Success - First shots

[Cast10]

Well today I ventured down to the ranch, stray showers all around. I took my 10mm carbine and Glock 20 to test my first smelted, cast, powder coated bullets. Was able to shoot all ladders with the carbine (16”) but due to weather the Glock 20 would have to wait.

Lee 401-175-TC boolits, using 1%SN, 2.57%SB, 96.4%PB using SOWW (7lbs) and Hardball (5.25lbs).
Accurate #9 powder, WLP primers, SIG brass at COAL 1.245”. Ladders of 12.4, 12.7, 13.0, 13.3, 13.6 per Accurate Powder load data.

All went well with no signs of pressure on any load and no signs of leading on any load. Recovered bullets showed some expansion in clay, sand, some roots and small rock. Accuracy was not intended. I was wanting to see if the alloy mix would work without leading as well as function the carbine, and chrony the loads.

12.4 - 1479 fps
12.7 - 1490 fps
13.0 - 1522 fps
13.3 - 1560 fps
13.6 - 1592 fps

This was a good day! After more than 40 years reloading, I”ve now been able to make and shoot boolits! It is a good feeling! I feel relieved and prideful for the accomplishments.

Thanks for all who helped either with posts to me or previous posts/sitcky’s! I’ve been reading a ton here and there IS lots of good information! Thanks again for having me and helping me! Much Appreciated!

Here Piggy Piggy.......

[AndyC]

This was a good day! After more than 40 years reloading, I”ve now been able to make and shoot boolits! It is a good feeling! I feel relieved and prideful for the accomplishments.

Congrats - you've now become a lot more self-sufficient

[Half Dog]

That’s an awesome feeling. Congratulations on your accomplishment.

[para45lda]

What kind of SD were you seeing?

[Cast10]

18-30; These were cull bullets with the largest weight spread. I figured I’d use them first.

[Thumbcocker]

Congratulations.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[Cast10]

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate it! It has revived my shooting in so many ways!

[slim1836]

What took ya so long?

Slim

[Cast10]

What took ya so long?

Slim

Not sure, but the Powder Coating got me interested!

[44Blam]

Awesome.

When I first started reloading I only reloaded bullets. But after realizing that I could completely tune EVERYTHING with lead boolits and appropriate loads for the firearm, I was hooked.

Also, you *save* a lot of money shooting lead boolits.

[Cast10]

44blam - Right! I was always worrying about leading in the early days. The Powder Coating was what intrigued me. Then as I began reading here and talking with others, I could see it would work for me. Those 30.00 box of bullets now cost much much much less!

[Cast10]

So as a recap; I studied a lot here. I talked with a few friends. I picked up some SOWW. I used the knowledge of BHN here along with the alloy calculator found here. I chose a mix. I melted the WW into ingots. I purchased some Hardball from RotoMetals. I mixed the two and cast boolits. I powder coated the bullets. I reloaded some ladders for testing.......All in the hopes I would not get leading at faster speeds in a carbine. Joila! All appears to have worked out with even some expansion in dirt. The final truth will be when one slams into some pork!