Is it ok to interchange bullet brand with the same weight? Example. Hornasy interlock 150gr in the Lyman book says to use imr4064. Can I change out the bullet to say a sierra 150 gr.? Just examples wether they exist or not. The reason being is that I've loaded using the Lyman manual and in it the test bullet they used was a hornady 150gr btsp part number 3131. The bullet I'm using is a hornady btsp 150 gr. part number 3033.
Bullet brand
- Thread starter cotang
- Start date
I have never had a problem with switching reloading data for bullets of the same weight. 30 years ago when I started reloading there wasn't the bullet choices or the data available that we have access to now. If I could not find data for a given weight bullet I would was told to use specs from the next heaviest bullet we could find listed. I still do this today even with some of the newer powders that have come along. You of course always want to start at min loads and work your way up.
For the most part this can be done safely. I once substituted a 110 v-max in the place of a 110 hollow point making varmint loads in a .300wsm and it was way overpressure at max. Also .338 win mag using 250grain Sierra GK and 250 interlocks are 100fps different in same load volume. At max load levels this can make a big difference. My suggestion is start low and work up, don't take any max or near max loads and just switch bullets as it can make a difference.
Usually, the only time you can get into trouble is if the bullet you are switching to is larger in diameter, or the bearing surface is significantly longer than the original bullet the load was worked up with.
Many years ago, I acquired a bag of 30 cal, 150 grain Remington Kor-Lokt bullets. Threw my micrometer on a couple, they were .3082". I thought....good to go with a load I was using with the 150 Speer FBSP at the time.
Loaded up a box of 20 and headed to the range. First four were perfect, no pressure signs, all clustered in a group of just over 1 moa. 5th shot showed signs of pressure, bolt lift slightly sticky, and a mark from the ejector hole on the casehead.
I'm thinking: "What is going on here, did I perchance overcharge a case?
Gingerly, I chambered and fired another....it was just like the first 4, no pressure signs, all is well. So went the next 6 shots. Then, another round displayed pressure signs. Not serious, but enough to get my attention.
Took the rest home, [7 unfired rounds] and pulled them down. Powder charge was good, no other reasons apparent.
I decided to measure the bullets again. 6 of the remaining 7 were .3082, like the ones I had initially measured, but one was .3093", more than one thousandth larger. Curious, I dumped out that bag of bullets and started measuring.
There was obviously two different lots of bullets in there, with about ¼ of them being of the larger diameter. They appeared identical to the naked eye, but the micrometer told the truth.
Had this been a mild load, I would probably have never noticed. [except possibly on the target], but since it was a reasonably stiff, but safe working load, the extra diameter put it into the noticeable pressure area.
Always be careful. Surprises occasionally lurk out there.
Regards, Dave.
Many years ago, I acquired a bag of 30 cal, 150 grain Remington Kor-Lokt bullets. Threw my micrometer on a couple, they were .3082". I thought....good to go with a load I was using with the 150 Speer FBSP at the time.
Loaded up a box of 20 and headed to the range. First four were perfect, no pressure signs, all clustered in a group of just over 1 moa. 5th shot showed signs of pressure, bolt lift slightly sticky, and a mark from the ejector hole on the casehead.
I'm thinking: "What is going on here, did I perchance overcharge a case?
Gingerly, I chambered and fired another....it was just like the first 4, no pressure signs, all is well. So went the next 6 shots. Then, another round displayed pressure signs. Not serious, but enough to get my attention.
Took the rest home, [7 unfired rounds] and pulled them down. Powder charge was good, no other reasons apparent.
I decided to measure the bullets again. 6 of the remaining 7 were .3082, like the ones I had initially measured, but one was .3093", more than one thousandth larger. Curious, I dumped out that bag of bullets and started measuring.
There was obviously two different lots of bullets in there, with about ¼ of them being of the larger diameter. They appeared identical to the naked eye, but the micrometer told the truth.
Had this been a mild load, I would probably have never noticed. [except possibly on the target], but since it was a reasonably stiff, but safe working load, the extra diameter put it into the noticeable pressure area.
Always be careful. Surprises occasionally lurk out there.
Regards, Dave.
