Ben's LL to the range

[Dale53]

I recently made up my first batch of Ben's LL and lubed some Lee's .32 TL 90 gr. SWC from a mould I recently acquired from my good friend The Green Frog. Froggie was coincidentally visiting during this range test. I had cast the bullets from my "standard" alloy (ww's+2% tin) and were "as cast". They ran from .316-.318" in diameter depending on where you mic'd them. My preference for the test handgun (Smith 16-4 with 6" barrel and Red Dot Sight) prefers .314" bullets when normally lubed and sized.

In this case, I was using as cast, full length sizing cases on the Dillon 550B, flaring the case mouths as normal using the Dillon powder measure when dropping the powder. I seated the bullets in the seating die but crimped in the Lee Factory Crimp Die that also gently swaged the bullet inside the case to the proper size.

As all of you have witnessed when using Ben's Liquid Lube, it drys quickly, and when dry, the bullets are not tacky. As per directed by Ben, I used a very light coat (one squirt of the Ketchup Bottle of LL onto 50 bullets at a time in a small plastic refrigerator box. I rolled and tumbled them for twenty seconds or so. I also made a drying rack (a near copy of Ben's Drying rack) that sped up the drying process. The rack was made of scrap material by my brother (I also tumble lube 9mm bullets for him:)). Here's the drying rack:
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/Bens%20LL%20Bullet%20Drying%20Rack-2_1600x1067.jpg (http://s269.photobucket.com/user/Dale53/media/Bens%20LL%20Bullet%20Drying%20Rack-2_1600x1067.jpg.html)

Rack with 200 bullets drying:
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/Bens%20LL%20Bullet%20Drying%20Rack_1600x1067.jpg (http://s269.photobucket.com/user/Dale53/media/Bens%20LL%20Bullet%20Drying%20Rack_1600x1067.jpg.h tml)

On to the range. I am not making excuses but I was having some difficulty at the range. I was having vision problems, the sun was directly at my eyes, and the bench we were using was really too low for comfort. In addition, my chronic lower back problem was giving me fits. I had to shoot a number of shots with a known accurate load to just begin to show some good results. FINALLY, things started coming together a bit and I proceeded with the test loads. It was not representative of my recent best efforts, but it was what it was. Here are two consecutive targets. The first one, has four shots in an inch with five in 1½".

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/.32%20HampR%20with%20Lee%2090%20gr.%20SWC%20and%20 Bens%20LL%20001_872x1200.jpg (http://s269.photobucket.com/user/Dale53/media/.32%20HampR%20with%20Lee%2090%20gr.%20SWC%20and%20 Bens%20LL%20001_872x1200.jpg.html)

The second target had four shots in 3/4" and five in 1 3/8". The wide shots were all on me. I am confident that this load will print in 1" or less at 25 yards as illustrated (without the wide shots).

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/.32%20HampR%20with%2090%20gr.%20SWC%20and%20Bens%2 0LL%20002.jpg (http://s269.photobucket.com/user/Dale53/media/.32%20HampR%20with%2090%20gr.%20SWC%20and%20Bens%2 0LL%20002.jpg.html)

I am now going to cast up a bunch of these bullets (not only accurate as loaded but a practical field load for edible small game). I will also try my group buy 100 gr Keith with tumble lube and as cast (letting the Lee Factory Crimp die reduce it to the proper diameter). This load gave no leading with the Lee Tumble lube bullet and I am confident it will work well, as others have found, with my .38 Special using the H&G #50BB wadcutter and possible other bullets.

Many thanks to Ben for not only the LL but also the photos of his drying rack which allowed us to easily build a near copy.

Dale53

[35 shooter]

I like that drying rack and will be making one in the near future! I've been standing them up on wax paper, but the rack will be much faster and easier.

Looks like good results for you at the range with the BLL!

[Ben]

Dale53 :

No explanation needed for fine shooting like that.
Glad you like BLL.

Best,
Ben

[Dale53]

While my rack was built by my brother, he stated it was "nothin' to it" as Ben's pictures were self explanatory. When I used it the bullets dried much faster. Now that i have proven to my own satisfaction (not that I was really concerned) that Ben's LL truly works "as advertised" I'll be using it on more and more of my various pistol bullets. It'll sure speed up the process and it appears that there is little, if any, downside.

My next experiment will be with the .38 Special H&G #50BB cast wadcutter bullet. As normally lubed (one lube groove) with Carnauba Red it will shoot well under 1" at 25 yards when loaded with 3.2 Bullseye or equivalent. It will be interesting to compare it with the same bullet with Ben's LL. Frankly, I have few doubts. Using the Lee Factory Crimp die to size the bullet in the last stage of my Dillon 550B REALLY speeds up the operation. Ed Harris has been using "as cast" bullets for his "Full charge wadcutter" with excellent accuracy when run through the Lee Factory Crimp die after lubing with Lee Liquid Alox - Ben's LL will just be easier yet and much faster drying.

FWIW
Dale53

[Ben]

I for one, would like to know how all this works out Dale.

Keep us posted please.

Ben

[Dale53]

If anyone is interested in Ed Harris' method of loading it will be found in this article - "The Full Charge Wadcutter":

http://www.hensleygibbs.com/edharris/articles/38wadcutterQA.htm

Note: Ed uses Lee Liquid Alox but Ben's LL should work as well, dry much quicker, and not suffer from the problems of loading up the bullet seater die, etc.

FWIW
Dale53

[Tailhunter]

Just out of curiosity, why are the sides so high on the drying rack?

[Yodogsandman]

I think it's for carrying. Yours can be made to your specs, they'll all work.

[Dale53]

Just out of curiosity, why are the sides so high on the drying rack?

Big Bullets? :shock::veryconfu

Actually, my brother used scrap lumber and that was the size he had. The sides could certainly be narrower, if you prefer, of course.

FWIW
Dale53

[kbstenberg]

Dale53
I am assuming that you can adjust the size of your bullets by screwing the Lee FCD deeper or shallower in your press. if that is the case, have you tested a small quantity of bullets to see if the final measurement of them is consistent to your needs?
if the final measurement is consistent. I can see the advantage in loosing one step in bullet casting. Kevin

[Dale53]

kb;
That's not how the Lee factory crimp die (for handguns) works. It simply has a carbide ring at the bottom of the final crimp die that insures the loaded round does not exceed chamber specs. If the cast bullet inside the case is too large it gently sizes it down. It certainly won't work in all cases but it works well for me (at least in the bullet combinations I have used, so far).

Dale53