Getting the hang of it

[David Bachelder]

Did a little casting today, between unpacking boxes from our recent move.

[RobS]

Not bad at all.........Lee 452-230-TC???

Now you have to load and shoot them!!!

[David Bachelder]

LEE 401-175-TC
2 Cavity mold.

See: http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0000690256

[RobS]

LEE 401-175-TC
2 Cavity mold.

See: http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0000690256

I was close...............the two designs are really similar. Another two that are close are the Lee 430-310-RF and the Lee 452-300-RF.

The ones you cast sure are purdy. :cbpour: What alloy?

[David Bachelder]

Lyman #2.

I mix it myself. I use free lead (my Dad had a bunch of it), along with superhard and tin from rotometal.

[canyon-ghost]

Good job there! Looks like you'll really be enjoying that 40 S&W soon!

[popper]

You can cut the #2 50/50 with pure and still get excellent results. It drops .403ish and the case doesn't size them smaller. I cut that with another 50% Pb and they still shoot good (9 ring @ 25 yds). Cases will resize smaller - so get a larger expander plug. My plan is to let the case size em.

[Cherokee]

Looking good David. #2 is harder than you need for the 40, you can cut 50% with lead, should work fine.

[David Bachelder]

The problem is that I use the same mix for .38/.357. The .38/.357's are shot out of a rifle. I'm sure velocity is up there pretty good. I have a chrono but it's still at my other house. Were moving and things are a bit scattered. I have only one pot and do not desire to buy another. I need to keep things the same and all in one pot. I want to keep as much control on the mix as possible, so that I'll know what I have.

Is the mix too hard for the .38/.357 as well? If so I could thin the whole pot and save a few bucks in the long run, and still maintain the mix. Shooting the Lyman#2 out of the Henry does not produce any lead fouling.

Whats the down side of shooting a harder boolit in the .40?

Make sense?

[RobS]

David:
There's no downside to shooting #2 in the 40 other than expense. It's not about speed but rather pressures regarding lead hardness. Think of a 22 LR with it's velocities for standard ammo in the 1100 fps area and all with soft lead bullets (probably 7 or 8 BHN) at lower pressures. You could definately work with softer alloys, even in the rifle, but there is also the possiblity of case swage on the boolit's base so that's something to consider or watch for if you would happen to try softening up.

[Cherokee]

You could go a little softer for the rifle as well but if you are happy where you are, no big reason to change. I use WW+Tin (about a 2/3/95 alloy) for my rifle loads, which are less than 1500 fps, wihout any leading.