Lead melter
10-25-2007, 10:14 AM
After a number of repeated trials and a few cuss fits, I finally got my Lee C312-175-RN mold to work for a plinking load in my old Moisin-Nagant. There is a moral to the story about to follow, but first the particulars;
My first attempt was to cast of my normal alloy,1/3 linotype, 2/3 lead, +2% tin, sized .311". Lube was RCBS rifle lube, Hornady 30 caliber gas checks, load was 12 grains Unique, WLR primer. Results were not wonderful, but did show the boolit might shoot with some experimentation.
Same procedure as above, but with SPG lube. 10 shot groups of 8" at 50 yards.
Tried same as above, but with Gator checks and RCBS lube. Wouldn't hit a cow in the rump at 50 paces.
Next came Gator checks and SPG lube. Wouldn't hit a cow anywhere at fifty paces.
Now it's time for desperate measures. Tried same alloy, size, etc. with Hornady and Gator checks with my own lube mixture. Groups shrank to 5-6".
Following this lead, I next loaded same lube-check combination, but reduced load to 11 grains Unique. 3-4" 10 shot groups. Now we're on to something!!!
Dropped powder charge to 10 grains and got 2" groups with the Hornady checks edging out the Gators with tighter main cluster and fewer flyers.
I am still not perfectly happy, so I used my Lee .311" sizer to seat the Hornady gas checks, but not the other part of the boolit. Simply invert the boolit and press the check on, tap the slug out from the sizer and leave the remainder of the boolit at .313" as cast.
Lubed with Lee Liquid Alox, 10 grains Unique, WLR primer...10 shot one-hole group at 50 yards. SUCCESS AT LAST!!!
Next trial will be simply to change to Gator checks and shoot when the rain stops.
The moral is, don't give up, use your imagination in that great computer inside your head and PROVE it will not work before you quit.
Now I have a question. Will this boolit be safe to use in a lever 30-30, or will the RN create a dangerous situation? The crimp groove location is not the issue, as I have the Lee Factory Crimp die and can crimp anywhere.
:-D
My first attempt was to cast of my normal alloy,1/3 linotype, 2/3 lead, +2% tin, sized .311". Lube was RCBS rifle lube, Hornady 30 caliber gas checks, load was 12 grains Unique, WLR primer. Results were not wonderful, but did show the boolit might shoot with some experimentation.
Same procedure as above, but with SPG lube. 10 shot groups of 8" at 50 yards.
Tried same as above, but with Gator checks and RCBS lube. Wouldn't hit a cow in the rump at 50 paces.
Next came Gator checks and SPG lube. Wouldn't hit a cow anywhere at fifty paces.
Now it's time for desperate measures. Tried same alloy, size, etc. with Hornady and Gator checks with my own lube mixture. Groups shrank to 5-6".
Following this lead, I next loaded same lube-check combination, but reduced load to 11 grains Unique. 3-4" 10 shot groups. Now we're on to something!!!
Dropped powder charge to 10 grains and got 2" groups with the Hornady checks edging out the Gators with tighter main cluster and fewer flyers.
I am still not perfectly happy, so I used my Lee .311" sizer to seat the Hornady gas checks, but not the other part of the boolit. Simply invert the boolit and press the check on, tap the slug out from the sizer and leave the remainder of the boolit at .313" as cast.
Lubed with Lee Liquid Alox, 10 grains Unique, WLR primer...10 shot one-hole group at 50 yards. SUCCESS AT LAST!!!
Next trial will be simply to change to Gator checks and shoot when the rain stops.
The moral is, don't give up, use your imagination in that great computer inside your head and PROVE it will not work before you quit.
Now I have a question. Will this boolit be safe to use in a lever 30-30, or will the RN create a dangerous situation? The crimp groove location is not the issue, as I have the Lee Factory Crimp die and can crimp anywhere.
:-D