Comments thread: July 2015 Photo contest

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Comments go here...as well as any 'extra' photos.

[Ihsarah]

Looking forward to these submissions, I enjoy SWC/meplat styles for their benefits but honestly I like them even more for the dumber reason that they look neat.

[Beagle333]

Wow... Bullwolf certainly started off with a strong entry! Impressive!!!

[Grendel99]

All of those are some good looking bullets! I need another 44 caliber mold like I need another hole in my head but that Lee 310gr bullet looks awesome. I wonder if it's available in a 6-banger or NOE has something similar :bigsmyl2:

[SteveM]

Those are some nice pictures boys. I think what I'm gonna do is, post my pic on the last day of the month and just win this contest. Everyone had best come strong, I know I will.

Steve

[RED333]

Those are some nice pictures boys. I think what I'm gonna do is, post my pic on the last day of the month and just win this contest. Everyone had best come strong, I know I will.

Steve

Ya know your computer will crash the day before:kidding:

[SteveM]

Ya know your computer will crash the day before:kidding:

Ha! Even if it does, I'll just go use my neighbors.

[Grendel99]

kdbarker, what bullet is that in the Blackout? I really like how the 310gr Lee and 30 cal Ranch Dog bullet look. Seeing the 30 cal Ranch Dog bullet in that photo makes me want to get a 30-30 just so I have an excuse to buy one! I do have two 30-06's though, hmmm....

[kdbarker]

kdbarker, what bullet is that in the Blackout? I really like how the 310gr Lee and 30 cal Ranch Dog bullet look. Seeing the 30 cal Ranch Dog bullet in that photo makes me want to get a 30-30 just so I have an excuse to buy one! I do have two 30-06's though, hmmm....

Its just a simple, inexpensive, 150gr plated cast bullet by "Extreme Bullets". I started using these when 150gr FMJ disappeared for a while a couple years ago. They are not the most accurate, but for rifle drills, and shooting steel out to 100 yards they do the trick.

[Bullwolf]

Since I could only post one pic for the contest...

Here's both style boolits from the Lee C430-310-RF mould.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=66528&d=1365215718

Left boolit with a GC (Gas Check) shank still.

Right boolit converted/milled to PB (Plain Base).

Naked unlubed & unchecked boolit weight:
With GC shank weight 306 grains cast from 50% pure lead - 50% hardball alloy.
With GC shank weight 282 grains cast using my mix of mostly Mono/Linotype.
PB no GC shank weight 265 grains cast from 50% pure lead - 50% hardball.
PB no GC shank weight 246-248gr cast from straight Linotype.

I wanted a 250ish grain boolit for my 3 inch Smith 629 backpacker, and for use in 44 Special - But I did not want to lose the ability to make 310 GC boolits for rifle and my heavy Dan Wesson 44 Magnum loads.


Here's a few 250 grain Plain Base boolits, being loaded in 44 Special cases.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=144251&d=1423623289

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=144252&d=1422503294

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=144253&d=1423126812

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=144254&d=1423126753

I typically tumble lube 44 Special in 45-45-10. (Recluse lube) However, I was finger lubing some 44 Magnum boollits in Carnuba Red and BAC while doing this, so these Plain Base 44 Special boolits got hand lubed as well, and then pushed through a honed out Lee sizing die to clean the lube mess up.




- Bullwolf

[pmer]

Bullwolf, that's going a long ways to hide early spruecuts! LOL Those Lee 310s are nice looking.

[Seeker]

Bullwolf, I think I'm in love. Those have to be the most beautiful boolits I have ever seen! Ever.

[Hamish]

I was thinking of posting a pic of the NOE 312440,,,,,Whiterabbit nuked that idea pretty well,,,,,uh, wow,,,,,

[taco650]

chuckbuster has my vote!

[taco650]

bullwolf,

"I wanted a 250ish grain boolit for my 3 inch Smith 629 backpacker, and for use in 44 Special - But I did not want to lose the ability to make 310 GC boolits for rifle and my heavy Dan Wesson 44 Magnum loads"

Are both boolits made in the same mold or did you buy two and have one modified?

[RED333]

This here gets my vote, now this is meplat!!!


My first time playing this game! I like meplat.

Here are some 740 grain boolits (yes, less than 10 per pound of lead) in a 460 S&W, from an NEI mold. The first photo didn't turn out right so for size comparison I included a factory 45/70 round. You can see the case bulge about 50% down the case where the gas check sits.

Boolits were designed for 460 weatherby for shooting dark continent animals.

http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/fss/4057edd444532370a358816dea7ca303

The reduced loads go about 930 fps out of my handgun. :smile:

[Bullwolf]

bullwolf,

"I wanted a 250ish grain boolit for my 3 inch Smith 629 backpacker, and for use in 44 Special - But I did not want to lose the ability to make 310 GC boolits for rifle and my heavy Dan Wesson 44 Magnum loads"

Are both boolits made in the same mold or did you buy two and have one modified?

