loading Penn bullets

rebs · December 17, 2016, 03:14 PM

The Penn 38 cal 158 gr truncated cone bevel base bullet has a crimp groove, but if I load them to the crimp groove they are seated deeper in the case than a standard 158 gr lswc. Is this going to cause a higher pressure ?
I am loading 3.5 of WST powder.

NoSecondBest · December 17, 2016, 03:55 PM

I've been loading 357 and 38spl bullets for going on fifty years. I have yet to have a problem using anyone's bullets when seated in the crimping groove. For the difference in capacity you describe and the load you're using, you won't have a problem. Simply use loads listed in loading manuals, not loads you scrounged off the internet from some "keyboard expert". You'll be just fine. The OAL for most bullets is so that they don't extend past the cylinder and interfere with the gun cycling. Penn sells millions of these bullets and knows what they're doing. They state on their site they're "magnum" capable.

rebs · December 17, 2016, 04:07 PM

the published min is 3.3 and the max is 3.7 for WST powder and 158 gr lswc. I have loaded 3.5 gr previously with a 158 gr lswc but that bullet wasn't seated as deep into the case, that is why I asked the question.

RC20 · December 17, 2016, 05:04 PM

I to have those bullets for use in 9mm (as I recall you can get different OD for different semi autos. 124 gr of in that area, too lazy to look .

I forget what the issue was but the answers back were a bit snarky, they did id seat right (maybe in the grove for 9mm?- been a while) not work right.

I think he makes good bullets but his mold like is off or tried to cover too many bases with it, something.

I adjusted as needed and fine but was careful.

rebs · December 17, 2016, 07:24 PM

I loaded some and seated to the crimp groove, the OAL is with in spec so they should be ok. I loaded down to the starting charge,and will work up to,an accurate load

Salmoneye · December 18, 2016, 07:38 AM

My guns love that Penn 158gr TCBB in the harder alloy...

I have used that bullet in .38 S&W, .38SPCL, .357 Mag, and .35 Rem...

Mild to wild, I have had no issues...

rebs · December 18, 2016, 08:14 AM

Thank you for all the replies, I appreciate it

g.willikers · December 18, 2016, 09:16 AM

Do you have an essential chronograph for working up loads?
Adjust powder load and bullet depth as needed for the results you want.
Hard to do without a chronograph just by guesstimates and heresay.

rebs · December 18, 2016, 10:27 AM

I do not have a chronograph as of yet so I load all my rounds according to the reloading manuals starting low and working up. But I was cautious about the seating depth of the Penn bullet

g.willikers · December 18, 2016, 10:40 AM

It's obvious that folks were successfully reloading long before the chronograph became available.
And there's not always a clear relation between velocity and pressure.
But until something better comes along, using a chronograph can help address the kinds of questions like yours.
The load data from the manufacturers' web sites and the various reloading manuals are usually very dependable - up until they aren't.
Like seating bullets deeper, for example.

RC20 · December 18, 2016, 05:10 PM

AGreed, Chnros were a million buck when I stared and if I rmemer you had rp replace screens.

Did ok, better stuff now and I do have one.

I don't use it a lot but it comes out and good to have when I do need it.

It also has an honorable ding on the front where I barely missed killing it at some point.

1/8 lower and take out the eye.

I was careful, now I am REALLY careful.

When I was riding motorcycle, there are those who have going down and those who are going to (and yes I went down fairly early and to this day not a clue why it did it, slow easy turn in the rain and no throttle, flipped up and over, werid)

With Chronographs there are those who have shot one and those who are going to. I shot mine and got away with it. Not too many can say that!

g.willikers · December 18, 2016, 05:57 PM

I winged mine pretty good, too.
But it still works.
The worst one I've seen killed was when a friend let his rifle droop just as he pulled the trigger.
He asked me to watch so he didn't do that.
I did for awhile until I got bored with him fiddling with the scope and momentarily looked away.
A 30-06 at close range is a helleva thing.

Salmoneye · December 18, 2016, 06:05 PM

As with any reloading, when you change a component, drop back 5% and work back up slowly...

