The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Noobie Question: How Exact Do You Need to Match Load Data?

FoundFather · April 18, 2025, 09:44 PM

I got my first cartridges loaded! The closest published data I could find to match the components I have on hand was from Alliant's website. It was for 180 grain Lee Copper Plated Flat Nose bullets, 5.7 grains max of Bullseye powder and CCI 500 SPP. I had the Bullseye and CCI primers. My bullets were close but not exact. The Montana Gold 180 grain bullets I have are jacketed, while the Lee bullets are plated. The Lee bullets are supossed to measue 0.585" long, while my bulelts were 0.595" long. I debated whether to seat them less deep for a COL 0.01" longer in order to keep the empty case volume the same as the recipe, but decided against it.

I loaded 15 cartridges using a batch method, performing one step at a time. I weighed each charge, checked and measured eerything three times. Probably the slowest 15 cartridges ever loaded. But I learned a lot about my equipement and the process along the way. Recipe called for COL of 1.12", and mine were all between 1.115 and 1.125. Recipe max was 5.7 grains of powder, I loaded these to 4.9 grains, approximately 85% of max.

Went to an indoor range today. All 15 functioned great. Shot them throguh three different guns and they cycled fine. Sample size with three guns was a little small to judge accuracy, but my impression was that I was accurate with the two guns I normally shoot well, and not accurate with the one that I don't. Funny how that works

I don't feel much need to increase powder load, since these function fine for plinking, and I want practice reloading.

I recovered 11 of the 15 cases (popular indoor range with random brass everywhere). I suspect the firing pin strikes might be a little deep, deeper than they were with the factory ammor that I also shot. I need to research that a bit. I may put up photos of the primer strikes, but I need to clean the case heads first, I marked them with a Sharpie so I oculd identify them.

In the meantime, I have a problem with my press, but I am going to start a new thread for that, it is a different subject.

Thanks to everyone on here for the inputs and encoragement!

April 18, 2025, 09:44 PM	#11
FoundFather Member Join Date: October 15, 2022 Posts: 35	Success! And a problem I got my first cartridges loaded! The closest published data I could find to match the components I have on hand was from Alliant's website. It was for 180 grain Lee Copper Plated Flat Nose bullets, 5.7 grains max of Bullseye powder and CCI 500 SPP. I had the Bullseye and CCI primers. My bullets were close but not exact. The Montana Gold 180 grain bullets I have are jacketed, while the Lee bullets are plated. The Lee bullets are supossed to measue 0.585" long, while my bulelts were 0.595" long. I debated whether to seat them less deep for a COL 0.01" longer in order to keep the empty case volume the same as the recipe, but decided against it. I loaded 15 cartridges using a batch method, performing one step at a time. I weighed each charge, checked and measured eerything three times. Probably the slowest 15 cartridges ever loaded. But I learned a lot about my equipement and the process along the way. Recipe called for COL of 1.12", and mine were all between 1.115 and 1.125. Recipe max was 5.7 grains of powder, I loaded these to 4.9 grains, approximately 85% of max. Went to an indoor range today. All 15 functioned great. Shot them throguh three different guns and they cycled fine. Sample size with three guns was a little small to judge accuracy, but my impression was that I was accurate with the two guns I normally shoot well, and not accurate with the one that I don't. Funny how that works I don't feel much need to increase powder load, since these function fine for plinking, and I want practice reloading. I recovered 11 of the 15 cases (popular indoor range with random brass everywhere). I suspect the firing pin strikes might be a little deep, deeper than they were with the factory ammor that I also shot. I need to research that a bit. I may put up photos of the primer strikes, but I need to clean the case heads first, I marked them with a Sharpie so I oculd identify them. In the meantime, I have a problem with my press, but I am going to start a new thread for that, it is a different subject. Thanks to everyone on here for the inputs and encoragement!