Too fast, too soft - more alloy results

[MtJerry]

Found a nice load a few days ago with my Ruger GP100 and Security Six using Lyman 358439 hollow point and a stout load of H-110.

Tried the same load with a Lyman 358429 solid and the same load cast from 40/1 Pure/tin

It was too much for the alloy ... extreme slumping!! And a bore that was starting to lead after 12 rounds. Accuracy was good, and expansion was good as well. I've just never seen a bullet slump so much.

The groove you see in the boolit is the crimp groove. It really shortened the projectile!! Retained weight of all the rounds was within 1 grain of the starting weight.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f17/MtJerry/DSCF0743.jpg

I also tried the same load with Ranch Dog 175 and got the same results - this time case of 50/50 air cooled

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f17/MtJerry/DSCF0744.jpg

Last but not least, I shot some Lyman 358439 HP over 6gr. of Bullseye ... this time I found that this load out of the 4" Security Six will EXPLODE at 25 yards. Can you imaging this on small game!! Devastating!

After the hollow point expanded, it sheared the petals off and made some interesting wadcutters!!

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f17/MtJerry/DSCF0745.jpg

Anyway, the moral of this story is if you want to know what YOUR load/alloy is doing out of YOUR gun .. you should do some testing. It's fun too! Never a dull day at the range ;)

[Larry Gibson]

What test media at what range?

Larry Gibson

[MtJerry]

25 yards

I was using soaked phone books. Three of them set against the end of an old cooler with water in it. They passed thru the all three books and were captured in the water-filled cooler.

[williamwaco]

Tried the same load with a Lyman 358429 solid and the same load cast from 40/1 WW/Pure

Last but not least, I shot some Lyman 358439 HP over 6gr. of Bullseye ... this time I found that this load out of the 4" Security Six will EXPLODE at 25 yards. Can you imaging this on small game!! Devastating!



Between the two threads, I am confused on the alloy? is it 40/1 lead/tin or 40/1 WW/tin?

When I lived in the country and could do so, I loaded that exact same bullet over an (undisclosed) charge of Herco. It was cast of 100% clip on wheel weights. And yes, it exploded like a bomb. Jackrabbits and coyotes hit at under 100 yards looked like they had been hit by a .243 75 grain hollow point loaded too hot. (In those days, I loaded everything too hot.) Not one of them ever exited anything as large as a jackrabbit.

[MtJerry]

They were both cast soft 40/1 - 10 lbs of pure lead (xray shielding) and 1/8 lb of tin.

[btroj]

I don't think any one here would say that 40/1 is a good alloy for hollow points. Well, OK, someone will speak up but it won't be many.

I would start at 20/1 or even 16/1 if you want a lead/tin mix.

I personally would prefer something more in the 75/25 lead/WW as a starting point.

[MtJerry]

I would say it's a GREAT alloy for hollow points. Depends on what you intend to use them for and how fast will you push them.

For example ---

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=113158

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=132637

The ones in the current thread would not be suitable for for big game, but would be great for varmints and defensive encounters.

[btroj]

For the load he used it is a orrinle alloy. For your lower pressure 38 special loads it would, as you kow, work quite well.

This is a case of needing to match the velocity, pressure, and alloy. Also depends upon what your needs are from the HP. Just shows how no one alloy can meet all needs.

[MtJerry]

Agreed wholeheartedly!!!!

[Larry Gibson]

40-1 works very well in the 800 - 1000 fps range. 20-1 works well in the 1150 - 1300 fps but I prefer 16-1 in the 1350 - 1550 fps range. Beside the alloy and velocity the HP cavity depth and shape have a lot to do with how well the alloy expands. Pays to experiment and test for best results.

Larry Gibson

[Larry Gibson]

25 yards

I was using soaked phone books. Three of them set against the end of an old cooler with water in it. They passed thru the all three books and were captured in the water-filled cooler.

Hard to argue with about "lack of penetration" with those results!

Larry Gibson