Why isn't there a chart on their website that gives the min and max loads for most common bullets? I was looking to get info for 124 grain rn copper coated 9 mm. I looked in my books and found nothing. The Hodgdon website lets you pick the bullet and type of bullet. It then gives you the min and max load with the OAL. I read where ppl use it from 3.0 to 4.5 as their pet load. some websites ppl said guess and go from there. I think that was a bad idea. Rant over
Alliant Bullseye Rant
- Thread starter mrdaputer
- Start date
Sounds like you must be kinda new to reloading because Bullseye is one of the oldest powders on the planet. There is probably more load data for that than all other pistol powders combined. But they can't test every bullet on the planet either. So if they only show data for the jacketed bullets of the same weight, start at 20% less and at maximum OAL. 3.5 grains at 1.135" would be about right. Cast lead. moly lead, HiTek coated and plated are all about the same, only jacketed is different. The shape of the bullet only is important for OAL, not charge weight. Generally speaking truncated cones can be loaded long, round noses usually shorter. I have gone from 1.170" to 1.060" depending on the bullet.
Left to right, 125gr Montana Gold JHP, 124gr Bayou TC HiTek coated, 125gr Hornady HTP, 125gr Bear Creek round nose moly.
Left to right, 125gr Montana Gold JHP, 124gr Bayou TC HiTek coated, 125gr Hornady HTP, 125gr Bear Creek round nose moly.
m&p45acp10+1
New member
In 9mm treat the plated just like jacketed. The velocities involved are not enough to rip the plating off.
I am new but read enough to know to not just guess. I bought and read manuals. Understand about can't test all bullets. With that said 124 grain rn is not uncommon. Like I said Hodgdon has it listed for their powders. Seen it for Imr as well as Winchester powder Is it asking that much to know what the safe min and max loads are?
There seems to be different ideas as to where to start a load for plated bullets. Some say use jacketed data. Some say use jacketed -10%, some say use lead data. One manufacturer says "low jacketed data (I believe that's for max.) and one I saw says use lead data. Personally, I use lead data and have had good accurate loads (if I wanted faster loads I'd go with jacketed). Look up the bullet manufacturer's web site and see what they recommend. Or if they have no load data on line, call them (if a bullet mfg. won't post load data, I wouldn't buy them). Load testing is a faily involved process and not inexpensive, and plated bullets have only been popular for a few years. For a powder or bullet manufacturer to test and publish results for every "new and improved" bullet it would be quite an undertaking and expensive, not something a mfg would do on an annual basis...
Reloading forums are a wealth of info but forget/ignore load data from any forum expert, range rat, pet loads web site, gun counter clerk or gun shop guru. Get load data from published manuals or powder manufacturers. Been doing that for 30 years and have had zero problems...
Reloading forums are a wealth of info but forget/ignore load data from any forum expert, range rat, pet loads web site, gun counter clerk or gun shop guru. Get load data from published manuals or powder manufacturers. Been doing that for 30 years and have had zero problems...
Mrdaputer,
If you download and read the PDF version of Alliant's load manual, it explains that the loads they publish (same as the ones on the web site) are maximums, and they expect you to reduce them 10% to arrive at starting loads. I agree Alliant should make this more obvious, but they don't.
Personally, I follow Western's advice to reduce rifle loads 10% and handgun loads 15% to arrive at starting loads.
If you download and read the PDF version of Alliant's load manual, it explains that the loads they publish (same as the ones on the web site) are maximums, and they expect you to reduce them 10% to arrive at starting loads. I agree Alliant should make this more obvious, but they don't.
Personally, I follow Western's advice to reduce rifle loads 10% and handgun loads 15% to arrive at starting loads.
Thank you all for your replies. Last night I wrote down a lot of peoples pet loads and averaged them out. I made up 10 and will go to the range today to see how they work. I will probably keep dropping it down .1gr till my pistol doesn't cycle. Then I will also know my accuracy.
"...min and max loads for most common bullets..." Because who made the bullet and its shape doesn't matter. Only the weight matters.
Powder and bullet makers manuals only ever give data for their stuff.
Alliant's site data is incomplete because they want you to buy their manual. The .pdf Unclenick links, only has Speer bullets because Speer and Alliant are both owned by the same holding company(along with RCBS, Federal, CCI and a bunch of others).
"...averaged them out..." DO NOT MAKE UP YOUR OWN LOADS. Data in manuals is already an average. Follow your manual.
Nobody has a pet load. Every firearm likes something different and even though it's an inanimate object, doesn't care if the power likes it or not.
"...but they don't..." Clearly stated in uppercase letters on the 'WARNING' page of their site. And bolded on Page 8 of the .PDF.
"REDUCE RIFLE AND HANDGUN CHARGE WEIGHTS BY 10% TO ESTABLISH A STARTING LOAD."
Powder and bullet makers manuals only ever give data for their stuff.
Alliant's site data is incomplete because they want you to buy their manual. The .pdf Unclenick links, only has Speer bullets because Speer and Alliant are both owned by the same holding company(along with RCBS, Federal, CCI and a bunch of others).
"...averaged them out..." DO NOT MAKE UP YOUR OWN LOADS. Data in manuals is already an average. Follow your manual.
Nobody has a pet load. Every firearm likes something different and even though it's an inanimate object, doesn't care if the power likes it or not.
"...but they don't..." Clearly stated in uppercase letters on the 'WARNING' page of their site. And bolded on Page 8 of the .PDF.
"REDUCE RIFLE AND HANDGUN CHARGE WEIGHTS BY 10% TO ESTABLISH A STARTING LOAD."
Toheir I did fill out the form now to wait 3-4 weeks to get info that other manufacturers supply on their website for free is well stupid to me. I just wanted the min the max and OAL for a very common bullet. I have used quite a few powders and never had this issue. Guess my rant wasn't over lol
All cartridge dimensions, except Wildcats, are established by SAAMI, including maximum (not minimum) OAL. This would also be the longest OAL that will feed thru a magazine, although many competitive shooters go a bit longer for making major power floor.The powder makers give 'their as tested" OAL for a powder and bullet. You need to load some up at 3.5 grs and chrono your rounds.