billmc2
08-15-2022, 01:57 PM
As you can see by the number of my posts, I'm new to all of this. I need to slug several barrels but I'm deathly afraid of getting a slug stuck which I can't remove on my own. So far I've run slugs through two barrels, a 2 inch 32 cal revolver and a 20 inch Marlin 336 30-30.
I have some pure soft lead from a plumbing fixture. I have cast the lead inside the 32 brass. I have some Lee Breechlock push through sizing dies in the following sizes: 0.314, 0.313, 0.312, 0.309. I've ordered but has not yet arrived a 0.311.
For the Marlin, I sized the slug down to 0.309 and it was approximately 1/2 inch long. As I began pounding the slug into the barrel, the rod began to make a depression in the lead and the end of the lead began to mushroom. Once the entire slug was in the barrel, it easily went through the entire length without a problem. I can see the marks left by the rifling on the lead, but what have I learned?
The starting diameter of the lead was 0.309, so if the grooves were deeper than that I'll never know. If I start with a larger diameter, I'm afraid it will mushroom to much before it is entirely within the barrel, get stuck, and I will not be able to push it through or pull it out.
In relation to the stated bore size ( in this case 0.308) what diameter size should I use; 0.309, 0.310, 0.311? In other words how big above stated bore size should I be using?
The issue of slug length. Is there a way to know how large the mushroom cap will become before it gets so large that I can't get it into the bore, thus becoming stuck? With this 1/2 slug I just used on the Marlin, it looks like the mushroom cap extended 5/16" beyond the original 1/2" length. If I used a 0.309 slug 3/4" long, I'd expect the mushroom to be longer. At what point will the starting slug length be to long and not compress to the bore size?
I really don't want to get a slug stuck.
I have some pure soft lead from a plumbing fixture. I have cast the lead inside the 32 brass. I have some Lee Breechlock push through sizing dies in the following sizes: 0.314, 0.313, 0.312, 0.309. I've ordered but has not yet arrived a 0.311.
For the Marlin, I sized the slug down to 0.309 and it was approximately 1/2 inch long. As I began pounding the slug into the barrel, the rod began to make a depression in the lead and the end of the lead began to mushroom. Once the entire slug was in the barrel, it easily went through the entire length without a problem. I can see the marks left by the rifling on the lead, but what have I learned?
The starting diameter of the lead was 0.309, so if the grooves were deeper than that I'll never know. If I start with a larger diameter, I'm afraid it will mushroom to much before it is entirely within the barrel, get stuck, and I will not be able to push it through or pull it out.
In relation to the stated bore size ( in this case 0.308) what diameter size should I use; 0.309, 0.310, 0.311? In other words how big above stated bore size should I be using?
The issue of slug length. Is there a way to know how large the mushroom cap will become before it gets so large that I can't get it into the bore, thus becoming stuck? With this 1/2 slug I just used on the Marlin, it looks like the mushroom cap extended 5/16" beyond the original 1/2" length. If I used a 0.309 slug 3/4" long, I'd expect the mushroom to be longer. At what point will the starting slug length be to long and not compress to the bore size?
I really don't want to get a slug stuck.