Mine is a dual cavity mould. I only wished to Plain Base 1 cavity.

I have seen moulds where someone has either opened up the Gas Check shanks on the Lee C430-310-RF. (which makes a heavier boolit) Or they milled the bottom off the Lee C430-310-RF mould to make a shorter lighter boolit.

My plan was to copy a mould modification idea that geargnasher did back in 2011 with the Lee 6.5mm Cruise Missile mould from an older thread. (linked below)

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?103567-Milling-Down-The-LEE-6-5mm-Cruise-Missile-Mold-Best-Sized-Bullet&p=1133289&viewfull=1#post1133289

The pictures below are geargnasher's, as was the original idea. They explain things better than I could with a 1000 words.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=19215&d=1264399031

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=19214&d=1264398989

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=19213&d=1264398946

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=19212&d=1264398869

How to PB one cavity with a hacksaw, file, and some sandpaper when you don't have access to a lathe, or a machine shop.

Since it's just an inexpensive Lee DC mould, there really isn't that much to lose.


-Bullwolf

[taco650]

Thanks Bullwolf!

[Whiterabbit]

was thinking about going the opposite, a pic of the NOE 513-850 grain boolit. Not quite tipped, but almost. Just a massive, massive chunk-o-lead with a not-quite-a-spitzer tip.

Glad I went with the pic I did though.

gotta admit, I was worried when I shot the first one, I was worried it would pile up in front of the forcing cone and spit 50% of the boolit through the BC gap!

[Ihsarah]

This here gets my vote, now this is meplat!!!

Agreed, these guys are both horrendous and beautiful at the same time haha

[SteveM]

Dang.........you guys did come strong this month!! There are some excellent pictures here, and some stiff competition!
I posted my pic today because I may be out of town on the 31th, I didn't want you guys to think I was bluffing................Unless someone posts a pic with a shotgun slug or a cannon slug, I should still win based on "MEPLAT"..........:bigsmyl2:

[Whiterabbit]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65955&d=1364705832

Revolver cartridge :)

[taco650]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65955&d=1364705832

Revolver cartridge :)

Some of those look like they'd be too long for the cylinder...

[Whiterabbit]

3 inch cylinder. I can load a spitzer to absurd OAL and it fits just fine.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=124563&d=1418716165

Basically, I have never shot anything loaded to 3 inches. I have too much powder capacity for boolit weight.

------------------------------

So, that being said, here is my dream:

take the BFR, send it in to a custom builder for 500 linebaugh conversion. This is the 3" cylinder version.

Now, 500 Linebaugh brass is 1.4" long. m33 ball bullets for the 50 BMG are 1.6 inches from cannelure to meplat. There is still plenty of case capacity to launch a 650 grian bullet at 1000 fps.

So, the gun would be a novelty oddity, designed for and capable of only shooting m33 ball bullets. From a handgun.

Technically, I think it would be classified as illegal since m33 ball I steel core (though I don't think it is designated as armor piercing??) But still, there is something silly/funny about the idea of having a revolver designed for accurately shooting 50BMG bullets.

For now, I can't max out cylinder length if I tried.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=110498&d=1405235553

(not me, a Chinese student I took shooting. Once in a lifetime opportunity to shoot a gun, he wanted to "shoot the big one" :))

[taco650]

So, that being said, here is my dream:

take the BFR, send it in to a custom builder for 500 linebaugh conversion. This is the 3" cylinder version.

Now, 500 Linebaugh brass is 1.4" long. m33 ball bullets for the 50 BMG are 1.6 inches from cannelure to meplat. There is still plenty of case capacity to launch a 650 grian bullet at 1000 fps.

So, the gun would be a novelty oddity, designed for and capable of only shooting m33 ball bullets. From a handgun.

Technically, I think it would be classified as illegal since m33 ball I steel core (though I don't think it is designated as armor piercing??) But still, there is something silly/funny about the idea of having a revolver designed for accurately shooting 50BMG bullets.

For now, I can't max out cylinder length if I tried.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=110498&d=1405235553

(not me, a Chinese student I took shooting. Once in a lifetime opportunity to shoot a gun, he wanted to "shoot the big one" :))

Too funny! I don't blame him, I would too if given the chance! Is your BFR chambered in 45-70 or 460 SW?

[Whiterabbit]

460. I size down .458-.460 boolits to .452 and off I go. That's where the 740 grain boolit comes from. NEI mold for 460 Weatherby :)

It's neat taking foreign nationals out shooting. All the concerns of making a good impression to turn them into a lifelong shooter and 2nd amendment supporter is gone. The moment the plane takes off they are back to a 10 year mandatory prison sentence for possession of anything firearms related (including, I believe, dummy ammo keepsakes which I did not offer despite wanting to). So, the only goal is entertainment and leaving with a positive experience. That doesn't require being able to hit the target every time, learning true trigger control, etc. It's all about creating a positive experience.

for the record, he almost gave himself a forehead tattoo a moment after that shot was taken, the background folks came running to ask if he was OK, and at the risk of sounding racist, round-eye was the operative term for a moment there. Of course it was smiles all around. Lifetime memory secured.

