Are all jacketed bullets created equal?

[Shotgun Willy]

I'm trying to put together a reduced pressure load to feed the .308 Chilean Mauser I recently purchased and I'm hoping someone here can answer this question.....are all jacketed bullets created equal? If you go to the Hodgdon or Alliant reloading site they give loads for specific powder and specific bullets, but my Lee die set mostly gives load data for "150 gr jacketed bullet". It would be much simpler if i could just grab any jacketed bullet of the desired weight and use it with Lees' data, but I'm not sure that's safe. So far I've only fired a few 7.62 NATO through it, but I don't want to abuse it with high pressure loads. So, are jacketed bullets interchangeable? I'd really like to avoid the whole kaboom thing.

Also, if anyone knows, how light a bullet can I load in one of these and still expect accuracy?
Thanks
Bill

 

[sparkyv]

Shotgun Willy, all jacketed bullets are not created equally, that is they will perform differently in different firearms. Having said that, load data for jacketed projectiles can be used interchangeably with most, if not all jacketed bullets of the same weight. Regarding how light to go and still maintaining accuracy, well that's the golden question, isn't it? That's why we handload; to determine this empirically.

 

[Walkalong]

"Cup & Core" lead core jacketed bullets of the same weight can generally be interchanged. Speer mostly shows data for each weight, not each bullet, they make.

Solid copper or specialty bullets are different.

But that is also one reason we start low and work up. Avoiding the "whole kaboom thing" is always a great idea.

For less than full pressure plinker loads for your Mauser you can safely use 150 Gr data with most standard lead core jacketed bullets.

 

[243winxb]

For reduced pressure, look up Hodgdon Youth Loads using H4895 powder. https://www.hodgdon.com/resources/data-sheets/

http://dutchman.rebooty.com/1895Chile.html

 

[243winxb]

Not only can bullets make a big difference in pressure, a different lot number of the same powder can make a huge difference. But only if running at maximum loads/pressures.

 

[jmr40]

As said, "generally" the data is interchangeable. Just be aware that a 180 gr RN bullet will be shorter than one of the high BC 180 gr boat tail bullets, but will probably have more surface area of the bullet in contact with the barrel. That changes things somewhat.

But as long as you're talking about the same, or even similar weight, you don't see any difference until you start approaching max loads. And even then most of the time it isn't enough different to matter.

 

[Kaldor]

Jacketed? Pretty much. If you look at reloading manuals for something like 308, quite often youll see data listed for a Sierra SMK, but you want to shoot Hornadys at a similar weight range. In that case, because these are very similar in profile and weight, its OK to use the data interchangeably. You should always ladder up anyway, and if you see pressure signs, they are going to be at the top end of the load chart.

The big thing to pay attention to is the bearing surface of the bullet. Newer VLD style bullets tend to have shorter bearing surfaces. Solids made from copper or or brass tend to be longer. Longer bearing surface equals more pressure.

 

[mdi]

For your intents and purposes, load data for jacketed bullets is interchangeable. I have two rifles I just shoot; no hunting or competition or ultra accuracy needed. I have used a variety of bullet designs (other than VLD or solid copper) and I have a habit of using data from the bulet manufacturer's manuals, but that's not 100% necessary for my "shootin' stock"...

 

[film495]

get the data from the bullet manufacturer as a starting point, usually they have something to go bye even if they just reference other load data, it points in the right direction IMHO

 

[Shotgun Willy]

Wow, great answers, thanks. I cast and reload for my 38, comfortably. Same thing for my 12 ga, where i religiously follow 'recipes', I just wasn't sure where rifle reloading fell in that and it looks like it's somewhere in the middle. Thanks for all of the help, I got exactly the information I need.

 

[buck460XVR]

Not only can bullets make a big difference in pressure, a different lot number of the same powder can make a huge difference. But only if running at maximum loads/pressures. View attachment 893334

Bearing surface, construction, profile all can contribute to a degree. Generally it is small. One of the most overlooked is how much of the bullet is seated below the case mouth. If one looks at the above recipes, seeing compression at both max loads, when there is a 3 gr difference tells me the one bullet is seated much deeper and thus providing less case capacity, thus needing less powder for a max charge. With uncannelured bullets one generally loads to OAL. With cannelured bullets we generally disregard OAL and crimp in the center of the cannelure. Comparing where the cannelure is on a new bullet compared to a bullet you have used before is a good indicator whether or not you will have increased or decreased pressure using the same powder charge.

Still......anytime you change major components, you need to start low and work up. As for how low you can go and expect accuracy is something none here can predict from your gun. You need to stay within published parameters. If using a bullet you are not able to find published sources for, start with the closest you can find and start low. Most published recipes have a degree of safety/error within them. Starting very low, in a rifle, with an unknown/new projectile, one must be very observant as to a stuck bullet.

 

[Random 8]

For your Chileno, you will likely see a good balance of performance with a 150 cup and core flat based bullet. Spitzers are fine, depending on how low you intend to go on the velocity curve, a RN "30-30" style bullet may be better, both for accuracy and hunting purposes. I'm a fan of either Speer or Hornady for cup and core bullets. Good balance of pricing and performance. My wife and I have shot a lot of deer with the Speer 150 Spizer and Mag tip semi-spitzer (discontinued) at about 2500 fps, and it's outstanding in terms of accuracy and performance.

You can go as light as the Speer 100 gr plinker or 110 gr "carbine" bullets with reduced loads using trail boss, unique or 2400. I've fired the speer 100 over a light charge of unique through a couple military rifles and gotten good accuracy. For the lightweight spitzers, they need to be driven a little faster to maintain good accuracy. They hit sideways from my M1917 when I tried them at ~1200 fps, but stabilized nicely at 2000.

 

[Axis II]

IMO No. There is jacketed bullets and then there is RMR jacketed bullets. RMR jacketed bullets are way better.

 

[Rule3]

Wow, great answers, thanks. I cast and reload for my 38, comfortably. Same thing for my 12 ga, where i religiously follow 'recipes', I just wasn't sure where rifle reloading fell in that and it looks like it's somewhere in the middle. Thanks for all of the help, I got exactly the information I need.

Also just a FYI. all the load data in the LEE manual was obtained from someplace else. LEE did not do any tests. The data is from some other manual like Speer, Hornady, Nosler et etc. and has not changed for years, So a 150 jacket bullet is gonna be close enough for any brand as long as it is the same profile and weight. The COL is going vary somewhat depending on YOUR gun.