hitting steel.
Click to expand...
The 125 plated in 357 may run at a velocity above the plating's capabilities. I don't shoot much plated, but reserve 125 for smaller frame guns as a recoil mitigation strategy (lighter loads). That big GP100 is going to run well with 158s at moderate to full power.
 
Those RMR bullets are rated for up to 1400 FPS. They should be good using cast loading data in .357, .38 Special +P, and most starting jacketed .357 loads. I agree that you shouldn’t attempt to approach max jacketed load data, but I think Waterboy3313 is just loading plinking loads though, and cast data should be just about perfect for that.
 
The bullets from RMR are rated for 1400 ft per second. I would imagine with my loads I'm well in the safe zone. I have experimented with some hot loads and for my use it's nothing more than a waste of powder. I generally load in the middle to upper middle of cast load data. I do a work up and settle on what is the most accurate.
 
tweaking the oal a tenth of an inch either way can affect accuracy, once you are settled on the powder amount.

luck,

murf
 
Even though all the 38/357 bullets I have loaded have cannelures I still measure oal. I measure the first 5 I seat to make sure everything is dialed in and then I measure every 5 after that to check for consistent seating.
 
I needed some primers today so after work I stopped by the same store I buy most of my local reloading supplies from. Being very low on bullets for my 45 acp I bought some different brand 230gr round nose plated bullets while I was there. Going to do a new work up more in depth on these and see what happens. I already have a preferred load for the Berry's bullets but I'm going to see if anything changes and start fresh.


My goal for this year is to shoot better and expand my range. I bought the Ruger GP 100 as my Christmas present this last year and it's been a great gun and really helped me to move out from the 7-10 yard defensive range out towards the 50+ yard line. I don't know how far people are shooting their 1911s with 230gr bullets but I would like to think with same attention to loading the 35-50 yard range should be doable.

I'm curious if a lighter bullet would help keep point of aim more consistent at longer distance with a 45 acp in in a 5 inch barrel? My Kimber doesn't have adjustable sights and at about 30 yards i noticed it seems to hit quite a bit low from POA.
 
Not to be captain obvious...but...

Heavier bullets ultimately lead to more felt recoil. This might be a consideration especially if you are taking a new shooter out to the range. I tend to drill with medium power 185gr LRN in my EDC Kimber KXH Custom but carry HOT 230gr JHP defense rounds. This allows me to practice more for less $$ and is easier on my hands.

.40
 
Waterboy3313 said:
I needed some primers today so after work I stopped by the same store I buy most of my local reloading supplies from. Being very low on bullets for my 45 acp I bought some different brand 230gr round nose plated bullets while I was there. Going to do a new work up more in depth on these and see what happens. I already have a preferred load for the Berry's bullets but I'm going to see if anything changes and start fresh.


My goal for this year is to shoot better and expand my range. I bought the Ruger GP 100 as my Christmas present this last year and it's been a great gun and really helped me to move out from the 7-10 yard defensive range out towards the 50+ yard line. I don't know how far people are shooting their 1911s with 230gr bullets but I would like to think with same attention to loading the 35-50 yard range should be doable.

I'm curious if a lighter bullet would help keep point of aim more consistent at longer distance with a 45 acp in in a 5 inch barrel? My Kimber doesn't have adjustable sights and at about 30 yards i noticed it seems to hit quite a bit low from POA.
Click to expand...
Bullet weight will change your vertical point of aim. The guys who shoot cowboy action with fixed sights talk about it a lot. I am working my way through a bag of 185 nossler custom competition I picked up on sale at rmr. For target shooting I like 185 a lot so far in 45. In 38 caliber i use 140s and 158s for pistol. I do go heavier in my lever actions for steel siloette at 200. Those ringing rams are a real heartbreaker.
 
forty_caliber said:
Heavier bullets ultimately lead to more felt recoil. This might be a consideration especially if you are taking a new shooter out to the range. I tend to drill with medium power 185gr LRN in my EDC Kimber KXH Custom but carry HOT 230gr JHP defense rounds. This allows me to practice more for less $$ and is easier on my hands.
Click to expand...

