Size vs. Hardness

[kelbro]

Nope, not a V*agra or C*a*lis ad :)

I was one that thought (before I discovered this website) hardness cured all ills. Just went through 100 full house 44 Mag loads and 100 full house 44 Special loads that were cast with 50/50 COWW/SOWW + 2% Sn. Not what one would consider a hard alloy. Call it 'Wheelweight Helper'. Makes my stash go farther!

.431 bore, .4325 sizer, NRA lube on an RCBS 250K boolit. Not a bit of leading.

Learning this, how to make Felix and Recluse lube, and a few other things that i can't think of offhand really makes me appreciate this website and the fine folks that participate here.

[LAH]

You did good.

[williamwaco]

GOOD for you.
You ben eating smart pills.
All this super hard bullet stuff is just that. Stuff.
The .44 magnum was created for bullets cast of 16/1 and 20/1 lead tin.

You have hit on a really good alloy. That 2% tin should make the bullets really fill out nicely.


.

[runfiverun]

that 2% tin is too much and could cause you problems.
back it down 1% added is more than enough with your alloy.

[kelbro]

Good fillout and sharp bases. Same alloy also shoots well in the 45. You know, the H&K polygonal barrels that are supposed to not be able to shoot lead :)

[303Guy]

that 2% tin is too much and could cause you problems.Would you mind elaborating, runfiverun?

[44man]

I get no leading with softer boolits but that is not what I look for and something I never worry about.
REAL soft is a big problem like the swaged .38's, they slump and lead will blow from the gap so I reserve that kind of alloy to BP.
Maintain boolit integrity and use a GC on softer alloys and they work fine as far as leading.
My problem is I get fliers as I soften too much for my revolvers. Soft PB will not group at all until made harder.
It is false that hard alloys lead a bore too. Good lube, powder choice, pressure peak and even case capacity enter into it all.
But I don't like real hard alloys either so that should be worked on for the best accuracy and no leading.
Then each gun is different too.

[kelbro]

Thanks 44 Man. The accuracy was good but not what i would call great in the 44Mag but very good in the 45ACP. I may try heat treating a batch to see if it tightens the groups up.

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
SHE SAID.... OOPS ! BETTER NOT GO THERE!
But size does matter a lot. Boolit fit is a major factor in accuracy, as well as in leading problems.:Fire::Fire:

[44man]

I really like a 50-50 alloy for hunting and found hardening them made my guns shoot better without affecting expansion.
Worth a try!

[NSP64]

Kelbro, your shooting a revolter, you need to know the cylider throat size and
make your bullets fit that. Hopefully they are bigger tjan .431.
If they are smaller you qill have problems, or if there is a thread constriction in the barrel.

[kelbro]

Cylinders mic out at between .4315 and .432.

[Lizard333]

50/50 works well. Add tin if your thinking it needs it. More often than not, my boolits look good without it. Alloy temp and mold temp are big factors in getting good crisp lines.