Need source for LBT style WFN .357/.38 boolits

[Brazos_Jack]

I'm looking for a source for LBT style WFN gas checked bullets in .358" from 160 to 180 grain in a medium hard alloy (~14-16 bhn)

RimRock Boolits sells this style, but only in 22 bhn.

[GLynn41]

check Montana bullet works

[Brazos_Jack]

check Montana bullet works
Thanks Glynn41,
They make the configuration I want, 357, LBT, 160GR, FN-GC , But they use 22 bhn alloy. From what I've read, 22 bhn will not obturate properly at anything less than absolute SAAMI maximum pressure (35,000 psi) .357 Magnum loads. I need something that will obturate at .38 Special +P pressures (20,000-22,000 psi) and still hold up to full .357 Mag pressures, and that means something in the 14-16 bhn range. The load I plan to use most generates about 25,000 psi.

[Chris C]

Buy the mold and cast them to whatever BHN you need. Veral will make any mold he has to any size you want.

[Brazos_Jack]

I know Chris,

But I'd really like to avoid developing another time consuming hobby at this time.

I'm getting gas checked Lyman #358156 in both 11 bhn and 14 bhn from Maplewood Bullets. The first is good from .38 Special starting load pressure up a little past max SAAMI .38 +P and the other is good from .38 +P pressures up through max SAAMI .357 Mag pressures.

The #358156 is a good hunting bullet, but I think the LBT WFN designs are slightly better. But Maplewood doesn't offer these designs.

So I'd like to find a source. If not, I'll stick with the #358156 from Maplewood.

[tja6435]

I have Lbt molds in 360-140-FN, 360-160-FN and 360-180-FN, 360-200-LFN and 360-225-FN. I should have some time in approx 2 weeks to get some cast up with a softer alloy

[runfiverun]

talk to them if they are local.

I bet they would be happy to run some 2/6/92 alloy through your mold.
I was always willing to work something out with a customer when I was doing that stuff.

and you don't need obturation you need fitment.
obturation only works with soft alloys and fast powders.
if you have fitment bhn becomes a much, much lower priority.
once you have the fitment correct going to a harder bhn alloy can increase accuracy but it sure ain't gonna hold back any more gas.
stop with the math and start listening to the gun/target they will tell you what works.

[DougGuy]

and you don't need obturation you need fitment.

^^^^THIS... +1 on fitment.

Check cylinder throats if you are using these in a revolver. If your .358" boolit won't go into the cylinder throats from the front then obturation will help greatly but fitment IS king, and if the throats are sized correctly and your boolit will slide in with nothing more than finger pressure then you have attained proper fitment and do not need obturation.

My personal favorite alloy is 50/50+2% which just seems to work in everything I use it in. I can scratch it with a thumbnail.

[Brazos_Jack]

^^^^THIS... +1 on fitment.

Check cylinder throats if you are using these in a revolver. If your .358" boolit won't go into the cylinder throats from the front then obturation will help greatly but fitment IS king, and if the throats are sized correctly and your boolit will slide in with nothing more than finger pressure then you have attained proper fitment and do not need obturation.

My personal favorite alloy is 50/50+2% which just seems to work in everything I use it in. I can scratch it with a thumbnail.

Doug,

The problem is that I'm using a Cimarron/Uberti Winchester 1873 rifle. Due to the design of the breach, it is virtually impossible to measure the chamber throat or to make a chamber cast. So I have to base my assumptions on how it shoots by experimenting with differently sized cast bullets.

The groove diameter is only .355". It shoots "patterns", not groups, with .357 sized bullets. It shoots reasonable groups with .358 sized bullets. I haven't gotten any .359 bullets to test yet but intend to. So I'd say the chamber throat is at least .358".

[ironhead7544]

Try Cast Performance.

For larger diameter bullets, try Dardas. I use the .433 200 gr RNFP in my 44 Magnum Cowboy and it works great.

Bear Tooth Bullets also makes cast gas check LBT bullets.

[mdi]

Try a "Pound Cast". http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?218414-FYI-This-is-how-I-do-a-pound-cast

[Papa Bang]

I know Montana Bullet Works will cast their alloy air cooled at 15 bhn if you ask. I have the phone number here somewhere if you need it let me know.
Papa

[dubber123]

Try a "Pound Cast". http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?218414-FYI-This-is-how-I-do-a-pound-cast

Yep, easy to do and shows a surprising amount of detail.

[Lloyd Smale]

yup id even consider having veral cut the mold you want and give it to the caster to cast some for you. Either make a deal with an exchange of bullets or buy the bullets with the option of getting your mold back when hes done.
talk to them if they are local.

I bet they would be happy to run some 2/6/92 alloy through your mold.
I was always willing to work something out with a customer when I was doing that stuff.

and you don't need obturation you need fitment.
obturation only works with soft alloys and fast powders.
if you have fitment bhn becomes a much, much lower priority.
once you have the fitment correct going to a harder bhn alloy can increase accuracy but it sure ain't gonna hold back any more gas.
stop with the math and start listening to the gun/target they will tell you what works.