Weight of Keith bullets

[Bazoo]

So I’m curious as to weight variations on the Keith clones.

I have an RCBS 44-250-K and it weighs 262 grains from ww alloy and 265 from 50/50 ww/pb. I believe RCBS specifies 10:1 alloy.

So in the Lyman manual they list the 429421 at 245 grains with Lyman #2 What does it drop from WW alloy? Is it closer to 260?

What about the Arsenal 503 clone? Anyone have a weight on that one?

[Larry Gibson]

Both my RCBS 44-250-KT and Lyman 429421 run 252 - 254 gr fully dressed when cast of COWW + 2% tin.

[mehavey]

Lyman 429421 run...

...list as 245gr
Actual:
- 255gr @ 30:1
- 246gr @ Lym#2

[rockshooter]

I find that it varies with the alloy, and as long as I cast a big enough batch of bullets it doesn't matter. I powder coat each batch a different color to sort of use them together.
Loren

[Bigslug]

One "Hmmmm?" variation in this theme is Keith's 452423 .45 Auto Rim bullet, which the historical sources list as a 238 grain pill. I've played with both round lube groove Lymans and the more "correct" NOE square groove and found both to be something on the order of about ten grains heavier when cast out of wheel-weightish alloy.

All I can figure is it has to do with printer's linotype being a more common Coin of the Realm back in the day. . . and maybe not as far back as most of us think. A couple years ago Dad and I melted down a couple boxes of crayon-lube commercial cast bullets that we bought back in the 1980's or '90's (long before we started casting), and the stuff hardness-tested as lino. What we'd give for that now. . .

[OS OK]

A chart that'll give you a better idea of the differences in as-cast size & sized with cast weight & diameter & how they vary across 4 alloys.

[fredj338]

Most molds I believe are calibrated using Lyman #2. So yes, more lead, heavier bullets. With clip ww only, 1% tin, my RCBS throws about 255.

[Winger Ed.]

What does it drop from WW alloy?

"Wheel weight alloy" is kind of a moving target since there is no specific definition as to what's in any specific batch.
As a general rule, I figure anything I'm going to have has less 'goodies' and more pure Lead in it than #2.
So I plan on my boolits coming out a little on the heavy side of what the mold says they should.
Being on the heavy side, is another reason I stay a little ways back from max. powder charges.

[fecmech]

My 429421 was always in the 252-254 range. Pretty much followed OSOK's posted chart.