I want to have a "conversation" about how low can you go on charge weights with jacketed bullets. I already know to follow the published min dat and all will be well. I am just curious to know what people have tried. none of this is recommended for other reloaders and actually is advised against. this is a great way to squib your gun and ruin a barrel. so let's not argue about reality, lets talk "theoretically" about what COULD be done in a jacketed bullet.
I have gone under 1gr of hp38 shooting 158gr out of .38 special, not only did it clear my pistols hundreds of times, it also made a super quiet fun load for the 20" carbine and still had enough power to blow through the 2x4's and plywood backing. my understanding is that is possible only with lead bullets and that jacketed bullets have friction between the copper and the steel and can presumably make it come to a screeching halt.
I ask only because I was recently loading for a female shooter who is new to guns, could not find a factory .38 load that she was comfortable with. Now, these rounds are already loaded, and I stayed within published minimums, mainly because it's not for me so I don't want to create an issue with someone else's gun, especially a new shooter that may not be able to tell when something is off. if this load is still too strong at the published min I will talk them into trying some fully coated lead bullets next, although I didn't want her to need to go that route and maybe have to deal with leading and range rules etc.
just curious at what velocity would you expect a jacketed .38 or 9mm or whatever to actually get slowed to a full stop? my honest guess would be less than 500FPS from a snubbie would be fine. I know.....if you can't shoot a properly loaded .38spl, than your should be looking at 22.mag or less, this is just a curiosity question. and would plated have the same amount of friction as a jacketed? or possibly even more since the copper actually gets squeezed into the rifling and possibly fills the entire bore?
I have gone under 1gr of hp38 shooting 158gr out of .38 special, not only did it clear my pistols hundreds of times, it also made a super quiet fun load for the 20" carbine and still had enough power to blow through the 2x4's and plywood backing. my understanding is that is possible only with lead bullets and that jacketed bullets have friction between the copper and the steel and can presumably make it come to a screeching halt.
I ask only because I was recently loading for a female shooter who is new to guns, could not find a factory .38 load that she was comfortable with. Now, these rounds are already loaded, and I stayed within published minimums, mainly because it's not for me so I don't want to create an issue with someone else's gun, especially a new shooter that may not be able to tell when something is off. if this load is still too strong at the published min I will talk them into trying some fully coated lead bullets next, although I didn't want her to need to go that route and maybe have to deal with leading and range rules etc.
just curious at what velocity would you expect a jacketed .38 or 9mm or whatever to actually get slowed to a full stop? my honest guess would be less than 500FPS from a snubbie would be fine. I know.....if you can't shoot a properly loaded .38spl, than your should be looking at 22.mag or less, this is just a curiosity question. and would plated have the same amount of friction as a jacketed? or possibly even more since the copper actually gets squeezed into the rifling and possibly fills the entire bore?