The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - can I use other bullet with the same weight?

Cheapo · February 6, 2001, 04:12 PM

A few more rules to guide your exploration:

In handgun calibers, changing from jacketed to lead can result in max charges being anywhere from 0% to 5% or more LESS than max for jacketed. Exhaustive comparison of mulitple manuals here, identical bullet weights, "standard" and Magnum cartridges.

In any caliber, a bullet with a longer bearing surface will almost always (I know of no exceptions!) result in higher pressure.

In any caliber, changing the seating depth--at the BASE of the bullet--to a deeper intrusion into the powder area will result in higher pressure. Example--loading Hornady A-Max bullets to the same OAL equals deeper seating because they are soo long and pointy.

In any caliber, changing from jacket/lead core to a solid copper slug will bring higher pressure.

So, your answer is yes and no. Hornady 168-gr HPBT Match bullets vs. Sierra 168-gr HPBT MatchKings are interchangeable, in my experience. I've heard that no Barnes solid copper can be interchanged with any other bullet.

HTH.

February 6, 2001, 04:12 PM	#4
Cheapo Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 1998 Posts: 986	PRESSURE ALERT!! A few more rules to guide your exploration: In handgun calibers, changing from jacketed to lead can result in max charges being anywhere from 0% to 5% or more LESS than max for jacketed. Exhaustive comparison of mulitple manuals here, identical bullet weights, "standard" and Magnum cartridges. In any caliber, a bullet with a longer bearing surface will almost always (I know of no exceptions!) result in higher pressure. In any caliber, changing the seating depth--at the BASE of the bullet--to a deeper intrusion into the powder area will result in higher pressure. Example--loading Hornady A-Max bullets to the same OAL equals deeper seating because they are soo long and pointy. In any caliber, changing from jacket/lead core to a solid copper slug will bring higher pressure. So, your answer is yes and no. Hornady 168-gr HPBT Match bullets vs. Sierra 168-gr HPBT MatchKings are interchangeable, in my experience. I've heard that no Barnes solid copper can be interchanged with any other bullet. HTH.