What to use loading copper or lead

[RAVEN1]

I was told when reloading, that a copper bullet should be loaded different then a lead bullet. Example 44mag, copper ( .430) and a lead (.429 or .431) I am getting confussed. is the higher # for lead or the lower #.

 

[Blue68f100]

When shooting lead the bullet needs to be 0.001" larger than your bore. To know what size is needed you need to slug your barrel, throat.

 

[greyling22]

.....and the lead bullet will slide down the barrel easier than the copper one. If you put the same weight bullet (lead and copper) over the same powder charge, the copper one will run at a higher pressure.

 

[gamestalker]

Lead and copper reloading are two different worlds, and yes the lead bullet needs to be .001" larger than your slugged barrel. I have been reloading for several decades and have not ever reloaded lead, at least not yet. But with the price of jacketed getting more and more expensive, I might soon find myself going to lead despite the fact that I'll have nearly re-learn the reloading process all over again by doing so.

 

[243winxb]

44 magnum

Bullet diameters in the 44 mag., in jacketed bullets are .429" .4295" & .430" depending on who made them. Lead has a standard of .430" There is different loading data for different types, cast, swaged, jacketed & solid copper.