BP bullet shapes

[Don McDowell]

Better yet, just get a Saeco 645 mould and go.

[indian joe]

joe,
my assumption is that it would be stable.
assuming it is an 18" twist,
it will be a little more stable than necessary, which means that it will have a little more yaw of repose in flight.
with the proviso that dynamic stability cannot be calculated like gyroscopic stability.
if you can do it in a lathe, it might pay to shorten some that way for firing tests prior to spending money.
keep safe,
bruce.

Bruce
gotcha - thanks - yes its 18 twist - yes can do in the lathe . That boolit is 550grain and I didnt want to go that heavy in my 76. CBE make decent molds and can get that one reasonable price - still nutting this stuff out. lots of good info coming forward here and my thanks to all for that
Joe

[indian joe]

Better yet, just get a Saeco 645 mould and go.

Don
Thanks ---- was looking at the Saeco 745 - they both look ok to me - litle more lube than some of the others maybe? - searched around some and both these out of stock where I looked.
Changed my range around today so got a bit more opportunity to test stuff - still playing with that LEE and it seems like wind is the issue.
cheers and thanks
Joe

[rfd]

i started using a led sled for 200yd load testing, and i believe it's helped. wind, if present, is the only real bugaboo.

[Don McDowell]

That 645 bullet carries plenty of lube, and it shoots well to 1000 yards from 45-70's. If I were to limit to one greaser in the 2.1 case that 645 would be my choice.

[indian joe]

That 645 bullet carries plenty of lube, and it shoots well to 1000 yards from 45-70's. If I were to limit to one greaser in the 2.1 case that 645 would be my choice.

Don
Shot again today - I guess we might call it dis proving the 500grain LEE !
I have two versions of that mold they a little different shape at the nose - thought that might make some difference - the wide base band old version is what I have shot most and it has seemed ok - there was a bit of wind today - I already had my elevation setting so I let one go - got a hit - shot four more - went to investigate (this is 500yards and my scope is just not that good) anyhow the group is dead on for elevation but far right of the target - its ten inches high by seven inches wide, two are keyholed bad a third is definitely wobbly and a fourth the hole is not quite round - so we obviously have serious instability but from the look of it only in the last fifty yards or so ?
So finally that has kinda made the point - I returned to fire five of the later version of that same mold - these boolits 15 grains lighter, same powder, same lube, same everything and from the look of the strikes they make a half reasonable group - BUT about four feet lower (on the ground in front of the target) still trying to figure that one out - the strikes were in line with the hits on the target with the other boolit - no sight change ??????????????? (something must have shifted there that I havent figured yet)
Along the way I also tried the Lyman 490 grain Snover my mate gave me ten of - all over the place!!! I did manage to fell a small branch from a grey gum tree overhead at the 300yard mark - that was kinda fun.
So at this point the saeco mold looks my best move - I want something with enough lube that I can shoot with the blow tube. While I wait I might put a few of those LEE boolits through the lathe and shorten the nose some - it might be interesting to figure just what is the problem.
anyway thanks for the advice
Joe

[maxiblu]

Lee 500-3R is OK till ya get a crosswind. Me also thinks the heavy nose is the problem. Only took about 18 months to figure that out.

[GOPHER SLAYER]

It was mentioned earlier in this thread that a man was testing a pointed bullet for the 45-70 at 1500 yards and placed results on utube. I couldn't find it. Could someone be a bit more specific in describing how it could be found?

[dirtball]

Is this the one you were looking for?

Dave

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfRqwUcas3o&t=143s

[Carrier]

What COL is being used by those of you who have loaded the Lee 459-500-3R?

[indian joe]

What COL is being used by those of you who have loaded the Lee 459-500-3R?

Load mine with the front band just touching the lands and that puts the crimp just inside the last lube groove - so the boolit is well into the case.
When I came on here I did not know of Don McDowell or his rep as a shooter - but he has this boolit figured (maybe a bit harsh on it) we have had good results to 700 yards on calm days but a bit of wind and it all goes to h#ll -- keyholing from about 400yards out. I tried some modifications - lathe turned a small flat nose and I think that inproved it . I stuck with it too long because of those big lube grooves - shoot a long string and not foul out is pretty darn attractive

[Carrier]

Load mine with the front band just touching the lands and that puts the crimp just inside the last lube groove - so the boolit is well into the case.
When I came on here I did not know of Don McDowell or his rep as a shooter - but he has this boolit figured (maybe a bit harsh on it) we have had good results to 700 yards on calm days but a bit of wind and it all goes to h#ll -- keyholing from about 400yards out. I tried some modifications - lathe turned a small flat nose and I think that inproved it . I stuck with it too long because of those big lube grooves - shoot a long string and not foul out is pretty darn attractive

That’s probably a lot longer shooting that what I’ll be doing because of eye sight. So far the 405 hollow base is working out well but thought I might try the 500 grain as I bought the mold the same time. I cast a few of them and was eye balling the bullet beside the case and that’s about what I came up with for COL as well.

[indian joe]

That’s probably a lot longer shooting that what I’ll be doing because of eye sight. So far the 405 hollow base is working out well but thought I might try the 500 grain as I bought the mold the same time. I cast a few of them and was eye balling the bullet beside the case and that’s about what I came up with for COL as well.

If you only shoot to 200yards (or maybe even 300) put a decent wad under that pointy LEE boolit - you likely be surprised at how well it does - provided that you didnt get one of those undersized molds they put out when they first changed to the newer style blocks (measure some of your casting - it should be .459 and right close on the 500 grain weight) - on these big lube groove boolits its important to get the lube grooves full all the way round for accuracy.

[Carrier]

If you only shoot to 200yards (or maybe even 300) put a decent wad under that pointy LEE boolit - you likely be surprised at how well it does - provided that you didnt get one of those undersized molds they put out when they first changed to the newer style blocks (measure some of your casting - it should be .459 and right close on the 500 grain weight) - on these big lube groove boolits its important to get the lube grooves full all the way round for accuracy.

I just started casting a couple months ago and have been concentrating on the 405 hollow base. I finally got those dropping at 405ish and .461 to .463. I only cast a few of the 500’s and they were about 490 or a little less in weight and .458 to .459. Now that I figured out the right temperature for the lead and moulds I think I should be ok with the 500 one.
I’m going to powder coat them as well.

[indian joe]

I just started casting a couple months ago and have been concentrating on the 405 hollow base. I finally got those dropping at 405ish and .461 to .463. I only cast a few of the 500’s and they were about 490 or a little less in weight and .458 to .459. Now that I figured out the right temperature for the lead and moulds I think I should be ok with the 500 one.
I’m going to powder coat them as well.

Ahhh I only shoot black powder - assumed from your choice of molds you were doing likewise - if you gonna go smokeyless and powder coat - there no advantage (over a bunch of others) in either of those boolits

[Carrier]

Ahhh I only shoot black powder - assumed from your choice of molds you were doing likewise - if you gonna go smokeyless and powder coat - there no advantage (over a bunch of others) in either of those boolits

Will be using both smokeless and black powder.

[indian joe]

Will be using both smokeless and black powder.

Never done it but I believe powder coating would be a bad idea with blackpowder
Dont believe either that powder coating will gain you anything at all on those LEE boolits compared to a decent grease lube. ????

[Carrier]

I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel but so far for me this has worked out very well.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...coated-bullets