I think there is diminishing returns going too heavy for caliber. As noted, big bore solids penetrate a lot. A 285gr/45 @ just 1100fps will penetrate more than a 400gr soft @ 2200fps from a 404...
Type: Posts; User: fredj338
Forum: Cast Boolits
I think there is diminishing returns going too heavy for caliber. As noted, big bore solids penetrate a lot. A 285gr/45 @ just 1100fps will penetrate more than a 400gr soft @ 2200fps from a 404...
Forum: Cast Boolits
I've got powder 20+, still good. I did have one can of H4831 go bad, no explanation, all stored the same. Leads me to think it was poorly stored before I bought it.
Forum: Cast Boolits
4.5BHN is about as low as it gets, so 5BHN, close enough.
Forum: Cast Boolits
This is why you dont drain it. Leave it full or near full, the walls never get crusty.
Forum: Cast Boolits
Fastest start up is a pot half 1/2-3/4 full. Then you can add warmed ingots as needed.
Forum: Cast Boolits
IMR 4831 & Hodgdon are NOT the same. H4831 is a bit slower so data is NOT interchangeable. Why I cross ref several data sources. The Hogdon/IMR website is a good source for cross ref with any manual....
Forum: Cast Boolits
Accuracy will vary with diff bbls but dead soft has never worked for me. I run range scrap equiv, 8-9bhn, PC, about 830fps. It shoots fine in various 9mm sized 0.357”. All you can do is try.
Sorry...
Forum: Cast Boolits
I never drain my bottom pour pots. It keeps crud out of the spout. If you must change alloys, leave 2# or so in the bottom. Not likely affecting your alloy in a 20# pot. 2# of lyman#2 & 18# of pure,...
Forum: Lead and Lead Alloys
Did you mean the other way around? I shoot a lot of 3-1, lead/lino. Makes a very good bullet for all the service calibers. You can water drop that for harder bullet. Only rifle stuff I shoot is 45-70...
Forum: Lead and Lead Alloys
When you say quick load, you mean higher vel? I would mix 4-1, lead to mono & load it over max charge of Unique for an accurate higher vel load. There are other powders of course but accuracy with...
Forum: Lead and Lead Alloys
Back in the day I had access to very cheap lino & cast my CAS bullets with it. Shot great but a waste of good lino, & I had quite a bit of leading at low pressure 45colt levels. Wish I would have...
Forum: Cast Boolits
Wow, the mold looks in pretty bad shape, hopefully you can get it cleaned up. IMO, you dont need a therm with a Lee 20#, just turn it to 8 & heat everything up. Lubricating the mold alignment pins is...
Forum: Cast Boolits
I would melt them but then I dont shoot 38sp much, & prefer a good 158gr swc.
Forum: Cast Boolits
Your OAL may or may not work. DAta with the XTP oal will be a good starting point.
Forum: Cast Boolits
OAL is always bullet & barrels specific. The TC has a shoulder & that can contact rifling sooner than say a RN. Its trail & error, every gun is diff, so you are correct using your bbl for a gage.
Forum: Cast Boolits
In most handgun applications, most worry too much about bhn imo. I use a lot of range scrap or pure lead alloyed with some lino or clip ww for most handgun shooting needs. Especially with coated,...
Forum: Lead and Lead Alloys
I do 1-1 for pb handgun that are PC, up to about 1200fps, 9mm-hvy 45colt. I have no issues with accuracy or leading.
Forum: Cast Boolits
^^THSI^^ You guys know that bullet wts are set by the mold manf with specific alloys, often Lyman #2.So anything else plus casting temp, will affect final bullet wts.
Forum: Cast Boolits
Yeah bummer. Price of my magma just went up, or down of it breaks.
Forum: Cast Boolits
This may be true for older manf guns but modern 9mm will be pretty much on. My oem glocks shoot 0.356” fine but i size to 0.357” just in case.
Forum: Cast Boolits
Likely the bullet drops fatter. So likely looking at 0.360+. While you can easily size down to 0.357, a better fit imo, more force than needed.
Forum: Lead and Lead Alloys
If I bother testing at all, its usually about 2 weeks after casting.
Forum: Cast Boolits
Well I woudn't worry, just pull all the ammo down. Something obviously caused the corrosion. Toss the powder & clean up the bullets, keep the cases, probably deprime them too. WHy we never shoot...
Forum: Cast Boolits
Its likely not zinc if it melted @ less than 700deg. More likely just crud from other contaminates. Try aggressive fluxing, skim & toss the dross. Yes the zinc wts will float up.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |