HCL or Solder Flux for Core Bonding in Jacketed bullets

[Hammer]

I have tried the HCL for core bonding in my new .223 from rimfire cartridges. I have also read in threads where solder flux is used....

The HCL seems to work fine, but I am having trouble controlling the amount put in the case and the consistency of the results....

Question: Is either better, more user friendly or cheaper, or etc....

[xfoxofshogo]

y do you think you have to bond the core to the jacket ???

i have made and shot a lot on the .224 swage out of 22lr brass and never bond the jackit to the core

[PbHurler]

Hammer,
I use HCL, applied with an eyedropper into the jacket. I get pretty consistant results this way. I only do .30 & .44 cal. though. If I remember correctly, I use two drops for .30's in .925" jackets, 3-4? drops in .44 - .700" jackets.

[Reload3006]

I just go to the plumbing supply and get a can of paste flux use a q tip and swab some in there. Heat with a torch until the lead is melted then boil them in water and soap to wash off the excess flux from the jackets with soldered cores. If you dont do that it will rust the hell out of your dies. then core seat and point form as normal. It works great.

[Lizard333]

What are the advantages to bonding the core?

[Reload3006]

if your shooting steel or paper there is no advantage. If your making a hunting boolit you want to keep the lead and the jacket to gather to control penetration and expansion.

[Hickory]

What are the advantages to bonding the core?

I shot a few hundred on prairie dogs one year and noticed that the bullet held together a little better and resulted in more doubles and a few triples.

Other then that, it was not worth the effort.

[Hammer]

My concern was, and is, jacket separation before the bullet (22 LR Jackets) leaves the barrel.

[Lizard333]

So does this mean that with a bonded core you could push the 22LR jacket to higher velocities than the recommended 3000 FPS?

[MIBULLETS]

That is a possiblity, how much faster who knows. If you were making a lot of these bullets, it would be a lot more work for the gain IMHO.

[MIBULLETS]

Now when used in a larger bullet they can make a world of difference on game when hunting. Also, many Silhouette shooter used to bond bullets for a "longer" bullet to target time. Since the bullet doesn't shatter as fast, theoretically you put more energy into the steel target to help knock it down better on marginal hits.

[firefly1957]

Sulfuric acid is good also I used plumbers paste flux and dipped core then inserted heated jacket until core melted.

I have noticed on water jugs at close range that there was little difference between WELL SEATED cores and bonded cores. I have found that seating a core until it expands the jacket then point forming is best but not all of our dies allow this.