220gr loads

[lkbenson]

I need some info. I am looking for a safe, mild load using cast, 220gr. flat point (truncated shape) bevel base bullets. All of the data I have is for either
180 or 230gr. swc. I need powder and oal if anyone has info. Thanks

[Dan0]

lkbenson,

I hope you get the info you requested. A friend just gave me a couple hundred lead, 220 grain, TC to try, and I, too, have no load data. If you find something, PLEASE, let me know. I'm currently using VVN320, and have some WSF on the shelf. The 220 grain is not as common as the 230 LRN or 200 LSWC, and that may be why we can't find load data.

Good shooting,

Dan0

[stans]

This actually a pretty good bullet and Hornady makes a jacketed twin to this design. When loaded to an OAL of 1.200" the seating depth is virtually identical to a 230 grain lead round nose bullet loaded to 1.260". 1.260" is a faily common OAL for cast lead 230 grain round nose bullets, so I start with loading data for that bullet.

Use the following data at your own risk.
1.200" OAL 225 grain LFP, CCI 300 primers, BarSto 5 inch Government model barrel.

Brass.........Powder......Charge.......Velocity
Federal......Bullseye....4.4 grains.....853 fps
TZZ-86......Bullseye....4.6 grains.....861 fps
WCC-1985...AA#5.......7.0 grains....789 fps
WCC-1985...AA#5.......7.5 grains....859fps

[Dan0]

Stans,

Thanks for the input. I'm at a disadvantage - I've never had a Bar-Sto Barrel, although I understand they have been making arguably the best barrel on the market for many years. I do believe, however, it’s time I buy one, but I’m torn between the Kart easy fit and the Bar-Sto.

I will try some 220 loads this weekend.

Thanks,

Dan0

[TriumphGT6]

220 gr. is not very different from 230 gr., and it's lighter as well. I would expect any load that's safe for the heavier bullet to be safe with the lighter one, when they're this close to each other. So go ahead and use the 230 gr. recipes you found, starting at the low end of course. Much more important than the piddling 10 gr. difference in throw weight, is the question of jacketed vs. lead. Lead bullets are much easier to "start" than jacketed ones, so make sure your first experimental loads are based on recipes of like bullet type.

Suppose your handbook recommends 3.5 gr. of IMR 4375, using the 230 gr. Buckblaster bullet. This is a titanium jacketed bullet: very hard, and it takes enormous pressure to force it into the barrel. So, if you're actually using a plain, 230 gr. lead-alloy bullet, which is much softer than titanium (and would therefore be easier to shove into the barrel), the pressure generated by that 3.5 gr. of powder would be much less, and quite safe.

OTOH if your handbook says to use 13.5 gr. of Cowseye behind a 125 gr. lead bullet, that doesn't mean it's safe to use that same charge behind the 125 gr. titanium bullet; the lead slug is softer and so, in pushing the lead bullet into the barrel, it presents less of an obstacle than the titanium bullet would. Lead = low pressure = safe, titanium = high pressure = wrecked gun.

(N.B. Euroshooters: by "gr." I mean grain not gram. Yet another Americanism that'll never change. :cool: )

[robertbank]

Go with the 230 gr data. I cast the Lyman RN from WW and they come out at 220 gr. +or-. I have never had any problem . 5.5 gr Win 231 gave me 815 Ftps out of my 5" Norinco and Para using WW and Win LP Primers. Round is accurate.