He only shot that one round for pistol. the rest of the day earlier was rifle. As we left, he said "I didn't realize the little one was the big one!"

[Whiterabbit]

didn;t think someone would post a shotshell slug. Awesome.

Reminds me how I would like to load some black powder-in-brass-shotshells using a custom hollow base mold that would end up looking like a MASSIVE 45/70 for a handi rifle. That's a project that, like the m33L (m33 Linebaugh) will probably never happen.

neat to think about though.

[TexasAggie06]

Doubt I'll win, but these are my first castings and reloads ever, 99 out of 100 cycled and fired perfectly, one jam and only one load that felt unusually heavy...

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll13/abatt2006/E4AAB738-130A-4749-9F4F-7C92C0A06666_zpsicpknprc.jpg

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll13/abatt2006/ED273286-936D-4BCD-BF9C-AEFF8D25DBA0_zpsrlsivkdk.jpghttp://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll13/abatt2006/2637E8E5-D2D7-4295-88B5-27B950E01FE7_zpswimg0oss.jpg

[SteveM]

Who won July? Who are the top 3? What is the topic for Aug? I always look forward to these photo contests

[gondwana]

Since I could only post one pic for the contest...

Here's both style boolits from the Lee C430-310-RF mould.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=66528&d=1365215718

Left boolit with a GC (Gas Check) shank still.

Right boolit converted/milled to PB (Plain Base).

Naked unlubed & unchecked boolit weight:
With GC shank weight 306 grains cast from 50% pure lead - 50% hardball alloy.
With GC shank weight 282 grains cast using my mix of mostly Mono/Linotype.
PB no GC shank weight 265 grains cast from 50% pure lead - 50% hardball.
PB no GC shank weight 246-248gr cast from straight Linotype.

I wanted a 250ish grain boolit for my 3 inch Smith 629 backpacker, and for use in 44 Special - But I did not want to lose the ability to make 310 GC boolits for rifle and my heavy Dan Wesson 44 Magnum loads.


Here's a few 250 grain Plain Base boolits, being loaded in 44 Special cases.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=144251&d=1423623289

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=144252&d=1422503294

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=144253&d=1423126812

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=144254&d=1423126753

I typically tumble lube 44 Special in 45-45-10. (Recluse lube) However, I was finger lubing some 44 Magnum boollits in Carnuba Red and BAC while doing this, so these Plain Base 44 Special boolits got hand lubed as well, and then pushed through a honed out Lee sizing die to clean the lube mess up.




- Bullwolf

Bullwolf, how do you make your boolits so shiny? Are you wiping them with something after lubing/sizing?

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

GLL took the winning photo


http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu127/JonB_in_Glencoe/Castboolits%20Castpic%20of%20the%20month/JULY%202015%20Meplat_zps3deeavlq.jpg (http://s640.photobucket.com/user/JonB_in_Glencoe/media/Castboolits%20Castpic%20of%20the%20month/JULY%202015%20Meplat_zps3deeavlq.jpg.html)


and a threeway tie for runner up.
Bullwolf, montanamike, and Hogtamer

[Bullwolf]

Bullwolf, how do you make your boolits so shiny? Are you wiping them with something after lubing/sizing?

When I wipe lube off the nose of cartridges loaded with cast boolits, I use a dab of Johnson's baby oil on either a rag, or a paper towel for clean up. The scented mineral oil helps cuts boolit lube, and even Alox better than only using a dry cloth.

Baby Oil also smells better than mineral spirits (my second choice solvent to clean up lube with) when indoors, and won't incur the wrath of your significant other.

The reason those boolits are so shiny is they were cast from a mix of Mono type and Linotype. Boolits cast from my WW and Hardball alloys (especially when water dropped) tend to be more dull looking, and not shiny like boolits are when cast from printing type metal.

Oh and congratulations GLL!



- Bullwolf

[Whiterabbit]

yep, nice photo.

[gondwana]

When I wipe lube off the nose of cartridges loaded with cast boolits, I use a dab of Johnson's baby oil on either a rag, or a paper towel for clean up. The scented mineral oil helps cuts boolit lube, and even Alox better than only using a dry cloth.

Baby Oil also smells better than mineral spirits (my second choice solvent to clean up lube with) when indoors, and won't incur the wrath of your significant other.

The reason those boolits are so shiny is they were cast from a mix of Mono type and Linotype. Boolits cast from my WW and Hardball alloys (especially when water dropped) tend to be more dull looking, and not shiny like boolits are when cast from printing type metal.

Oh and congratulations GLL!



- Bullwolf

Thank you Bullwolf! I am off to get me some mineral oil.

[Skeet06]

I was absolutely impressed with the modified Lee 310 mold. My new 2 cavity is on the milling machine right now. Thanks Bullwolf!