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Question on load data with same bullet grain from different manufactures?

I have the hornady book, but just bought some berger bullets for the first time. A friend at work said all the data is about same as long as the bullet weight is the same. How true is that?
 
Not necessarily true. Recently while fire forming some rounds I consulted the loading manuals I have(5). The load data on one bullet went from a 44.0 grs max to 48.0 max in 2 different manuals. For me, I will check all my manuals for max loads and pressure readings. After checking all the data I will then go with a load that I feel will be completely safe and adjust from there.
 
Do it right. Pick a starting load that is safe in all the manuals for that bullet weight and do your own pressure investigation. It will only take a few shots. Go up gradually, one shot per load, and stop when you see pressures signs. Use the load before the one that showed more pressure than you like as your maximum. Remember that pressure is related to temperature, so record the temp as part of the test data.
 
Bullet differences- Bearing length, jacket thickness, construction, all copper or lead core.
Lead core- Sierra uses 4 different lead alloys. Some harder then others.

All makes a difference, even when its the same weight.

Start low, work up.
A friend at work said all the data is about same as long as the bullet weight is the same. How true is that?
"About" covers a lot of area. Same as "May" :confused:
 
All good advice above - will add one other issue - bullet ogive. It can differ considerably from one brand to another in the same weight. One of the first things I do when loading a new bullet is measure the maximum COL for that bullet in the rifle that I'm going to load for so I can set the COL to avoid jamming the bullet into the lands.
 
Berger has a nice loading manual, you could start with their recommendations by buying the manual or maybe someone here has a copy and could help you out.

I've always just worked up the load starting low as other here have recommended, and see where it takes me. But the first thing I do is set up a dummy cartridge with the bullet loaded to touching lands to use as a reference.

Berger has a seating depth study outline that starts in the lands and works outward (deeper into the case). Check it out! Some here swear by it.
 
You are wise to ask. I recently changed from Berger 155.5s/Sierra 2156s to Lapua 155s. Completely different animal. Still ended up using the same charge of Varget but pressures were up a tad. Difference? Bearing surface length.
Shot them for a the summer, back to the Standards of Berger and Sierra.
 
I have the hornady book, but just bought some berger bullets for the first time. A friend at work said all the data is about same as long as the bullet weight is the same. How true is that?

Your friend isn't a very experienced reloader if he said that.

As everybody else has said, different brand bullets of the same weight have different dimensions and features which create different pressures, velocities, and ballistics performance.
 
Thanks for all the advice. Sorry it took me a few days to respond. I've been at work. I got the bullets today. Hopefully I can find the berger info and load them up for tomorrow.
 
A friend at work said all the data is about same as long as the bullet weight is the same. How true is that?

NOT.

Might be close but more likely to be vastly different.

Even with equal weights the different designs (and sometimes materials) will have different dimensions - bearing surface probably the most different (the part that rides the lands & grooves, the two ends don’t touch the bore) - so please ignore this ‘friend’s’ advice.

You can use one bullet’s reloading data as a rough guide as to where to begin load testing on your own, after you knock off 10-15% of the charge weight given. Then work up.

Edit: may I be so bold as to ask which bullets you’re dealing with? In what cartridge? With what propellants, and barrel length?

It all makes a difference.
 
Yeah, I'm learning my friend is a thinks he knows it all. I'm ordering the Berger book tue when I get paid. Hopefully I can get the bullet info so I can at least go shooting tomorrow.
 
Recently while fire forming some rounds I consulted the loading manuals I have(5). The load data on one bullet went from a 44.0 grs max to 48.0 max in 2 different manuals.
Same bullet, different manuals, doesn't sound like bearing surface differences to me. I'm inclined to see it as different test barrels for data.
It also makes sense that some barrels would be more or less affected by different (or certain) bullet builds, and lot to lot variances.

There are quite a few test barrels used behind QuickLoad data, and this is why their advice about local testing (and Boyd;s advice) is the right approach.
 
There was a time, long long ago, that most of the bullets available for reloading in the United States market were conventional cup and core and much of the powder was DuPont extruded. The Powley Computer was at its peak.

Time was some primers were flat faced and some were domed and the literature advocated using primer types as from the factory. Today domed primers are not available and any brand of primer might be used with appropriate data but again some substitutions are perfectly safe and some aren't. Time was what we call a balloon head case was considered a solid head case.

The old order changeth and gives way to new. Use the latest data. Of course the Speer #11 book might be the latest data for Winchester 452 in pistol cartridges. There is no Utopia.

In that long ago time it could be said that starting loads for common cup and core bullets of the same weight in popular cartridges were about the same across brands. With the introduction of the Nosler Partition construction started to be very different across brands.

Even today, and within one manufacturer's line where good data shows the same charge weights for many different bullets of about the same weight from the same line, I suspect the data is safe but just maybe not optimal for all the bullets - stopping with the first bullet in the line to hit SAAMI limits. But suspecting that one bullet might go a little higher charge weight than another is not a license to go there.

Today there are many differences in construction and materials such that two different bullets of the same weight may be very different in all the ways mentioned and so loads can be very different.

It follows that using data across brands for bullets of the same weight is a bad idea.
 
I have the hornady book, but just bought some berger bullets for the first time. A friend at work said all the data is about same as long as the bullet weight is the same. How true is that?

I basically have always done this, but start with low -mid powder ranges and work up looking for pressure signs.

Always worked for me... 338 Norma to 65CM to 308 to 223/224 to 45-70 to 300BLK to 9mm.

I have the Berger book. IM me what ya need.
 
Just to toss in another thought- If you are using Hodgdon powder, log onto its site. They have a page where you enter your caliber, the weight bullet, powder maker (Hodgdon, IMR and Winchester are the choices) and which of the manufacturer's powder, i.e. Varget. You will get the start and max load as quick as a click. Also, if your powder is not one of the choices within the Hodgdon site i.e. CFE 223, call them or your bullet manufacturer. They are both eager to give you the load data and if bullet weight missing, i.e. 73 grains, Hodgdon will ask who makes the 73 you are shooting and then tell you it is almost the same as Sierra XXX grains and to use the date from the Sierra for your start and max. Berger will do the same thing for you.
 
As others noted above, the real key is the effective case volume. The physical dimensions of a bullet, even those within a given weight class, can vary enough to have a noticeable effect on effective case volume. Other factors include the specific brand of brass used (i.e. case wall thickness), barrel length, and freebore length, which plays an important role in how far down in the neck a given bullet will be seated at a specific seating depth. All of these factors play critical roles in pressure/velocity and are the main reason why you should be very cautious when someone tells you to use "such and such" load parameters because "that's what worked for them", when they have no idea what type of brass you're using, the freebore length, the barrel length, or any other specific details of your setup.
 
Same weight Nosler CC's and SMK's seem to be pretty similar in dimensions in my experience but if in doubt call the manufacturer. They will be happy to share data. I just called Berger last week to confirm starting load on a bullet, they have great customer service
 

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