New to reloading, advice wanted.

[jdg30]

I recently purchased a Dillon reloading setup for .38/.357, 9mm and .45acp. I got the Speer #14 manual and Lyman 49th edition for reference. I got some Hodgdon Clays and HP-38 powder for these calibers from the recommendation of my local dealer and he said they are cleaner burning powders than others. I bought Extreme plated bullets in the following sizes: 158gr SWC for .38special, 124gr RN 9mm and 185gr Flat Point (FP) .45.

My local dealer told me that if I don't find specific data for Clays or HP-38 that I can use the data from Bullseye for Clays and use data from Win 231 for HP-38 powder. When some of these powders are listed together for the same loads, the powder charges aren't quite the same for those exchanges so it makes me wonder if I really can substitute data between those pairs.

Also I have been getting confused about which data to use for the weight and styles of bullets I am using because they aren't mentioned specifically in the load formulas. For some loads the Cartridge over all length (COAL) is different by hundredths or thousandths of an inch and I'm not sure how much it would matter if I seated a 124gr RN 9mm at 1.135" vs the depth of 1.120" that is listed for the same load but for 9mm UCSP (Speer). Also, the Lyman doesn't even list 124gr bullets for 9mm, they only list 125gr bullets.

So I would appreciate if those more experienced could clear some of this up for me: 1. Can load data for 125gr 9mm work for 124gr bullets? 2. How do you determine what COAL to go with if the specific bullet isn't listed and which bullet styles are interchangeable as far as the load data is concerned? 3. Which bullet style would I use for the 185gr FP .45's that I have? 4. Lastly, what are some other reliable load data reference sources I can use to learn more and have more listed options?

I would appreciate if some of you can help me out with my questions. Thanks

[XDRoX]

You can use 125gr data for 124gr bullets. The 1 grain won't matter.
For 124gr RN bullets you want to load between 1.120" and 1.169".
Longer is better as it means less pressure. You need to load some to different lengths and test them in the barrel of your gun. They should fall all the way in and easily fall out when the barrel is turned upside down.

If you just want to be lazy, then load 'em to 1.140". This should work in just about any newer common 9mm pistol.

You can find additional data here:

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

[XDRoX]

BTW, I have never heard that Bullseye and Clays are the same powder. Find out for sure before you swap data.

[Chief-7700]

Bullseye and Clays are not the same powder different burn rates.
Most all your answers can be found starting on page # 31 of your Lyman's 49th Edition

[zfields]

You can use 125gr data for 124gr bullets. The 1 grain won't matter.
For 124gr RN bullets you want to load between 1.120" and 1.169".
Longer is better as it means less pressure. You need to load some to different lengths and test them in the barrel of your gun. They should fall all the way in and easily fall out when the barrel is turned upside down.

If you just want to be lazy, then load 'em to 1.140". This should work in just about any newer common 9mm pistol.

You can find additional data here:
http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

Yes it will lower pressure, but some guns dont like the longer rounds in lead. Yes, Ive learned that the hard way.

[pdq_wizzard]

Bullseye and Clays are not the same powder different burn rates.
Most all your answers can be found starting on page # 31 of your Lyman's 49th Edition

^^^ This ^^^

you CAN use HP-38 load data for Win 231, but H Clays and Bullseys are different, as for the OAL for the bullets email the manufacture and they will ether give you the " or tell you what bullet you can copy.

[diginit]

Remove the barrel from the gun. Put an unloaded bullet in the chamber and hold it lightly against the lands with a pencil. Put a cleaning rod or NEW pencil (FLAT, eraser end) into the barrel until it touches the bullet and mark it at the muzzle. Then make another mark 1/32" towards the lead end of the pencil. A razor knife makes good marks. Make some dummy loads at different oals and record this on the case with a sharpie. Put each dummy rnd into the chamber and check with the marked pencil. Most guns like 1/32" jump to the lands. The mark nearest the lead end will determine your MAX OAL. Check the cycling with the dummy rnd after reassembly. You can finetune it by cycling shorter rounds to see what works best.
Every type bullet is different so you need to do this for every brand.

[mnguyen84]

^^^ This ^^^

, but H Clays and Bullseys are different,

the alliant and hodgdon website list different max loads for these powder. if for some strange reason, you do use the data from Bullseye for Clay, you may want to make your loads 25% lighter to start with. the differences between the max loads for 9mm, 44 s&w, and .45 acp seem to vary anywhere from 0.6% to over 24%. So in some cases, whoever told u the loads are interchangeable may be right, but it doesn't seem to be true for all cases. moreover in many cases, the data for bullseye exceeds clay.