Differences in Bullet Brand

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glc24

glc24

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If there is a thread on this already, I'm sorry.

I've been loading some 40 S&W plated 180 gr. FP. The brand I've been using is Berry. I only had a handful left, and started using the same bullet in Xtreme plated.

Well, it only took 2 reloads to notice something didn't look right. The Berry bullet length measures roughly .598 to .600. The Extreme bullet measures .575. My Berry OAL is 1.125 ,which is what I usually always use. The Xtreme OAL was 1.085 to 1.100. Not good! The Berry has a smaller diameter flat point too, versus the Xtreme. I did not notice that! The Berry bullets are not round shoulder, but the Xtreme are.

So luckily I only have to pull 3 bullets. I'll make sure to pay much closer attention from now on.
 
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Are you saying you changed bullets and didn't check the OAL after using the same seater setting until you seated three of them?
 
I know! My bad!:uhoh:

That's the first and last time, anything like that will happen. I've always used Berry for 40 S&W. This is the first time for me using 40 S&W Xtreme bullets. My 45 ACP bullets have always been Xtreme. Go figure!
 
At least you were paying enough attention to catch it right away. Lesson learned?

One of the reasons I always tell newb's to build a repeatable routine. That way it alerts you quickly when something is amiss. We all make mistakes, it's only when at the bench it could be very costly. But I believe you already know that.
 
glc24 said:
I know! My bad!:uhoh:

That's the first and last time, anything like that will happen. I've always used Berry for 40 S&W. This is the first time for me using 40 S&W Xtreme bullets. My 45 ACP bullets have always been Xtreme. Go figure!
Click to expand...
Good that you caught it before taking them to the range.
Also, once you properly adjust the OAL, have you done the "plunk test" for chamber fit?
 
glc24 said:
I know! My bad!:uhoh:
Click to expand...
Nah, I have taken a couple of rounds to get it right before, very easy to do. Measure, adjust, measure adjust. I usually run the seater top up first though to start too long vs too short unless it is a starting charge or the bullets are so similar I think it will be OK. It happens. Pulling a couple of bullets is no big deal.
 
In this case it should not make much difference. The bullet seated deeper but is shorter by about the same amount it seated deeper. The internal volume of both loads should be the same and that initial internal volume is your primary concern assuming the same bullet weight.

I suspect if you load the Extreme to the same overall length as the Berrys you will likely see a decrease in velocity. That said for feeding reasons you may want to do that but you might have to increase your powder charge if having the same velocity is important.

If it was not near max charge I would give it a go. If I was close to max pressure, back off and work up as normal.
 
Bother! That pesky little detail about bullet ogive shape being different between molds/brands.:scrutiny: The lesson about always working up the load when changing anything is something I sometimes temporarily forget as well but inspecting things after making some wakes me up (so far). FWIW I usually make a dummy round (sans primer) for each bullet I load to be able to reset the die length/crimp to again when I use more of that bullet in the future. I just mark the brand and weight of the bullet on the case with a sharpie.:thumbup:
 
glc24 said:
Well, it only took 2 reloads to notice something didn't look right. The Berry bullet length measures roughly .598 to .600. The Extreme bullet measures .575. My Berry OAL is 1.125 ,which is what I usually always use. The Xtreme OAL was 1.085 to 1.100. Not good! The Berry has a smaller diameter flat point too, versus the Xtreme. I did not notice that! The Berry bullets are not round shoulder, but the Xtreme are.
Click to expand...

As already noted, a good rule to follow is anytime you change manufacturers of bullets, go back and work things up again.

For me, when starting a new loading session with the same, identical components as before, and besides confirming the powder measure is throwing the correct charge, I confirm the seating depth of the bullet.

It falls in the "you know what they say about 'assume'" category and can avoid some problems quickly and simply.
 
glc24 said:
I know! My bad!:uhoh:

That's the first and last time, anything like that will happen.
Click to expand...

New reloaders tend to make a lot of assumptions.....I know I did when I first started to reload. Thinking all bullets have the same profile or even a similar profile is one of them. Happens with revolver bullets too. The ogive doesn't have to be much different for it to make a big difference in how the bullet fits the seating stem, thus changing OAL. In revolver bullets that have a cannelure and one seats to the cannelure and not for OAL, it doesn't take long before you realize than not every 158gr meant for .357, gives the same case capacity or can be seated without adjusting the seating stem.
 
cheygriz said:
How deep did they seat in the case?? That's really the important measurement.
Click to expand...

The bad ones were seated down in the case about .350". There was roughly .230" of the bullet exposed.

The good seated bullet was in the case .300" with .280" exposed, to get me the 1.125" OAL.
 
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