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Hello all, I'm posting this question just to be sure from what I understand, I'm running low on 180gr and 165gr for my 30-06 and have a hard time finding the original Sierra bullets that I made loads with, if I switch to Hornady, nosler or another brand (none FMJ) but a hunting tip i should be good to just follow my previous load or are there adjustments needed to be made??
Thank for your time and reply.
What you seem to be asking: Does my load data work the same for any brand of bullet head I use?Quote:
Originally Posted by Pair88
I would suggest that it should, you might find slight shifts in your point of impact do to variation in the + and - of the bullet weight, unless, of course, you are using match bullets. If you have a set of scales you can see what I mean, the 180 grain or the 165 grain is more less the average weight of any bullet heads in the bag or box. Some could be a couple grains higher others a couple grains lower than the stated weight. Sometime the strength of their jacket can vary, which may influence their rate expansion, again it is a manufacturer thing, but the bullet weights will usually remain within the specific tolerance of what ever is stamped on the box. When I cast batches of bullets I may use 180 grain mold, but I can have variations in the batch depending how uniform the mixture of lead, tin and antimony. In a further batch the tin content maybe a bit low and the lead a bit high. The higher the lead content over the tin, the bullets could round out to 180 + with lead being a denser element than tin, If the tin is higher the bullets could be 180 -. Regardless they are all going to be load with the same 180 grain load data. As well I may have to make a slight adjustment to my sights, with respect to each of the batches.
You don't stop hunting because you grow old. You grow old be cause you stop hunting.
- Gun Nut
The answer depends on what you intend to achieve. Substituting a bullet of the same weight from a different manufacturer is generally safe, but you should not expect the same point of impact or level of accuracy. If you tuned the previous load to give you MOA or less, switching the bullet probably won't give you that without at least some tweaking. When I switch bullets, I plan on redeveloping the load from scratch. In my experience, it is pretty rare to not have to do this.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pair88
Their gonna be mostly for hunting, so if I end up 1inch off while hunting its not gonna be crazy off I would be lucky to get 100 yard shot where I hunt, from what both of you are saying is that it shouldn't make a huge difference I won't end up way off to lunch off by 10inches switching bullet tip manufacturers with same weight???Quote:
Originally Posted by rf2
I would not fire at game without verifying the effect first by shooting some targets. For me, being off by 3" at 100 yards when shooting from a good rest is not acceptable, and that can happen by switching bullets, even of the same weight.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pair88
What I was saying in my original response was that it is probably safe to use the same load when switching to a different bullet of the same weight, but even that could be questionable depending on where you are in the load range, or the type of bullet. You should plan to redevelop the load before using it for hunting, and possibly before even firing the rifle. For example, if you were at max load using a coated bullet or a bullet with something like the grooved shank on certain Barnes bullets, then you switch to a bullet without these properties, you could end up in a dangerous situation.
Ok, thank you when I switch up to new tips ill make a few up and double check zeroQuote:
Originally Posted by rf2
the seating depth will change.. as well. make sure to check... if your not measuring chamber depth make sure you do not go over recommended over all cartridge length
I would suggest that you start with the minimum load and work your way back up. This is a standard safety rule but will also help you find the best load configuration for that particular bullet. Some guns shoot different bullets better than others. Hopefully all goes well and that you don’t have to switch powders.
Go to the bullet manufacturer’s website. They will likely have load data for your bullet with some different powder combinations.
I get excellent results with 180 grain Nosler Partition (protected point & spitzer) powered by 58 - 62 grains of Reloader 22 powder... 3/4” groups and dead critters!
You have to build your load back up. You can have totally different bullet designs internally, this can change the pressure.
What Sierra bullet are you looking for?
Bullets are bullets, which are the thing that exits your barrel. A loaded round is a cartridge.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pair88
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Be careful, things are called different things in different areas and it is fine, we all know what he is talking about. Brits call them tips, not bullets.Quote:
Originally Posted by rippin_355
Hey buddy I work in a ballistics lab so I'll weigh in.
Go head and roll up 10 cartridges of your old recipe with the new projectiles. Observe your point new point of aim and if it's withing 2" of your point of aim then go ahead and just adjust your optic/sights. At the distances we shoot here in Ontario (100m or less) you shouldn't have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to your recipe. The differences between bullet designs (ogive) at the same weight is what's mainly going to affect accuracy but that really only starts to come into effect at longer ranges. Of course in the end the most important thing is that you load everything in a consistent manner so the tiny little bombs you make have the exact same result every time.
Welcome to the forum...and thanks for a very common sense answer.....some reloaders tend to get far too carried away in their quest for perfection.Quote:
Originally Posted by Terrible_E
I have two terms, reloaders and hand loaders.
Reloaders tend to look for the most economical way to come up with an acceptable degree of accuracy for their intended purpose.
Handloaders tend to look for the utmost degree of accuracy and trajectory to get their desired result. They are also more prepared to take more steps in the process to achieve this, ie: better case prep, more precise tolerances in bullet seating depth, flash hole deburring, primer pocket uniformity, etc:, etc:. They are tailoring the load to the individual gun.
Doesn't mean that one is right and one is wrong. As Mike Pal says, some reloaders tend to get far too carried away in their quest for perfection. These reloaders I would call hand loaders.
As others have touched on, pay attention to bullet seating depth. A different bullet will have a different ogive which will dictate the point that it will contact the rifling. The closer to the rifling it is, the higher the pressure created. You may have to seat it deeper, or you may be able to seat it further out.
Whichever, just make sure that the completed round will still fit in the magazine. I have seen people come up with an awesome load, only to find when they get to their hunting ground that they have a single shot rifle now.
or it can be explained with this comparison:Quote:
Originally Posted by Stu
Quote:
A handloader can either make cheap ammunition or custom-specification bullets. It’s the difference between doing your own car repairs and building your own engine from the short block to up to the injectors. The former is to save cash and do something yourself, the latter is because you need something nobody sells.
Check for current load data on new brand, if same go to go. Then go out and shoot your groups - that is where you will notice the difference if any. Adjust load to new bullet head.
My new 55gr cast and powder coated .223 bullets performed very differently with different powders. So in this case I started with 100 new rounds, 5 loaded cases per row, with different powder combos all based on reloading book data. During the shooting, when I got to my normal Varget loads for coyote and commercial bullet heads, they were 3" off factory. Lots of little variances, and I still haven't settled on final load. Just gotta find the time to do more load development.Attachment 41638
I would still be concerned about pressure, I have one rifle that 2 different bullets of the same charge and bullet weight go from no pressure signs to a sticky bolt.Quote:
Originally Posted by Terrible_E
Not 100% sure what's happening there. I'd need a lot more information to be sure but I'll hazard a guess. Sometimes the different design of the bullet can cause a small reduction in case capacity when seated to the same depth. For instance I use two kinds of Hornady 123gr bullet to reload for my sks (I know, I know, I have mental problems) and seat both of them to 2.2 even. Due to the design the SST bullet sits lower into the case than the FMJ which makes the round a little bit hotter. Just less room for the gases to expand which ends up putting a "bigger push" on the bullet. Could be lots of other things but this is the first guess I would make.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox