Lee TL452-230-2R loaded rounds

[Skipper488]

OK I finally got around to making some loaded rounds from the bullets I cast from wheel weights.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5167/5318168127_292f0ed4af.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/74275486@N00/5318168127/)
DSCF1123 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/74275486@N00/5318168127/) by skipper_mso488 (http://www.flickr.com/people/74275486@N00/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5049/5318764876_3357dca456.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/74275486@N00/5318764876/)
DSCF1122 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/74275486@N00/5318764876/) by skipper_mso488 (http://www.flickr.com/people/74275486@N00/), on Flickr

I loaded these over 4.5 and 4.8 grains of HP-38 if those look good I'll try 5.1 then 5.3 grains (5.3 is published maximum) OAL is 1.250. I really need to get a chronograph so I can quantify the results instead of just looking for signs of excessive pressure.

[Recluse]

I have that boolit. I load it 4.3 to 4.5 of W231 (same as HP38) and it becomes an absolute friggin' tack-driver out to 75' with almost no recoil, no feed jams, no ejection jams.

Good boolit.

:coffee:

[geargnasher]

I really like everything about that boolit except how it shoots in my particular guns. Feed and function are flawless, and accuracy isn't too bad, but the dadgum things lead everything I shoot them in, even with Felix Lube. I think my mould is on the ragged edge of minimum diameter for my alloy and guns and the weak TL bands just give out and gas-cut like crazy, even at low velocities.

In order to fix that, since I liked the nose profile of that Lee boolit so much, I worked with Tom at Accurate Molds to design this one to my specs, and it is MUCH better for my purposes. If the Lee design works in your gun, then good on you and keep it up, but if you have problems, try one of these:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28007&d=1293562439
I took this pic as an example of too hot, just right, and too cool a mould, but you can see the what the boolit looks like anyway.

Here's a link to the thread I started about the mould, with pics: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=101545

Gear

[Skipper488]

Thanks for the advice geargnasher, I'll keep that in mind. My bullets are right at .452 with wheel weight alloy.

[Recluse]

I really like everything about that boolit except how it shoots in my particular guns. Feed and function are flawless, and accuracy isn't too bad, but the dadgum things lead everything I shoot them in, even with Felix Lube. I think my mould is on the ragged edge of minimum diameter for my alloy and guns and the weak TL bands just give out and gas-cut like crazy, even at low velocities.

Gear

Every Lee mold I buy, and I only buy their two-bangers, I Lee-ment them, then lap 'em out, then polish the cavities with Mother's Aluminum Polish.

Never had a Lee boolit lead on me yet doing that. (knock on wood. . .)

Now, that boolit leaded on me a little bit in the 1911s when I used straight LLA on it and was water-dropping it. I went to air-cooled and the 45/45/10 blend of lube and all problems stopped.

Now, I DO have that old Gov't Mod 70 Colt that will lead if you even lower the dang thing near a spare tire that has a wheel weight on it. Hell, I wore that gun to the dentist's office a couple of years ago, and when they pulled the lead sheet over me to take some x-rays, I got home and found that the damn gun had leaded up.

But my C.O. in the Air Force presented that gun to me and it was at least WWII surplus back then, and I've sure enough fired more than a few rounds through it.

So, I just stay stocked up on Chore Boy copper pads, 0000 steel wool and keep on shooting it. The other .45's eat and shoot everything with no problem.

It's all an adventure.

:coffee:

[geargnasher]

Indeed, Recluse. You know, even with a gun that unique, rare, and of such limited production :kidding: you might still find that maybe one or two or fifty different custom aftermarket barrel makers might have at one time actually offered a replacement barrel for that series 70, right? :kidding: You can keep shootin' that old warhorse to much better effect with only changing one part out, and if it bothers you too much you can always change it back. I'm sure you had no idea, that's why they call me "Captain Idiot Directive".;)

Gear

[Recluse]

Indeed, Recluse. You know, even with a gun that unique, rare, and of such limited production :kidding: you might still find that maybe one or two or fifty different custom aftermarket barrel makers might have at one time actually offered a replacement barrel for that series 70, right? :kidding: You can keep shootin' that old warhorse to much better effect with only changing one part out, and if it bothers you too much you can always change it back. I'm sure you had no idea, that's why they call me "Captain Idiot Directive".;)

Gear

Heh heh heh.

That old gun was given to me by my C.O. who ended up retiring--many years later--as Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force. The old man (bird colonel) was like a father to me while I was in his command, and the gun means a lot to me. Long story behind that gun and it just wouldn't be right to change a thing about it.

Also wouldn't be right not to shoot it now and then. Hard to explain.

:coffee:

[Skipper488]

Recluse, congrats on the the keepsake from your former CO. I'd stick with FMJ ammo with that gun and call it good. I might even buy a display case for it and hang it on the wall.