crracer_712
Member
I'm trying to make a list of loads for the powders/bullet(type/weight)/calibers that I have. In doing this, I decided to get out all my manuals and record data from each (big mistake!). I have the Lee's 2nd edition(not the updated one), I believe the Hornady's 6th edition, a Lymans and a few of those caliber specific paper manuals(IMO, waste of money...)
Anyway, I'd always just used the Lee manual and started at the start loads and worked up, seldom nearing max load. In the Lee manual it states 'Min. OAL'. For example, 9mm Luger has a Max OAL of 1.169. Let's say for a given bullet and load the Lee manual says a Min OAL of 1.140. The way I've always done it is to find a happy medium in there. I always found that the variance in bullets was too great to set at or near Min OAL as I would invariably have a round or two set under Min OAL.
I was under the impression that I had the entire 1.140 to 1.169 OAL to play with here.
Tonight while looking at the manuals, I saw some state C.O.L., but I cannot find if this C.O.L. is a minimum or maximum, or if that is what is has to be. Can anyone clarify this for me?
Now, back to the Lee manual. I liked it because is seems to idiot proof. I always felt is was leaning towards the safe side. But tonight while looking at load data for various powders in 9mm and 380 auto, comparing the Lee to the Hornady, I would Notice that Hornady's start loads are a lot lower, often, than the Lee start loads. I would also see on occasion the Lee having a higher MAX load than what Hornady published.
Granted, I would look at say, 115 FMJ in the Lee manual, using titegroup, and the Hornady would have Hornady's part number for their 115 FMJ. The start and Max loads would be different, sometimes way different.
Next thing that confused me was using plated bullets. I have a bunch of Rainiers and Berrys. All plated round or flat nose, depending on caliber. In the Lee manual, it actually has a small sampling of plated data for 115 gr 9mm. It didn't show a powder that I have. I see where people say to load the plated like a Lead bullet, or a FMJ keeping it under the midway load. Trouble is, in the Lee manual, I compared the same powder for a LRN and the plated, and the Lee manual shows a higher start load for the LRN than it does for the plated bullet's max load. Load data was also very similar between LRN and FMJ.
I decided to get on the powder websites, but out of the powders I have, the website do not show much is any load data that pertains to my bullets, be it looking it up as FMJ or LRN.
For powders I have titegroup, Power Pistol, and Unique (power pistol is new to me, haven't loaded anything with it yet).
Calibers are 380 acp (I have 100 gr. plated RN, both in Berry's and Rainiers), 9mm (115 gr plated RN, Rainers), 40 S&W (180 gr plated taper shoulder flat top, Rainiers), and 45 ACP (200 gr plated round shoulder flat top, Berrys)
I notice the Rainier's 380 bullet has a cupped base where the Berry's is flat. Berry's measures .450, Rainier's is .457 (length), both measure .355 diameter). Rainier's is more pointy, Berry's is more rounded.
Am I OK in thinking I can seat a bullet anywhere between the Lee listed minimum OAL(Hornady's list C.O.L.) and Max OAL for a given caliber? I understand that going over the minimum OAL reduces pressure affecting FPS for a given load. Also understand not to go over Maxium for chambering. When I say Minimum, I am going by a specific bullet 'type' with a particular powder load.
Anyway, I'd always just used the Lee manual and started at the start loads and worked up, seldom nearing max load. In the Lee manual it states 'Min. OAL'. For example, 9mm Luger has a Max OAL of 1.169. Let's say for a given bullet and load the Lee manual says a Min OAL of 1.140. The way I've always done it is to find a happy medium in there. I always found that the variance in bullets was too great to set at or near Min OAL as I would invariably have a round or two set under Min OAL.
I was under the impression that I had the entire 1.140 to 1.169 OAL to play with here.
Tonight while looking at the manuals, I saw some state C.O.L., but I cannot find if this C.O.L. is a minimum or maximum, or if that is what is has to be. Can anyone clarify this for me?
Now, back to the Lee manual. I liked it because is seems to idiot proof. I always felt is was leaning towards the safe side. But tonight while looking at load data for various powders in 9mm and 380 auto, comparing the Lee to the Hornady, I would Notice that Hornady's start loads are a lot lower, often, than the Lee start loads. I would also see on occasion the Lee having a higher MAX load than what Hornady published.
Granted, I would look at say, 115 FMJ in the Lee manual, using titegroup, and the Hornady would have Hornady's part number for their 115 FMJ. The start and Max loads would be different, sometimes way different.
Next thing that confused me was using plated bullets. I have a bunch of Rainiers and Berrys. All plated round or flat nose, depending on caliber. In the Lee manual, it actually has a small sampling of plated data for 115 gr 9mm. It didn't show a powder that I have. I see where people say to load the plated like a Lead bullet, or a FMJ keeping it under the midway load. Trouble is, in the Lee manual, I compared the same powder for a LRN and the plated, and the Lee manual shows a higher start load for the LRN than it does for the plated bullet's max load. Load data was also very similar between LRN and FMJ.
I decided to get on the powder websites, but out of the powders I have, the website do not show much is any load data that pertains to my bullets, be it looking it up as FMJ or LRN.
For powders I have titegroup, Power Pistol, and Unique (power pistol is new to me, haven't loaded anything with it yet).
Calibers are 380 acp (I have 100 gr. plated RN, both in Berry's and Rainiers), 9mm (115 gr plated RN, Rainers), 40 S&W (180 gr plated taper shoulder flat top, Rainiers), and 45 ACP (200 gr plated round shoulder flat top, Berrys)
I notice the Rainier's 380 bullet has a cupped base where the Berry's is flat. Berry's measures .450, Rainier's is .457 (length), both measure .355 diameter). Rainier's is more pointy, Berry's is more rounded.
Am I OK in thinking I can seat a bullet anywhere between the Lee listed minimum OAL(Hornady's list C.O.L.) and Max OAL for a given caliber? I understand that going over the minimum OAL reduces pressure affecting FPS for a given load. Also understand not to go over Maxium for chambering. When I say Minimum, I am going by a specific bullet 'type' with a particular powder load.