Load development question

C

Colten519

New member
Hey guys I was at a ammo supply place by me today that sells lots of reloading supplies. I was talking to the guy and telling him what bullets I was going to use (100 gr Barnes ttsx) and he told me to make it a little cheaper that I should develop a load with similar cheap bullets until I find the sweet spot and then load the Barnes and just fine tune? Anybody do this? Any advice?

Thanks
 
If you are determined that you will end up with the 100 gr Barnes, come what may and just nothing else will do, I would start with and continue to completion with the Barnes. Assuming, of course, that the cost of the Barnes wouldn't make the venture prohibitive. Have never heard of that alternate method worded that way. I think most would go with whatever works out the best for the intended purpose even if not the original bullet of choice. But unique that the sales person would make that suggestion.
 
Yea, It can be done - I've done it twice:

1st with my 9.3x62. The bullet I eventually wanted to use was 286 NPT at $1.06 each. Did most of my reload work-ups with 285 PP at 27¢ ea.

2nd with my 458WM. The bullet I was most interested in was 400 Swift-A at $1.48 each. Did most of my reload work-ups with 405 Rem 25¢ ea.


Work great for the 9.3 - When thru 5 diff powders and just sub-ed the NPT did 2 more COALs with it and wal-la.

Worked OK for the 458 - Was fun shooting a lot with a 25¢ 458 reload. But ended up not using the 400 Swift-A.
 
Note that the bullet construction must be similar. If you are using a Barnes solid, then see if there is a less expensive similar solid (perhaps the Hornady GMX?). But if you work up a load with a same-weight cup and core construction bullet, it won't have the same start pressure, so it won't give you the same barrel time or load pressures with the same powder charge and primer. Note that the ogive shape should be similar as well.
 
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If you were to buy 200 Barnes bullets they would cost you about $60 more than 200 cheap bullets. About the same cost as a tank of gas for my truck. Maybe a tank and 1/4 at todays gas prices.

The 200 Barnes bullets would allow me to work up a load, get my rifle zeroed and allow enough practice and hunting for at least 3-4 years. With all the other expenses involved with hunting an extra $60 every 3-4 years is nothing.

I use cheaper bullets for plinking at the range, save the expensive stuff for actual hunting.

Copper bullets are so much different than conventional bullets that the load data from the cheaper bullets will be far different than the copper anyway. You'd almost be starting over anyway.

It is possible to work up a load with cheaper bullets that will have almost the same trajectory. In 30 caliber the 150 gr Hornady SST's can be loaded to the same speeds and they have virtually the same BC as 150 gr TTSX's. But the load data is far different. I had to work up 2 different loads anyway. But since they shoot to the same points, and with similar accuracy the SST's are a cheaper practice round.
 
It always seemed like good advice that "you always go home with the one that you brought to the dance." It was good advice for dating women and sounds good for developing loads as well. (fewer problems in the long run.)


Stay safe.
Jim
 
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I think using a cheaper bullet of the same weight will get you close enough when then switching to the bullet of your choice to quickly get a load developed for the more expensive bullet. Another advantage is that you will have developed a less expensive load for general practice there by allowing more practice for your mechanics and form.

1st Marine division, 3rd Marines
 
I have my pet loads for specific bullets. My source for target 45 dried up last year and I have been trying different manufacturers offerings. I just got in some new target bullets and I am using my previous loads as a start but I will still work up the load and test it with my chrono. I do reduce my window but I have found a slight increase or decrease in the powder load can sometimes make a huge difference.
 
USMC 77-81 said:
I think using a cheaper bullet of the same weight will get you close enough when then switching to the bullet of your choice to quickly get a load developed for the more expensive bullet.
Click to expand...

As Allan Jones (former CCI employee) explains in this article, forty years ago that was still good advice:
"…today’s handloader must not think, “Bullets are bullets.” Technology and progress have taken that option from us."

Allan Jones in Shooting Times, Jan 4, 2011
Click to expand...

Today's bullets are just too different across the range of selections for weight alone to be an adequate criterion for charge weight. You could work up a same-weight load with a cup and core bullet and guess that the Barnes would probably use about 2% less powder, but that's just from the standpoint of obtaining the same peak pressure. Because the copper solid produces higher start pressure, the peak will occur with less expansion, earlier in the bullet travel, and that changes the barrel time, which is what determines whether or not you will land on an accuracy sweet spot. As a result, you'd basically have to optimize charge weight and seating depth for accuracy all over again.
 
Take to the dance expression

jim243
I like your take to the dance expression. That is the same thing I was trying to say but I didn't do it quite as eloquently.
 
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