BPCR bullet hardness: 20/1 vs 30/1

[MIEagle]

How do "we" decide whether to use 20/1 or 30/1 lead/tin ratio? I started out using 30/1 mix because my shooting buddy that got me started used it. I have another shooting buddy who uses 20/1 and says that it doesn't make that much difference.
What's the tipping point? I'm currently using a approx. 535 Steve Brooks bullet and 60.5 gr of Swiss 1.5. In the future I plan on shooting the long range matches. Thanks.

[country gent]

The best way to find out is to test both side by side in your rifle or rifles. The diffrence will probably be pretty slight. watch for accuracy, leading, and fouling control needs. 30-1 may obtrate a little better but noses may slump from it too. 20-1 is a little harder may not obtrate quite as quickly but also noses may hold shape better. Also watch for bullet fillout and consistency of the wieght as tin affects flowability of lead. You can start with 30-1 and cast testing then if you want to change just add tin to change to 20-1. Cast a 30-50 bullets of each test 10 shot groups 1 of each a day over 3-5 days switching the bullets started with each time. or better still have a friend give you 10 rounds not telling you which is which.

[Don McDowell]

Which Brooks bullet? He makes a ton of different styles. With that said, 20-1 is the best allround alloy, the more streamlined profiles like the "money" bullet or Brooks's new postel nose will hold up better with 16-1.

[Jim2]

Postel and Creedmore type bullets , for the most part, seam to fly ok @ 30:1 or less. Those long, skiny-nose'd money style bullets almost always need to be harder, 20:1, down to 16:1. As has been said, watch for leading of the softer alloys, your rifle will let you know.

Jim

[montana_charlie]

What's the tipping point?
Here is an anecdote that may help you decide ...

Steve Garbe is the guy who invented (and sells) SPG bullet lube. He is also a match shooter.
His shooting partner is a gun magazine author commonly known as MLV.

So, MLV had the responsibility of keeping them supplied with bullet alloy.
On a given year, he sent in an order for 20-1 alloy, even though they had been using 30-1.

Later on, Garbe is at a match when another shooter asks what alloy he uses ... and he replies '30-1'.
MLV gets him off to the side and informs Steve that he has been shooting 20-1.
This happened before the Money bullet came on the scene, so he was probably shooting P.J. Creedmoor or Postell bullets.

Garbe said he never noticed any difference ... and he has enough experience to be able to notice it if it existed.

If you get some leading with 20-1, you might want to try the other ... and vice versa ... but you probably won't see much change on the target.

[MIEagle]

Well, today it rained so I made a batch of Brooks bullets in 20/1. I'm going to try hotter loads as I don't think 60.5 gr of Swiss 1 1/2 is going to get me to the long range targets. If I don't see any measurable improvement, I will return to 30/1 as it's cheaper on the tin. Thanks again.

[Lumpy grits]

Which alloy is better-Listen to what your target tells you.
Me-I use 30:1....
LG

[rfd]

there is that time old adage that sez let yer rifle tell you what it likes to eat.

[wills]

Lead is cheaper than Tin. Use 30/1 unless you have problems with bullet fillout.

[rfd]

i think you meant that lead is cheaper than tin. :)

[BrentD]

How do "we" decide whether to use 20/1 or 30/1 lead/tin ratio? I started out using 30/1 mix because my shooting buddy that got me started used it. I have another shooting buddy who uses 20/1 and says that it doesn't make that much difference.
What's the tipping point? I'm currently using a approx. 535 Steve Brooks bullet and 60.5 gr of Swiss 1.5. In the future I plan on shooting the long range matches. Thanks.

Alloy depends on the what you are trying to do. Shooting short distances with blunt bullets you might even go with pure lead. But at long range, with pointy bullets, hard is good and 20:1 is not hard enough for some bullets.

Personally, think the "whatever the gun likes" thing is way over blown.

Brent

[Lead Fred]

When I had my paper patch mould made, the maker said to use 20:1, so I do

[rfd]

imho, there's a near infinite number of combinations of one single rifle and its many fold myriad of cartridge components and assembly criteria. it could take a lifetime to try them all out. i don't have that long to live.

[wills]

i think you meant that lead is cheaper than tin. :)

That is what I meant, thanks for pointing it out. I corrected it.

[Don McDowell]

If the 20 cents a lb difference between 20-1 and 30-1 is going to break your bank account, probably best to find a different hobby....

[rfd]

If the 20 cents a lb difference between 20-1 and 30-1 is going to break your bank account, probably best to find a different hobby....

don, you tell 'em. :bigsmyl2:

[hydraulic]

Friend of mine talked to Steve Brooks at Quigley this year, he had earlier bought a mould from Steve, and Brooks told him that he personally uses 30 to 1. The friend, also named Steve, who shot 54th at the Q, had been having leading problems with 20 to 1. He went to 30 to 1 and reduced the leading considerably. Montana Charlie mentioned the same situation above.

[freedom475]

If the 20 cents a lb difference between 20-1 and 30-1 is going to break your bank account, probably best to find a different hobby....


Don hit the nail right on the head...tin is dirt cheap compared to everything else!!!!!!!!

And....... Well I went to 15:1 lead /tin and beat all of you at Quigley!!! :mrgreen::Fire:[smilie=s:...so my advice...pour the tin to that beast and watch your scores improve and your groups shrink!!!!!!!!!!:grin::razz:

You will soon figure out..your gun doesn't talk..."tin" does!!!

An let's not forget that Olde Eynsford 1 1/2 just pounded Swiss... right off of the podium!!!!! And I blow tubed all week and never cleaned once!... God bless the USA!!!

[Don McDowell]

Yessir, going to 16-1 with some bullets sure improved groups in a couple of my rifles. One rifle that had a habit of leading also dropped that habit when we started feeding it 16-1 alloy.
Wes just be careful about talking that OE up, you wouldn't have to defend your title against a bunch of folks that made the switch next year ....:)

[freedom475]

Let's level the playing field!!!! I know it takes more than tin to win...but If you want to shoot your best,,,,you better shoot Olde Eynsford 1 1/2!

Not only is Olde Eynsford now the best powder made...it is also made in America!!!!!!!!! it's about time we got our asses back on top!!!!:Fire:

[BrentD]

Strangely, none of the best shooters use OE however. Swiss still rules the range, like it or not.

[Don McDowell]

Wes keep on the steady pressure, good to know you're back on the firing line. Hope to see you pick up where you left off last year, and after you took the Q in fine fashion...

[MIEagle]

I have a good supply of tin that I bought cheap from a friend getting out of shooting (age) but I don't want to needlessly fritter it away. That said, I will spend (afford) and do what I need to, to improve my scores. Next thing to do is get rid of the Browning sight that came with the rifle. The windage doesn't stay put and the staff wobbles. I appreciate and look forward to yours and everyone else's comments. This website is the best!

[kokomokid]

Lee Shaver will tune up a Browning sight.

[BrentD]

The browning sight is not a bad sight. It would probably be worthwhile having it tuned by Lee.