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Old July 3, 2012, 06:00 PM   #4
Misssissippi Dave
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Join Date: December 5, 2009
Posts: 1,411
Generally speaking lead bullets need less powder then jacketed bullets of the same weight. The different shapes of bullets with the same weight tend to be fairly close with the max and minimum powder charge. This is assuming the base of the bullet is the same depth in the case. Often the minimum charge for a jacketed bullet will be around the mid range charge for lead bullets. Sometimes it is even a little higher. This general information can get you somewhere close most of the time for the minimum charge you want to try.

When you need to find a starting point for a bullet that falls in between known bullet weights you can look at the starting load of the bullets just above and below the weight of the bullet you have. You have to take in to account the bullet will need to be lead/plated or jacketed you are comparing. Don't try using lead/plated information for a jacketed bullet. They just aren't the same. You can take a educated guess where it might be. It is always better to have published load data to keep you out of trouble. Don't load too many rounds of a given charge until you are certain you have found the load you want to keep loading. It is a pain to have to pull a bunch of bullets that just don't cut it.

You are fortunate you are loading for revolvers. Even a charge under minimum will normally be enough to have the bullet clear the barrel. If you are in doubt at all, it takes very little time to check the barrel to make certain there isn't a bullet lodged in the barrel. Work the load up 6 rounds at a time to find where they are becoming accurate. There normally isn't any need to go much above a good accurate load when punching paper. This keeps you away from maximum loads.

Remember to keep good records of what you have loaded and label the container with those bullets so there isn't any confusion later on.

The biggest difference between wad cutters and semi wad cutters is the depth the bullet is set. Wad cutters will be set deeper so they will have have higher pressure with the same amount of powder.

I hope this helps. There will probably be others along with more or better information.
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