When reloading bullets without specific reload data, what is your method of determining a starting load?
I have some 158 grain Dardas LSWC Cast bullets in 38 Special (.358). After looking through all of my manuals as well as the powder manufacturers web site, as usual there is a great spread for starting loads. I am using Bullseye powder. Alliant states 3.5 grain (3.15 grain with the 10% reduction), and some of my manuals show 3.6 grains as a +P load. The lowest listed was 3.0 or 3.2 grains of Bullseye.

The bullet is exactly like the Laser-Cast bullets of the same specs, no data on those either.

What are your methods to determine a starting load?

Mossy, I would take into consideration the structure of the bullet - wad cutter or semi wad cutter or round nose - ie how many bearing surface does it have compared to other bullets. Then also the diametre would play a part. On .38Special I would start with the minimum load specifications and work up gradually.

or just put 3.0 grs in the case and go shoot them.

compare the bullet you have to a picture of one in the maunal of the same weight/shape they are very close.

if you were asking about a 30-06 you would get a slightly different/same answer.

I look at weight of the bullet only and can find loads for any weight made, or data close to it. Load and shoot. This method has worked for 45 years now. In case of differing manuals having different data; yes they do.

I look at weight first style 2nd pick data from the middle of the bunch and work from their.

+1

Have to agree. But, what if the powder is not listed for that bullet in any of the manuals- what do you do?

there is some data on line some where . do a little research on Yahoo

quote:

Originally posted by Lost Oki:
Have to agree. But, what if the powder is not listed for that bullet in any of the manuals- what do you do?

Yes, I agree with vines . . . search the web (I do), and it goes without saying that you need to be cautious.

I always test what I find on the web against the data on a burn-rate chart (like this) to see if there's a significant burn-rate discrepancy between the unspecified propellant I might want to use and a propellant specified by the manual whose burn-rate is closest to it. (Read the CAUTION statement at the top of the link's page!)

IF I decide to use my (manual-unspecified) propellant as a substitute for one of the manual's specified propellants, I proceed very, very cautiously, taking into account whether my substitute is faster- or slower-burning than the reference propellant.

Here is another option for making decisions.

Steve's Reloading Pages

Good luck!

OK cast bullets in a 38spl. With 158gr cast virtually anyone's data for a 38spl 158gr cast bullets will work. You are not going to run into any pressure issues because cast bullets need to be fired at lower velocities or you will lead the hell out of the barrel.
If the powder you want to use is not listed, look at the relative burn rate chart in most manuals and find a couple of powders that are faster and slower for which you have data and look at those loads. Now back off from the data for the listed loads 10% and load up a couple of shells. Shoot them and make sure there are no "issues".
Most cast bullet loads will be fairly mild "plinkers" although I used to shoot 180gr cast bullets in my 357 Maximium for competition but those were gas checked.

Compare it to something similar in 1/2 dozen books, start low and work up.

quote:

Originally posted by Antelope Sniper:
Compare it to something similar in 1/2 dozen books, start low and work up.

There ya go.