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noob bullets question

max47

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 1, 2010
22
0
45
iowa
just getting started reloading, read through most of the info here, I am working on putting together some hunting rounds for the upcoming deer season, as I look at the different manufacturers load data I see a lot of different info, my question is this, as far as bullet weight goes are things pretty much equal? example: if my hornady manual says to use X amount of X powder with say an 165gr SST, can I assume that the same powder load would be good for other brands of 165gr bullets like Sierra, Nolser, Barnes, etc.? I know that there may be different performance from manufacturer brands and that is what I am trying to figure out by loading and testing the right bullet for my gun

Thanks a ton, sorry to ask the stupid new guy question
 
The load of different bullets may yield very similar velocity. However it most likely will not give you similar accuracy or same POI.
 
Not to drop a bomb but It takes testing, nobody can tell you what works well with your rifle. Take different loads to the range and nail it down.
 
Max47,

Yes, there will be a large degree of overlap, when you're talking about different bullets of the same weight. Even from different manufacturers. That's not to say they're "interchangeable" though, because that's not the case. Differences in jacket thickness, core hardness, ogive, bearing surface, etc., will result in different data once it's fully developed. But there will be some overlap of that data between the different makers and configurations. This is why we don't switch a component, say a Hornady 168 HPBT for a Nolser 168 HPBT, and assume that the max load will be the same for both.

Assumptions are stupid; questions never are. Don't be afraid to ask!