Reducing smoke - .40 cast boolits

[J20DB]

I recently started casting, and although I don't own anything chambered in .40S&W, I bought a Lee 2-cavity 175 grain .401 mold to cast for a friend who does. I cast some boolits using recycled range scrap, tumble lubed them with the 45/45/10-JPW/LLA/MS recipe I got off of here, and gave them to my friend. I loaded them over 4.5 grains of Unique, which if I recall is in the middle of the load range, giving him about 830 FPS out of a 5" barrel.

Accuracy is good, and leading is nearly non-existent, but I'd really like to find a way to reduce the smoking he's getting. It wouldn't be a huge deal if we only shot outdoors, but we do an informal IPSC-style match at a local indoor range every Tuesday night, and despite the range's ventilation, it gets to be a bit much.

Does anybody have any recommendations to reduce smoking? I've got a bottle of Rooster Jacket lube on order, and we'd be open to trying different powders.

Thanks!

[gon2shoot]

A change of lube will probably do it for you.

[zxcvbob]

Try using Rooster Jacket lube. (but the JPW + LLA is really not that smokey unless you are using way too much)

[9.3X62AL]

It sounds like all is in order otherwise. I would be hard-put to minimize smoke, since I prefer beeswax/Alox lube. I only shoot outdoors, though.

Look at it this way--your initial attempts with a TOUGH caliber have gone pretty darn well. You're doing things right.

[Intel6]

The type of powder used also has an affect ont he smoke. I use Win WST for just about all my cast bullet handgun loads because I found it smokes the least of anything I have tried.

I shoot lots of 9/38/40/45 in lead all with LARS lube and WST gives me the least smoke.

[orangezuk]

I shoot alot of .40s&w reloads, boolits and J-words. I would have to say it's mainly the Unique. +1 to Intel6 on the WST.

[Moonie]

I load alot of Unique and I use a lot of jpw/alox/ms in my 45 and 400 corbon it smokes quite a bit, for low smoke I use Clays and Carnuba Red, almost non existent.

[J20DB]

Thank you all for the advice! Yes, we were both pleasantly surprised at the minimal leading. I've got some clays on hand, and I'll pick up a pound of WST next time I get the chance. I also need to find a good cast 124 grain load for my 9mm, so it'll probably come in handy.

[warf73]

WST works better in my 40s&w than it did in my shotgun :)

[Brick85]

I had a similar problem I asked about here:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=83271

[truckmsl]

My experience is that the WST is excellent for target loads in this caliber but for medium to full power WSF is more appropriate.

[markinalpine]

...despite the range's ventilation, it gets to be a bit much.
:roll:
Does anybody have any recommendations to reduce smoking? I've got a bottle of Rooster Jacket lube on order, and we'd be open to trying different powders.

Thanks!

Smoke...that's not smoke...that's perfume! :kidding:
Mark :coffeecom

[J20DB]

Smoke...that's not smoke...that's perfume!

:smile: Now if they were to make a Hoppe's #9 cologne...

My bottle of Rooster Jacket has arrived, and I picked up a pound of WST. Hopefully I'll be able to test this all out soon!

[NuJudge]

I find if I up pressures, I get less smoke. See if it works for you.

[sixshot]

I've shot over 200,000 cast bullets through one of my 610 revolvers using WST & different cast bullets, most were lubed using Ballasticast lube or LBT blue.

Dick

[randmplumbingllc]

:smile: Now if they were to make a Hoppe's #9 cologne...



They ALMOST do.

http://www.hoppes.com/products/ca_air_freshener.html