What have I created?

[Jim]

Just for kicks and giggles, I poured some .456 Lyman M/L minnie bullets. I pushed a few, base first, through a .430 Lee push-thru sizer die. I had to put a cheater on the handle of my old Pacific press to get 'em through. They came out lookin' like wadcutters with very big and deep lube grooves. This just might turn out to be fun to play with!

BEFORE

http://jgcphotos.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/p10100014-e1321399590774.jpg

AFTER

http://jgcphotos.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/p10100032-e1321410033762.jpg

[Chicken Thief]

How'bouts a before pic, please?

[phatman]

Hollow point them and they will be like the old British Man Stopper bullets.

Cheers, John

[phatman]

By the way: fabulous job of picture format and contrast.

Cheers, John

[plainsman456]

They will make a sick thumping sound when hitting a hog,while making sure it won't move after the hit.
You should be able to hear it for a long ways.

[Linstrum]

Round balls can be pushed through a smaller sizing die to make some interesting little plinker "pills". I was running some 45-grain 0.311" round balls through a 6.5mm sizing die and ended up with some nice 45 grain boolits for my Swedish Mausers. I used around 4 grains Unique, Red Dot, or 700X to push them out the barrel. Sounds about like a .22 Magnum.

rl 2013

[Jim]

Chicken Thief, photo added.

Phatman, thank you! I learned photography from my Dad.

Linstrum, I size .460 RBs down to .430 for my .44 Bulldog. Light recreational loads.

[mroliver77]

How heavy Jim? Is it still hollow based? Ought to be nice in a .44 for putting full size holes in things!

[x101airborne]

Now there are "tickles" and there are "chuckles", but those are just down right AWESOME!!!!!

[sig2009]

How'bouts a before pic, please?

Look at the top pic!

[thegreatdane]

wow. those must have taken quite a bit of force. Cool!

[Leadforbrains]

Awesome! Whats the alloy?

[Ronbo256]

Those look awesome!

[runfiverun]

those resemble the 41 wadcutter mold i have.
they are very,very accurate.
i'd suggest 7-8 grs unique in a 44 mag case and only one lube groove filled.

[Jim]

Second photo updated.

Weight is 233 grains. Base is solid, not hollow. Alloy is straight WWs.

And, yes, it took a lot of force. I had to put a cheater on the handle of my old Pacific press to get them through. Next time, I'll set up my hydraulic sizing press and use that.

Thanks for all the compliments, gentlemen.

[35remington]

I'd be very interested in how those shot. Neat looking. Here's hoping they do well.

[Jim]

The first ones were pushed through, base first, with a custom counter sunk piston. This is what they look like if pushed through with a standard flat head piston.

http://jgcphotos.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/p10100015-e1321410709387.jpg

[snuffy]

Those look like a Lee R.E.A.L. boolit. I didn't know lyman made a mold like that.

[excess650]

Maxi-ball turned wadcutter.

[EMC45]

I would run them through a lubesizer and use a light roll crimp over the front "driving band" and see how they did on paper.

[snuffy]

Oh yeah, now I see it! I knew I recognized the boolit. TC made a mold like that too, the TC maxi-ball. Their mold was some sort of investment casting, the boolits were VERY crude. I shot some of those MB's in my TC Hawken.

[Jim]

I would run them through a lubesizer and use a light roll crimp over the front "driving band" and see how they did on paper.

With lube grooves that are .047 deep, they would work fine for that kind of lubing.

Just came in from the casting shack pouring a bunch of them. Later, I'll set up my hydraulic sizing press, pull the top off a cold one and run the whole bunch through.

If the law knew how much fun I'm having, they'd be after me sure as the the world![smilie=w:

[EMC45]

Please let us know how it turns out!

[1Shirt]

Think they would be ok to 50 yds, but would question accuracy potential beyond that mark. Will be interested in seeing your testing results.
1Shirt!

[Jim]

I dreamed this up as a wadcutter for my .44 Bulldog. I'll be shooting at 25 feet. I figure if I can hit a paper plate at 25 feet with a 2 1/2" barrel, I'll be doing good.

[Olevern]

Great photography, as always, Jim and quite an interresting result. Let us know how they shoot.
vern

[x101airborne]

Like I said, Jim.... Good looking boolits. I just gotta try them out of my bulldog as well. It is my favorite carry gun around the house. I carry two rounds of 44 spl home-made ratshot and three loads of 260 grain SWC's over 6.2 grains unique. I am prepared for all enemies. Havent killed a pig with mine yet. But ya never know....

[Rangefinder]

All right, now quit yapping and get us a range report!! :D I really do love all the "thinking outside the box" that happens here---great looking boolits Jim!

[Jim]

It will be first part of next week before I can file a range report.