What to do without published load data?

[Kulotiam]

I have some 125gr. .358 lead fp I want to load in .357 magnum. I have Hogdon CFE Pistol powder. Hogdon's website does not include this particular bullet from a Lee mold. All it has is an "MEI Cast LRNFP" bullet listed in the same weight with loading data.

Do I start with a lighter starting load than is listed for that bullet, then work it up to the max?

What do you do when what you have isn't found on any of the load data sheets?

[John Joseph]

Send an email to Hodgdons

[Kulotiam]

I did. Is that typically what is done in this situation?

[Bill Steele]

Just use the same weight lead bullet load data and use the start load level (which will be a very light load so don't make a ton) and work up.

[Kulotiam]

Thank you, Bill.

[jericho89]

As stated find load data for the same weight and bullet construction (lead in this case) and make a ladder load. Start low make a cylinders worth. Then load the next cylinder with an few tenths of a grain higher, and keep doing that till you get to close to max. Shoot and check each set of brass for pressure. When you have an accurate cylinder note that and work your next loads around that to further your accuracy.

[Kulotiam]

Thank you, Jericho89.

[hambam105]

What do you do when what you have isn't found on any of the load data sheets?

Until I had a reputable source, Speer Reloading Manual, I wouldn't assemble sheet.
Clean you work area, clean your brass, resize your brass, flare your brass, prime your brass, But don't charge your brass. Clean your rifle, square away your shooting gear. Drink a beer & go to a movie & entertain the GF or look for a GF. But don't charge your brass.

[JagerDog]

Note that light lead bullet data for 357 is likely going to be a "light load" even at published "max". If pressures are listed, this should be confirmed.

Pushing lead too fast (easy to do in 357 mag) will likely result in leading issues, so "target" data is what is published. Basically going to be 38 spec equivalent in the bigger case while using the faster pistol powders vs. magnum powders.

So yeah....using data from from a same weight, different profile lead bullet is plenty safe.

[stilly]

I have some 125gr. .358 lead fp I want to load in .357 magnum. I have Hogdon CFE Pistol powder. Hogdon's website does not include this particular bullet from a Lee mold. All it has is an "MEI Cast LRNFP" bullet listed in the same weight with loading data.

Do I start with a lighter starting load than is listed for that bullet, then work it up to the max?

What do you do when what you have isn't found on any of the load data sheets?

I really don't need to answer because his has already generated several very nice and solid answers, BUT I ran into this problem when I loaded up my 105gr SWC and I was trying to find load data before I started.

I was pissed too because BoLyCa has this same damn boolit for .38 and for .357 and I bought the mold because I saw people using it for their 9mm and .380- so naturally I HAD to have it. Well, I fell back onto my basic practice which was if you do NOT have load data for a load, then you look for the next bullet weight higher. This is the basic cheating method for getting starting loads and it works for 97% of the loads out there. SOME powders do not play well. Blue Dot was possibly one of them. BUT! I decided that it was only 9mm so what was it going to do to my Beretta? Kaboom? On about 6 or so grains of powder? BAH! (btw, yes I am being sarcastic) so I DID proceed with caution, I measured everything very carefully, went slowly, made about a dozen loads of each. And then the moment of truth came at the range. I told my g/f- "Hey shoot these, I made them just for you, let me know how they feel..." And she had no issues and NOW I have about 8 different starting loads for 9mm in the 105gr SWC AND that load data includes length AND even Data for Blue Dot! (shocker!)...

And there ya have it. :D

[Bill Steele]

I really don't need to answer because his has already generated several very nice and solid answers, BUT I ran into this problem when I loaded up my 105gr SWC and I was trying to find load data before I started.

I was pissed too because BoLyCa has this same damn boolit for .38 and for .357 and I bought the mold because I saw people using it for their 9mm and .380- so naturally I HAD to have it. Well, I fell back onto my basic practice which was if you do NOT have load data for a load, then you look for the next bullet weight higher. This is the basic cheating method for getting starting loads and it works for 97% of the loads out there. SOME powders do not play well. Blue Dot was possibly one of them. BUT! I decided that it was only 9mm so what was it going to do to my Beretta? Kaboom? On about 6 or so grains of powder? BAH! (btw, yes I am being sarcastic) so I DID proceed with caution, I measured everything very carefully, went slowly, made about a dozen loads of each. And then the moment of truth came at the range. I told my g/f- "Hey shoot these, I made them just for you, let me know how they feel..." And she had no issues and NOW I have about 8 different starting loads for 9mm in the 105gr SWC AND that load data includes length AND even Data for Blue Dot! (shocker!)...

And there ya have it. :D

Excellent tip, forgot to mention that one.

Having your girlfriend test fire a new load, ah, not so much, you want her to have all her digits...

[stilly]

Excellent tip, forgot to mention that one.

Having your girlfriend test fire a new load, ah, not so much, you want her to have all her digits...

Meh, gives me a reason to dump her and be truthful when I say the problem is her and not me... Missing fingers changes someone and that is something I care not to deal with...

:D

[hambam105]

Stilly is all heart.

[Bill Steele]

Meh, gives me a reason to dump her and be truthful when I say the problem is her and not me... Missing fingers changes someone and that is something I care not to deal with...

:D

Stilly is all heart.

True dat.