SWC - Lead, Jacketed adjustments

[rick_in_lb]

Here is my question. I use 45acp 185 lead SWC and 185 jacketed SWC. I have heard that I cannot load them with the same load. Is this true? I am loading 5.8gr of W231 for both lead and the jacketed, which is copper. If there is supposed to be an adjustment what is it. They both shoot well with the load. I picked up some American Select and want to play with it in 40 S&W as well with the 45.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Who told you that is correct if you are running up to maximum charges. But according to my Lyman #48 load manual 5.8 isn't a maximum charge for either one of them. Have a ball...

 

[MNgoldenbear]

Right. The jacketed and cast/swaged bullets have different MAXIMUM loads, but it doesn't mean that the range of powder charge weights might not overlap. (It can overlap for different bullets and even different calibers -- depends on all factors that affect pressure.) Question though -- you said the jacketed bullets were "copper" jacketed. Are these true jacketed bullets, or are they the ones with the thin copper coating, sort of like the copper wash on some of the 22 ammo? If it's just the coating, I think these bullets will behave more like unjacketed anyway.