Here is where I am at...I am loading new starline brass, fresh from the box, non-annealed, using a lyman 457122, 457193, 457643 cast boolit. First casting were showing BHN of 15. WW lLRr Rem 91/2 primers, softer versions of the same boolits with cww. First boolits were sized to 458...wrong too small as barrel slugging showed. So I tried the boolits as cast .459 of 1-20 to cww at .460. I have tried 5477, rl7, unique and considered 3031 all shot on speeds of about 1300 to about 1500 fps. I am using stock sights at 100 yds from solid bench rest. I am seeing no pattern to this rifle with these various loads. Sometimes 2 will drop in the same hole, next boolit is 6 to 12 inches away. OAL has been varied to a max of 2.55.
I have not weighed these projectiles to put them into similar weight classes and the like. However I am casting very slow and methodically which normally gives me a couple grains curve with the bigger postells for the 45-120 BP loads. So I think my casting is fine.
The best I have to show for my efforts is four to five inch groups with a hard cast, 457122 sized 458 with red rooster lube. I did switch to alox as I had some lead at barrel end. That ended leading.
I would like to see about a consistent 3" group at 100 yards w/in the posted speeds. I am after a simple (wish it were so) 100 brush load.
Loads are each weighed, and crimped on a Hornady L-N-L press with lyman dies.
I have a JP Gemmer rifle in 45-70 that will cloverleaf my hand fodder at 100 yds on a decent day. I have handloaded since the mid-80's and can usually figure out something that is minute of barndoor but this one has me a bit challenged.
What am I missing here?
I am thinking to anneal the new brass, reduce powder load, weigh the boolits and get the chronograph out and perhaps buy a sizable piece of soft maple to bang my head onto...