1Shirt
08-17-2005, 06:43 PM
Howdy, Have never messed with softening the noses of hard cast bullets for hunting, but have a boar hunt scheduled for Tex. in Oct. and want to shoot cast. Have never shot cast at anything beyond small animals and paper.
Two questions:
#1, Do you hit the nose of the bullet in water with a torch as cast and befor lube, or after you have sized/Lubed/checked etc. Also, how long do you keep the flame on the nose (yah, I know don't let it melt, but is there a color change, or some magic time etc., and does this depend on the cal that you are nose softening? Lastly, how much of the nose to you leave exposed above the water level? 1/4-1/3-1/2 Length? My logic would say lesser rather than more, but, bow to the wisdom of experiance.
2. Which Rifle to use?
a. 444M with 310 Lee GC, sized .310, shoots tight 2" or less groups at 50 yds.
b. 375 H&H, 280 gr Lyman GC in #1 Ruger. Shoots under 2" at 50 ysd with Open sights from the Bench.
c. 45-70, #1 Ruger, 340, Lee, FN 385 Lyman, RN, 405 RCBS FN., all plain based. All shoot well, with the edge in accruacy going to the 385, which will stay around an inch at 50 yds, and occisionally just over an inch at 100.
Am looking from actual experiance on hogs with these cals. Have no doubt that all three are capable of of clean kills.
I thank in advance all who respond to this thread!
1Shirt
Two questions:
#1, Do you hit the nose of the bullet in water with a torch as cast and befor lube, or after you have sized/Lubed/checked etc. Also, how long do you keep the flame on the nose (yah, I know don't let it melt, but is there a color change, or some magic time etc., and does this depend on the cal that you are nose softening? Lastly, how much of the nose to you leave exposed above the water level? 1/4-1/3-1/2 Length? My logic would say lesser rather than more, but, bow to the wisdom of experiance.
2. Which Rifle to use?
a. 444M with 310 Lee GC, sized .310, shoots tight 2" or less groups at 50 yds.
b. 375 H&H, 280 gr Lyman GC in #1 Ruger. Shoots under 2" at 50 ysd with Open sights from the Bench.
c. 45-70, #1 Ruger, 340, Lee, FN 385 Lyman, RN, 405 RCBS FN., all plain based. All shoot well, with the edge in accruacy going to the 385, which will stay around an inch at 50 yds, and occisionally just over an inch at 100.
Am looking from actual experiance on hogs with these cals. Have no doubt that all three are capable of of clean kills.
I thank in advance all who respond to this thread!
1Shirt