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HEAD0001
11-17-2010, 05:55 AM
I just got a good deal off a fellow member on a .454 round ball mold. I am wanting to work up a gallery load for my 45 Colt rifle and handgun. I could not decide between .454 and .457 for the proper size. I hope the .454 works out.

Here is my question. Is there a particular way(without machining) that I can get the round balls to drop a little larger?? Possibly a harder alloy?? Any suggestions?? Thank You, Tom.

x101airborne
11-17-2010, 09:07 AM
make a pure lead slug and slug your bores and cylinder throats. any modern 45 should have around a 452 bore and 453 throats (ideally). a 454 slug should work best. hint- dont load faster than the speed of sound, use some LLA after sizing, and keep the alloy as soft as possible. Dead soft is best.

243winxb
11-17-2010, 12:14 PM
Is there a particular way(without machining) that I can get the round balls to drop a little larger?? Yes, adding antimony will make a larger diameter and harder. Rotometal can suppy you with an alloy high in antimony content.

HEAD0001
11-17-2010, 12:44 PM
I have a good supply of linotype, pure lead, and WW. I might just mix some WW and linotype together?? Expansion on the target is not real important here. These will mostly be used for fun shooting off the porch. I will also use it for small game during the regular deer season, but expansion is not a real problem for small game like grouse and rabbits. Tom.

onesonek
11-17-2010, 05:18 PM
Some years back I had a 45-70 in a Contender,,wanted something to plink small game with that much like you are looking for. I didnt cast at the time so I bought pure lead round balls. As they were a tad small,,,all I did was to bump them up slightly for a better fit. No they were not totally round any more, but it matters none, they shot well.
So if your mold is is throwing a tad on the small side I would consider that option,,,I think the pure lead may shoot better at your lower "gallery" loads then a 50-50 mix that you are considering.

mooman76
11-17-2010, 08:25 PM
Is your's the Lee mould in 454. Mine drops more like 456. I bought another by mistake and it also trops at .456. That's with soft lead. You could always beagle.

HEAD0001
11-18-2010, 05:50 AM
As they were a tad small,,,all I did was to bump them up slightly for a better fit.


How did you "bump them up"?? Tom.

243winxb
11-18-2010, 11:20 AM
linotype will cast a larger ball than pure lead. Bump up a round ball? Interesting. U have a hammer :kidding::bigsmyl2:

prs
11-18-2010, 01:06 PM
Dang! Shooting grouse with .454 round ball; what a wing shot!

prs

onesonek
11-18-2010, 03:40 PM
How did you "bump them up"?? Tom.


linotype will cast a larger ball than pure lead. Bump up a round ball? Interesting. U have a hammer :kidding::bigsmyl2:

Thats exactly what I did,,,,,, Just a couple light taps, left about a 1/8" flat spot top and bottom and fattened up the girth about .002"
Shot just fine out to about 50 yds

stubert
11-18-2010, 07:56 PM
They should be a press fit in your sized cases. You should not have to size again since they will be a mild load. You might also get soot on the cases from not sealing when fired. I have shot lots of .433 roundballs from a 44 spec. revolver.