That's only true if you're loading to the same velocity. Recoil is the opposite side of the momentum of the stuff going downrange, and momentum is mass times velocity. If you push a heavier bullet at the same speed as a lighter bullet, the heavier bullet will recoil more.

But if you load to the same bullet momentum, the heavier bullet load will actually generate slightly less recoil, because it has less powder - and powder ejecta/gasses come out of the barrel very fast, so they have more impact on recoil than you might initially suspect (again, momentum is mass multiplied by velocity).

Thus, in games or other situations where people are reloading to achieve a certain bullet momentum (such as power factor in USPSA or IDPA), the heavier bullet will allow a lower-recoiling load that meets power factor.

That's without getting to the blast/flash and supersonic crack issues that can cause most shooters to experience many lighter bullet loads as being "sharper" or "snappier."
 
ATLDave said:
That's only true if you're loading to the same velocity. Recoil is the opposite side of the momentum of the stuff going downrange, and momentum is mass times velocity. If you push a heavier bullet at the same speed as a lighter bullet, the heavier bullet will recoil more.

But if you load to the same bullet momentum, the heavier bullet load will actually generate slightly less recoil, because it has less powder - and powder ejecta/gasses come out of the barrel very fast, so they have more impact on recoil than you might initially suspect (again, momentum is mass multiplied by velocity).

Thus, in games or other situations where people are reloading to achieve a certain bullet momentum (such as power factor in USPSA or IDPA), the heavier bullet will allow a lower-recoiling load that meets power factor.

That's without getting to the blast/flash and supersonic crack issues that can cause most shooters to experience many lighter bullet loads as being "sharper" or "snappier."
Click to expand...

The law of conservation of momentum actually figures in both the bullet and powder masses and velocities as a forward vector. [mbvb + mpvp = -mgvg] I get what you're saying though, if you just figure in the bullet's forward mass and velocity and the guns rearward mass and velocity, then the only wildcard would be the powder mass and forward velocity.
 
Mr_Flintstone said:
The law of conservation of momentum actually figures in both the bullet and powder masses and velocities as a forward vector. [mbvb + mpvp = -mgvg] I get what you're saying though, if you just figure in the bullet's forward mass and velocity and the guns rearward mass and velocity, then the only wildcard would be the powder mass and forward velocity.
Click to expand...

I don't think we're disagreeing.
 
lighter bullets will have snappier recoil, which can be perceived as more but isn't. heavier bullets will shoot higher at pistol distances, which seems counter intuitive, but the recoil pulse is slower, so there is a nominal muzzle flip before the heavy bullet exits the barrel, thus a higher POI. at 100 yards … all bets are off, but I would think a lighter bullet at higher velocity would do better at that distance.
 
lighter bullets will have snappier recoil, which can be perceived as more but isn't. heavier bullets will shoot higher at pistol distances, which seems counter intuitive, but the recoil pulse is slower, so there is a nominal muzzle flip before the heavy bullet exits the barrel, thus a higher POI. at 100 yards … all bets are off, but I would think a lighter bullet at higher velocity would do better at that distance
Click to expand...

I've thought of this and since my Kimber doesn't have adjustable sights. My inexperienced thoughts tell me a lighter bullet say a 185 gr bullet should be closer to POA at say 50 yards vs a 230 gr bullet. I guess i will have to experiment and see what happens. I'm not the brightest crayon in the box so sometimes it takes me actually seeing something to get a better understanding.
 
Tonight I loaded some 230 gr 45 acp loads. I usually load them with 4.5 gr titegroup at 1.260 oal even though the load data calls for 1.200. I started this way going off of some factory ammo I had been using. I loaded 5 of each at the same powder charge and changed the OAL by .010 from 1.200-1.240. planning on going to the range Sunday.
 
Just checked Hodgdon's website and you should be fine with that charge and OAL. Do be aware however that shortening your length from 1.260 down to 1.200 will increase felt recoil due to higher pressures. Also, your velocities should increase slightly which may affect POI.

As a side note, My Kimber has a short and tight barrel/throat. As such, I can load ball ammo at 1.260, but everything else has to be loaded shorter for my pistol. I've found that 1.245 works pretty well for me and gives decent accuracy for the distances I shoot at. Your gun will tell you what it likes. Have fun with it and stay safe.

chris
 
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