December 17, 2016, 03:14 PM	#1
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	loading Penn bullets The Penn 38 cal 158 gr truncated cone bevel base bullet has a crimp groove, but if I load them to the crimp groove they are seated deeper in the case than a standard 158 gr lswc. Is this going to cause a higher pressure ? I am loading 3.5 of WST powder.

December 18, 2016, 09:16 AM	#8
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Do you have an essential chronograph for working up loads? Adjust powder load and bullet depth as needed for the results you want. Hard to do without a chronograph just by guesstimates and heresay. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

December 18, 2016, 10:40 AM	#10
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	It's obvious that folks were successfully reloading long before the chronograph became available. And there's not always a clear relation between velocity and pressure. But until something better comes along, using a chronograph can help address the kinds of questions like yours. The load data from the manufacturers' web sites and the various reloading manuals are usually very dependable - up until they aren't. Like seating bullets deeper, for example. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

December 18, 2016, 05:57 PM	#12
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	I winged mine pretty good, too. But it still works. The worst one I've seen killed was when a friend let his rifle droop just as he pulled the trigger. He asked me to watch so he didn't do that. I did for awhile until I got bored with him fiddling with the scope and momentarily looked away. A 30-06 at close range is a helleva thing. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.” Last edited by g.willikers; December 18, 2016 at 06:04 PM.

December 17, 2016, 03:55 PM	#2
NoSecondBest Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2009 Location: Western New York Posts: 2,736	I've been loading 357 and 38spl bullets for going on fifty years. I have yet to have a problem using anyone's bullets when seated in the crimping groove. For the difference in capacity you describe and the load you're using, you won't have a problem. Simply use loads listed in loading manuals, not loads you scrounged off the internet from some "keyboard expert". You'll be just fine. The OAL for most bullets is so that they don't extend past the cylinder and interfere with the gun cycling. Penn sells millions of these bullets and knows what they're doing. They state on their site they're "magnum" capable.

December 17, 2016, 04:07 PM	#3
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	the published min is 3.3 and the max is 3.7 for WST powder and 158 gr lswc. I have loaded 3.5 gr previously with a 158 gr lswc but that bullet wasn't seated as deep into the case, that is why I asked the question.

December 17, 2016, 05:04 PM	#4
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	I to have those bullets for use in 9mm (as I recall you can get different OD for different semi autos. 124 gr of in that area, too lazy to look . I forget what the issue was but the answers back were a bit snarky, they did id seat right (maybe in the grove for 9mm?- been a while) not work right. I think he makes good bullets but his mold like is off or tried to cover too many bases with it, something. I adjusted as needed and fine but was careful.

December 17, 2016, 07:24 PM	#5
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	I loaded some and seated to the crimp groove, the OAL is with in spec so they should be ok. I loaded down to the starting charge,and will work up to,an accurate load

December 18, 2016, 07:38 AM	#6
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,076	My guns love that Penn 158gr TCBB in the harder alloy... I have used that bullet in .38 S&W, .38SPCL, .357 Mag, and .35 Rem... Mild to wild, I have had no issues...

December 18, 2016, 08:14 AM	#7
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	Thank you for all the replies, I appreciate it

December 18, 2016, 10:27 AM	#9
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	I do not have a chronograph as of yet so I load all my rounds according to the reloading manuals starting low and working up. But I was cautious about the seating depth of the Penn bullet

December 18, 2016, 05:10 PM	#11
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	AGreed, Chnros were a million buck when I stared and if I rmemer you had rp replace screens. Did ok, better stuff now and I do have one. I don't use it a lot but it comes out and good to have when I do need it. It also has an honorable ding on the front where I barely missed killing it at some point. 1/8 lower and take out the eye. I was careful, now I am REALLY careful. When I was riding motorcycle, there are those who have going down and those who are going to (and yes I went down fairly early and to this day not a clue why it did it, slow easy turn in the rain and no throttle, flipped up and over, werid) With Chronographs there are those who have shot one and those who are going to. I shot mine and got away with it. Not too many can say that!

December 18, 2016, 06:05 PM	#13
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,076	As with any reloading, when you change a component, drop back 5% and work back up slowly...