The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old November 8, 2008, 04:46 PM   #1
rwt101
Member
 
Join Date: September 25, 2008
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 87
Bullet question?

In looking at different loading data , I see TMJ AND FMJ AND LRN . Now I know what they stand but are they all actually the same? In other words can you use the same powder amount for all of them as long as the size is the same? Because sometimes I see data for LRN and not for the TMJ or the FMJ.
Bob T
rwt101 is offline  
Old November 8, 2008, 04:52 PM   #2
44Magnum
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 29, 2008
Posts: 325
No, they are not equivalent. For example, a lead round nose sometimes can't be driven as fast because it will cause leading. The total metal jacket and full metal jacket are usually pretty similar as far as loading practices though, since the only difference being the base being exposed lead on a FMJ.
__________________
"It'll all fit in there, it must be a compressed load." I never joined SAMMI.
44Magnum is offline  
Old November 8, 2008, 05:33 PM   #3
WESHOOT2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 20, 1999
Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country)
Posts: 14,324
So what do you do?

(I know what I do....)
__________________
.
"all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"
WESHOOT2 is offline  
Old November 8, 2008, 05:40 PM   #4
rwt101
Member
 
Join Date: September 25, 2008
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 87
:barf:
Bob T
rwt101 is offline  
Old November 8, 2008, 06:21 PM   #5
tom234
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 14, 2008
Location: Kansas
Posts: 753
Either you have a lead or jacketed bullet. That said, I use the "starting" load data in the weight bullet and type [lead or jacketed] I'm going to shoot and then go from there. Finding a load for a specific bullets is unusual and in my opinion not necessary.
tom234 is offline  
Old November 8, 2008, 06:38 PM   #6
rwt101
Member
 
Join Date: September 25, 2008
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 87
What I ran into was there was data on JHP and LRN and I wanted to use TMJ bullets. So what do you use? I suppose the biggest problem is there is not that much data on the 9x18 Mak.
Bob T
rwt101 is offline  
Old November 8, 2008, 07:28 PM   #7
Hawg
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 8, 2007
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 16,177
You can use the data for a JHP with a FMJ or TMJ but not an LRN. Just don't start at the maximum end of the chart. The FMJ and TMJ will have a little more pressure because the weight will be more than a JHP.
Hawg is online now  
Old November 8, 2008, 07:53 PM   #8
rwt101
Member
 
Join Date: September 25, 2008
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 87
That helps a lot. Being new brings a lot of questions.
Bob T
rwt101 is offline  
Old November 8, 2008, 08:13 PM   #9
kraigwy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 16, 2008
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 11,061
Get a reloading manul that list the loads for both lead and jacketed bullets and go from there. Lyman makes a good one, but there are others.

No one new to reloading should very from the listings in reloading manuels.
__________________
Kraig Stuart
CPT USAR Ret
USAMU Sniper School
Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071
kraigwy is offline  
Old November 8, 2008, 09:31 PM   #10
rwt101
Member
 
Join Date: September 25, 2008
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 87
I have the Speer and the Lee Manuel.
Bob T
rwt101 is offline  
Old November 8, 2008, 10:37 PM   #11
Sevens
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 28, 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 11,755
You will find data for jacketed bullets much easier to come by than data for cast lead bullets. Jacketed bullets tend to be quite similar, but lead bullets can be all over the map in shape, size, hardness, concentrically, etc, so many sources of data seem to just skip right over them as if they don't exist.

That makes loading for cast bullets a bit more of an adventure. Often, it's quite annoying. Some of the powder makers work a little harder and give a little more data, others just ignore them and make you figure it out.

A few things I tend to stick to-- these aren't laws or rules, just guidelines that I use that have served me well.

--I'll use JHP data with FMJ bullets of the same weight, because JHP bullets tend to be longer given that there's a hole in the middle and the weight is made up by the length of the bullet. I wouldn't use a JHP of the same weight with FMJ data unless I reduced it accordingly.

--I'll use any jacketed bullet if I have data for a cast bullet of the same weight, but this just doesn't happen very often.

--I almost never, for any reason, use listed max loads unless the max I'm using isn't a max in someone else's published data. The reason? I don't really need maximum velocity in ANY caliber I use... I want accuracy, frugality, longevity. I don't need to hot rod anything I load. One big exception-- handloads in .38 Special that I shoot out of my .357 Mag revolver.

While it's not an instant answer, you can NEVER go wrong by shooting off an e-mail to a powder maker or bullet maker. If you are using either their powder or bullet, they'll often respond to specific questions with regards to load data and starting points. Be specific about the caliber, bullet, powder, firearm, purpose of the load and any other pertinent info. You may not get an answer you can use, but you typically get some kind of answer.
__________________
Attention Brass rats and other reloaders: I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.
Sevens is offline  
Old November 9, 2008, 05:29 AM   #12
T. O'Heir
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 13, 2002
Location: Canada
Posts: 12,453
Use cast bullet data, by the bullet weight, for the LRN, Use jacketed data, also by weight, for the TMJ's and FMJ's.
A TMJ is a lead core bullet that in completely encased in copper. It's actually a Speer brand name for that type of bullet. A CMJ is the same thing made by Frontier.
An FMJ is a fully jacketed bullet, but not on the base. A commercial fmj isn't the same thing as a military bullet. The jacket is thinner on a commercial fmj.
A JHP is loaded with jacketed data.
"...data on the 9x18 Mak..." Hodgdon's site has data for 90, 95 and 100 grain jacketed bullets. Plus here. http://www.makarov.com/mak04.html.
Here. http://www.handloads.org/loaddata/de...Powder&Source=
Here. http://members.nuvox.net/~on.melchar/makarov/index.html
Do a net search for '9x18 load data'. There's lots of data. Finding bullets easily is another thing though.
__________________
Spelling and grammar count!
T. O'Heir is offline  
Old November 9, 2008, 09:07 AM   #13
44Magnum
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 29, 2008
Posts: 325
I apologize for not giving a more complete answer, but I assumed you knew what to do after finding out that they are not exactly compatible. I should not have made the assumption

Welcome to reloading!!
__________________
"It'll all fit in there, it must be a compressed load." I never joined SAMMI.
44Magnum is offline  
Old November 9, 2008, 10:20 PM   #14
treg
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 26, 2006
Posts: 1,102
oops
__________________
.44 Special: For those who get it, no explanation is necessary. For those who don't, no explanation is possible.
treg is offline  
Old November 12, 2008, 05:14 PM   #15
ForneyRider
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 4, 2007
Location: Forney, TX
Posts: 725
I have the Lee book too.

It generally has 3 types of loads in there for pistol. Lead, jacketed and XTP. The XTP are a little more stout.

Something about the sealing properties of lead and jacketed is different, affecting pressure, so you adjust your load accordingly.

Lee data is gathered from industry data. So it should match other resources.
__________________
When all is said and done, there is a lot more said than done.
ForneyRider is offline  
Old November 14, 2008, 09:53 AM   #16
WESHOOT2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 20, 1999
Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country)
Posts: 14,324
answer

Use a START LOAD from the lowest offered, and work up slow until your specific performance goals are met.

Start with the lowest published choice.
__________________
.
"all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"
WESHOOT2 is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:30 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.09089 seconds with 8 queries