MEI CAST LSWC ??

[ChestnutLouie]

I am looking for, 158grain 38 special, recipes on Hodgdon's website and they list two;

one is "MEI CAST LSWC"

the other is "CAST LSCW"

What is the difference?

Thanks
Francis

 

[Joshua]

MEI is the abbreviation for:

Meister Bullet
6311 N 25th St
P.O. BOX 1835
OZARK, MO 65721

 

[ChestnutLouie]

I know that part. But why are the recipes different? I'm casting WW.

Thanks
Francis

 

[fiver]

which is usually an abbreviation for.
makes bullets on Magma engineering equipment using their molds.

the other is probably something that looks like or is close to the Lyman 358477.
which the Magma bullet just happens to do, unless you get the bevel base bullet then it does except for the bottom.

 

[Joshua]

The real question is what bullet are you using? What is it’s OAL when crimped at the crimp groove?

Different seating depths can give different pressures. It’s possible that the Meister bullet seats lower in the case, and that is why the data is different.

Also, when was the data first published. Older data like the Lyman 3rd edition lists the gas checked 358156 max charge of HS-6 at 6.7grs. That charge weight is well above the Hogdons info you posted above. Yet the 358156 is also a 158gr LSWC.

Start low and work up. What is your goal? Holes in paper or killing Brown Bears? If it’s holes in paper than start low and stop when you find an accurate load.

I personally run the 358477 over 5grs of unique. That is a +P load that is safe in my guns.

Josh

 

[Brad]

The difference is how long the bullet is below the case mouth.
Bullets of same weight but one with more bullet in case will show higher pressure with deeper seated billet.

 

[ChestnutLouie]

I got the Lee 356-120-TC mold, cast a bunch, powder coated and sized them and then I weighed them and they came out with an actual weight of 124.5 grains. can I load for 125 grains? (starting low and working up)

Thanks
Francis

 

[CZ93X62]

That is what I do. In 92/6/2 alloy, the Lee 9mm TC weighs 123 grains as-cast from my mould. Starting 10% under max listed data gives a bit of wiggle-room for seating depth variations, but the 9mm, 40 S&W, and 10mm are VERY sensitive to seating depth changes. Small case/high-pressure/deep-seating scenarios can go critical QUICKLY, so make haste slowly when working up loads with new/unfamiliar bullets in these calibers.

 

[fiver]

what AL said.
if nothing else use 130gr data.
you really need to be conscious of case volume with the 9mm.